How long should you keep a friend? (Matthew, Age 7)

How long should you keep a friend? (Matthew, Age 7)

Author: Eileen Kennedy-Moore, PhD, author, psychologist, focusing on children's feelings, children's friendships, parenting, mental health. February 21, 2026 Duration: 4:35

Ep. 136 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Helping friendships last | 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:

- Do you have a stuffed animal that you’ve loved for a long time? What’s its name? What does it look like? What makes this stuffed animal special to you?

- How long is the longest friendship you’ve had? How did you meet that friend? What do you do to stay connected to that friendship?

- What is your favorite thing to do with friends? Why?

- What are some ways to show friends that they matter to you?

*** You might also like these podcast episodes:

Ep. 133 - Can he be friends with people who don’t like him? (John, Age 8)

https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep133-can-he-be-friends-with-people-who-dont-like-him-john-8

Ep. 129 - Kindest way to break up with a friend (Audrey, Age 9)

https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep129-kindest-way-to-break-up-with-a-friend-audrey-age-9

Ep. 127 - Friend wants space (Sloane, Age 6)

https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep127-friend-wants-space-sloane-age-6



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: 50

Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Friendship Advice for Kids (K-8)
Podcast Episodes
He doesn’t want to be friends with someone (Julian, Age 8) | 161 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:32
Ep. 161 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Is there a kind way to reject someone? | Friendship advice for kidsFREE guide for parents: 12 ways to help your child make friendshttps://drfriendtastic.com/gift/Parents, check out my…
How to say no to a friend without feeling bad (Blaire, Age 12) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:38
Re-release of Ep. 55 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Saying no can save a friendship | Friendship advice for kidsFREE guide for parents: 12 ways to help your child make friendshttps://drfriendtastic.com/gift/Parents, check…
Friends punish her?! (River, Age 9)| 160 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:15
Ep. 160- Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Recognizing stop signs | Friendship advice for kidsFREE guide for parents: 12 ways to help your child make friendshttps://drfriendtastic.com/gift/Parents, check out my online workshops…
Losing her best friend! (Ellie, Age 10) | 159 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:22
Ep. 159- Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: What to do when a friendship is fading | Friendship advice for kidsFREE guide for parents: 12 ways to help your child make friendshttps://drfriendtastic.com/gift/Parents, check out my…
A false story about him! (Erik, Age 7) | 158 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:14
Ep. 158- Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Truth, falsehood, and different perspectives | Friendship advice for kidsFREE guide for parents: 12 ways to help your child make friendshttps://drfriendtastic.com/gift/Parents, check o…
Friend’s new friend doesn’t like him (Ian, Age 11) | 156 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:44
Ep. 156- Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Having another friend isn't a betrayal | Friendship advice for kidsFREE guide for parents: 12 ways to help your child make friendshttps://drfriendtastic.com/gift/Parents, check out my…
Friend is jealous and possessive (Miranda, Age 8) | 155 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:26
Ep. 155 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Finding a balance between caring and freedom | Friendship advice for kidsFREE guide for parents: 12 ways to help your child make friendshttps://drfriendtastic.com/gift/Parents, check…
Friends say she’s bossy, but they’re bossy (Lola, Age 8) | 154 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:33
Ep. 154 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Listen to be heard | Friendship advice for kidsFREE guide for parents: 12 ways to help your child make friendshttps://drfriendtastic.com/gift/Parents, check out my online workshops fo…
Not invited to the sleepover! (Jim, Age 12) | Ep. 153 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:26
Ep. 153 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Don't give up a good friendship because it's not perfect | Friendship advice for kidsFREE guide for parents: 12 ways to help your child make friendshttps://drfriendtastic.com/gift/Par…