Excluded because he’s a boy (Calvin, Age 8)

Excluded because he’s a boy (Calvin, Age 8)

Author: Eileen Kennedy-Moore, PhD, author, psychologist, focusing on children's feelings, children's friendships, parenting, mental health. October 25, 2025 Duration: 5:55

Ep. 122 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Friendship is about people, not categories | Friendship advice for kids

Parents, check out my online workshops for kids at workshops.eileenkennedymoore.com.

FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://eileenkennedymoore.ck.page/e37dcc098f

Would YOUR KID like to be featured on the podcast?

SUBMIT A QUESTION TO DR. FRIENDTASTIC at https://DrFriendtastic.com/submit (Obviously, this is not psychotherapy, and it’s not for emergency situations.)

For an easy-to-read TRANSCRIPT, go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/

Like the podcast? Check out my books at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com.

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, https://DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus articles for parents.

*** DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

- Which of the silly contests described at the start of this episode would you like to play with your friends?

- What is the difference between keeping score with friends and keeping score about friends?

- Why does it matter whether the other friends are whispering to each other or just talking to each other?

- If your friend does something you don’t like, what are some reasons you might decide NOT to say anything about it?

*** You might also like these podcast episodes:

Ep. 73 - Best friend stops playing with him (J.J., Age 11) https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep73-jj-age-11-best-friend-stops-playing-with-him

Ep. 77 - Friend is nicer to someone else (Maya, Age 8) https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep77-maya-age-8-friend-is-nicer-to-someone-else

Ep. 114 - Friend is ignoring her! (Emma, Age 13) https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/friend-is-ignoring-her-emma-age-13



Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe

In Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Friendship Advice for Kids (K-8), real children from kindergarten through eighth grade send in their questions about the tricky, wonderful, and sometimes confusing world of friendships. Each week, Dr. Eileen Kennedy-Moore-a clinical psychologist and author known as Dr. Friendtastic-responds with a thoughtful, practical answer designed just for young listeners. The conversations in this podcast get straight to the heart of what kids experience: navigating arguments, feeling left out, trying to make a new friend, or figuring out how to be a good one themselves. Eileen Kennedy-Moore draws on her deep expertise in children's feelings and social development to offer actionable advice that respects a child's perspective. The format is brief and engaging, with each episode lasting about five minutes, making it an easy listen for a car ride or quiet moment. This isn't about lectures; it's about giving kids the tools and confidence to handle social situations with kindness and resilience. Parents and educators often find the discussions helpful, too, as the podcast naturally opens doors for deeper conversations about emotions and relationships. By focusing on real questions from real kids, the podcast creates a genuine connection, assuring young listeners that their friendship worries are normal and solvable. Tune in weekly to hear compassionate guidance that turns everyday social puzzles into opportunities for growth and connection.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Friendship Advice for Kids (K-8)
Podcast Episodes
Arguments with a friend (Kenna & Scarlett, Age 8) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:32
Ep. 91 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: This important assumption helps you move past a friendship rough spot Kenna and Scarlett, who want to know what to do when they start arguing. FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? h…
Friend breaks a promise (Alma, Age 7) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:00
Ep. 90 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Why friends sometimes let us downAlma wants to know what to do about a friend who broke her promiseFREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://eileenkennedymoore.ck.page/e37dcc098f…
Getting in trouble (Noah, Age 7) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:27
Ep. 89 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: How to deal with an angry personNoah is frustrated that he got in trouble. How can he handle it?FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://eileenkennedymoore.ck.page/e37dcc098fWou…
How to support an injured friend (Sophia, Age 7) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:55
Ep. 88 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Practical support, emotional support, and the importance of on-going support.Sophia wants to know how to support a friend who has broken her leg.FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend?…
People passing notes about her (Leni, Age 9) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:01
Ep. 87 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Figuring out what we can and can’t control.Leni feels hurt and angry that kids are passing notes about her. What can she do?FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://eileenkenned…
How to know if you can trust a friend (Sally, Age 14) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:17
Ep. 86 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: What makes a trustworthy friend?Sally wants to know how she can tell if a friend is trustworthy.FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://eileenkennedymoore.ck.page/e37dcc098fWou…
Fitting in versus being true to yourself (Nev, Age 11) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:36
Ep. 85 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: No friend group has more power than you. Nev wonders what her mom means when she says, "No friend group has more power than you."FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://eileenk…
Fights with close friends (Eloise, Age 8) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:20
Ep. 83 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: How to make conflict less frequent and less painful.Eloise wonders why best friends have bad fights.FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://eileenkennedymoore.ck.page/e37dcc098…
Expand friend group without hurting best friend (Paa, Age 12) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:38
Ep. 82 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: How to make new friends and keep the old. Paa wants to expand her friend group but how can she do that without hurting her best friend?FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://e…