Your Questions About Positive Relationships, Answered

What do you do when your child is struggling to make friends, or causing drama in the ones they have? In this Q&A episode, Dr. Dave Anderson answers real questions from parents and caregivers about how to help kids build and maintain healthy relationships, from early childhood through the teen years. We cover: How to explain that not everyone will like you — and that’s okay What to do if your child doesn’t seem to have “real” friendships How to support your child’s social life if you’re a shy parent How to help a tween handle peer rejection What to do when your teen gossips or ghosts their friends How to respond to “bossy” behavior in younger kids Why teen friendships can sometimes feel toxic — especially among girls What to do when an older sibling is being unkind How to recognize emotional dependence in friendships Tips for supporting a child with ADHD who struggles socially Whether your child is 6 or 16, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you guide them toward strong, supportive friendships — and build the social-emotional skills they’ll use for life. Resources Mentioned: Friends & Socializing Resources for Parents Being a Good Friend – Hedgehog Land Episode — from our Emmy and Webby-nominated series for young kids, featuring music by Lake Street Dive Submit a question for a future Q&A episode Be sure to subscribe and check out last week’s main episode with Dr. Mandi Silverman: How Do I Help My Child or Teen Build Positive, Healthy Friendships?