How to Join Kids Playing (Amelia, Age 9)

How to Join Kids Playing (Amelia, Age 9)

Author: Eileen Kennedy-Moore, PhD, author, psychologist, focusing on children's feelings, children's friendships, parenting, mental health. November 8, 2025 Duration: 7:14

Ep. 124 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Watch then blend | 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:

- What are some reasons why kids might sit alone at recess?

- What is your favorite thing to do at recess? Who likes to do it with you?

- Why is it important to think about the what/who/how questions before trying to join a group?

- Why might it be easiest to join a single kid, playing alone, or a group of four or more?

*** You might also like these podcast episodes:

Ep. 4 - One friend feels left out (Thomas, Age 13)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-episode-71f

Ep. 49 - Feeling different and rejected (Charlotte, Age 8)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/charlotte-age-8-feeling-different

Ep. 67 - Choosing good friends (Paul, Age 12)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/paul-age-12-choosing-friends-who



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
Making friends in a new school (Nora, Age 8) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:46
Ep. 72 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Making Friends at a New SchoolNora wants to know what she can do to make friends when she's starting at a new school.Scroll down for discussion questions.FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Goo…
Is she a friend or not? (Tali, Age 11) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:15
Ep. 71 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Dealing with a Hot-and-Cold FriendTali is trying to figure out whether a friend who runs hot-and-cold–sometimes kind, sometimes unkind–is really her friend. Scroll down for discussion…
Knowing when and how to stop (Owen, Age 8) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:30
Ep. 70 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Sending and receiving Stop SignalsOwen asks about Stop Signals, which are all the verbal and nonverbal ways people tell someone to stop. Sending and receiving Stop Signals effectively…
Friends get together without her (Phoebe, Age 6) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:31
Ep. 69 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Is an imperfect friendship worth keeping?Phoebe feels excluded when her friends hang out without her.Scroll down for discussion questions.Would YOUR KID like to be featured on the podc…
Friend runs away from her (Maya, Age 6) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:59
Ep. 68 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Avoiding the demand-withdraw patternMaya wonders how to handle a friend who runs away and ignores her.Scroll down for discussion questions.Would YOUR KID like to be featured on the pod…
Choosing friends who are a good influence (Paul, Age 12) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:30
Ep. 67 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Peer pressure vs. peer influencePaul asks how to find the right friends to surround himself with.Scroll down for discussion questions.Would YOUR KID like to be featured on the podcast?…
Friends don’t invite her (Adeline, Age 8) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:42
Ep. 66 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: What’s behind a friend wanting to control you?Adeline wishes her friends would invite her to play during recess, but she doesn’t have to wait for an invitation.Scroll down for discussi…
Handling a controlling friend (Bridget, Age 14) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:06
Ep. 65 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: What’s behind a friend wanting to control you?Bridget wonders how to deal with a friend who is being controlling.Scroll down for discussion questions.Would YOUR KID like to be featured…
Make friends with different interests (Blake, Age 13) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:00
Ep. 64 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Building real connections to make friends.Blake wants to know how to make friends with kids who have different interests than he does.Scroll down for discussion questions.Would YOUR KI…
Friend wants all her attention (Rosie, Age 5 3/4) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:51
Ep. 63 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Dealing with being excluded.Rosie wonders why her friend doesn’t want her to play with anyone else, and what she can do about it.Scroll down for discussion questions.Would YOUR KID lik…