How to join a group (Addison, Age 9 1/2) | 144

How to join a group (Addison, Age 9 1/2) | 144

Author: Eileen Kennedy-Moore, PhD, author, psychologist, focusing on children's feelings, children's friendships, parenting, mental health. April 25, 2026 Duration: 6:45

Ep. 144 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: You don't have to stay on the outside looking in | Friendship advice for kids

FREE guide for parents: 12 ways to help your child make friends

https://drfriendtastic.com/gift/

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

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:

- What are some reasons why it’s sometimes hard to join a group of kids?

- Why is it important to match the emotional tone of a conversation if you want to join a group?

- What do you look for when you decide whether to try to join a group?

- Do you think you are open to having kids join you if you are hanging out with friends at school or at an activity? What could you do to make another kid feel welcome?

- Do you always have to include people who want to join your group? Why or why not?

*** You might also like these podcast episodes:

Ep. 112 - How to Show Openness to Friendship

https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep112-how-to-show-openness-to-friendship

Ep. 85 - Fitting in versus being true to yourself (Nev, Age 11)

https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep85-nev-age-11-fitting-in-versus-being-true-to-yourself

Ep. 98 - How to join a group when not everyone wants you in (Jessica, Age 9)

https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep98-jessica-age9-how-to-join-a-group-when-not-everyone-wants-you-in



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
Teased because of his looks! (Milo, Age 9) | 147 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:01
Ep. 147 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Friendly versus unfriendly teasing | Friendship advice for kidsFREE guide for parents: 12 ways to help your child make friendshttps://drfriendtastic.com/gift/Parents, check out my onl…
She took something that didn’t belong to her (River, Age 9) | 146 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:38
Ep. 146 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Moving past guilt | Friendship advice for kidsFREE guide for parents: 12 ways to help your child make friendshttps://drfriendtastic.com/gift/Parents, check out my online workshops for…
He doesn’t like one kid in the group (Joe, Age 9) | 145 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:46
Ep. 145 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: He doesn’t like one kid in the group (Joe, Age 9) | Friendship advice for kidsFREE guide for parents: 12 ways to help your child make friendshttps://drfriendtastic.com/gift/Parents, c…
Friends won't play the game he likes (Akiva, Age 5 3/4) | 143 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:37
Ep. 143 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Being flexible with friends | Friendship advice for kidsParents, check out my online workshops for kids at workshops.eileenkennedymoore.com.FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? htt…
Best friend replaces her! (Alice, Age 6) | 142 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:40
Ep. 142 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Being friendly vs. being friends | Friendship advice for kidsParents, check out my online workshops for kids at workshops.eileenkennedymoore.com.FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend…
How to Have a Conversation - for Kids [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:27
REPLAY of Ep. 126 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Talking and Listening with Friends | Friendship advice for kidsNo one is born knowing how to have a good conversation! In this episode, I share five practical tips to help k…
Can we be friends with anyone? (Michael, Age 9) | 141 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:46
Ep. 141 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Being friendly vs. being friends | Friendship advice for kidsParents, check out my online workshops for kids at workshops.eileenkennedymoore.com.FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend…
Friend lies and boasts (Martha, Age 9) | 140 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:29
Ep. 140 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: When a friend tries to seem better than she is | Friendship advice for kidsParents, check out my online workshops for kids at workshops.eileenkennedymoore.com.FREE quiz: Is Your Child…
Friend copies her (Jemma, Age 12) | 139 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:17
Ep. 139 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Copycat friend | Friendship advice for kidsParents, check out my online workshops for kids at workshops.eileenkennedymoore.com.FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://eileenke…
When “joking” is mean, not funny (Seb, Age 11) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:58
Ep. 138 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: How to respond to mean comments from friends or others | Friendship advice for kidsParents, check out my online workshops for kids at workshops.eileenkennedymoore.com.FREE quiz: Is Yo…