Make friends with different interests (Blake, Age 13)

Make friends with different interests (Blake, Age 13)

Author: Eileen Kennedy-Moore, PhD, author, psychologist, focusing on children's feelings, children's friendships, parenting, mental health. June 29, 2024 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 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 and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com.

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

*** DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

- What interest or activity do you enjoy that has helped you (or could help you) make friends?

- Why is pretending to be interested in something when you’re not a bad strategy for trying to make friends? (Hint: How might other kids react when they find out that you’re just pretending to be interested?)

- Have you ever picked up a new interest or activity because a friend likes it? What happened? 

- If you want to pick up a new interest, why is it a good idea to try to learn about it a bit on your own, instead of just asking people about it?

What is the difference between being friendly versus being friends with someone

*** You might also like these podcast episodes:

Ep. 15 - Evie, Age 9: What is a close friend? https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-ep-15-evie

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

Ep. 35 - Ryan, Age 11: Peers put down his interestshttps://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ryan-age-11-peers-put-down-his-interests



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
Not picked to play on team (Charlie, Age 9) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:56
Ep. 125 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Watch then blend | Friendship advice for kidsParents, check out my online workshops for kids at workshops.eileenkennedymoore.com.FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://eileen…
How to Join Kids Playing (Amelia, Age 9) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:14
Ep. 124 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Watch then blend | Friendship advice for kidsParents, check out my online workshops for kids at workshops.eileenkennedymoore.com.FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://eileen…
How to Keep Friends (Eva, Age 6) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:49
Ep. 123 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Making friends and keeping friends require different skills | Friendship advice for kidsParents, check out my online workshops for kids at workshops.eileenkennedymoore.com.FREE quiz:…
Excluded because he’s a boy (Calvin, Age 8) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:55
Ep. 122 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Friendship is about people, not categories | Friendship advice for kidsParents, check out my online workshops for kids at workshops.eileenkennedymoore.com.FREE quiz: Is Your Child a G…
Close friend and new friend leave her out! (Sara, Age 8) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:37
Ep. 121 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Don’t keep score in a friendship | Friendship advice for kidsParents, check out my online workshops for kids at workshops.eileenkennedymoore.com.FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend…
Best friend playing with someone else (Metis, Age 6) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:59
Ep. 120 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Being apart doesn’t have to end a friendship | Friendship advice for kidsParents, check out my online workshops for kids at workshops.eileenkennedymoore.com.FREE quiz: Is Your Child a…
Having friends of different ages (Oliver, Age 11) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:13
Ep. 119 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Having friends of different ages .| Friendship advice for kidsParents, check out my online workshops for kids at workshops.eileenkennedymoore.com.FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Frien…
Best friends are all taken?! (Sadie, Age 10) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:59
Ep. 118 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: What to do when everyone else seems paired up | Friendship advice for kidsParents, check out my online workshops for kids at workshops.eileenkennedymoore.com.FREE quiz: Is Your Child…
BONUS Episode: Jealousy and Openness - Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:20
Hi there,Jealousy & Openness Part 2 is now available, wrapping up the theme I hosted this week in the Big Emotions series.This episode focuses on practical strategies that kids can use when jealousy shows up in their fri…
BONUS Episode: Jealousy and Openness - Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:44
Hi there,I’m hosting this week’s theme in the Big Emotions: Kids Listen Mashups About Feelings series! Jealousy & Openness Part 1 is available now, and I'm honored to guide the conversation around some of the most comple…