Growing Friendships

Friends

Fitting in Versus Belonging

Eileen Kennedy-Moore Ph.D. on March 30, 2023

Belonging is when we feel known and valued. Trying to fit in makes us feel anxious and constantly on edge. Here are questions and ideas to help you find genuine belonging.

Belonging is when we feel known and valued. Trying to fit in makes us feel anxious and constantly on edge. Here are questions and ideas to help you find genuine belonging.

Perfectionism

The Difference Between Perfectionism and Healthy Striving

Eileen Kennedy-Moore Ph.D. on March 28, 2023

Rigid, unrelenting perfectionism makes people miserable, yet they often cling to it, believing it's necessary for productivity.

Rigid, unrelenting perfectionism makes people miserable, yet they often cling to it, believing it's necessary for productivity.

Relationships

A One-Syllable Word That Could Improve Your Relationships

Eileen Kennedy-Moore Ph.D. on March 26, 2023

A Personal Perspective: How one word can put partners on the same side, rather than against each other.

A Personal Perspective: How one word can put partners on the same side, rather than against each other.

Gratitude

5 Ways to Teach Your Child to Be Grateful

Eileen Kennedy-Moore Ph.D. on December 22, 2022

Ungrateful children may just not have learned the importance of expressing gratitude. Here's how to teach them this essential social skill.

Ungrateful children may just not have learned the importance of expressing gratitude. Here's how to teach them this essential social skill.

Media

When Your Child Gets Cyberbullied

Eileen Kennedy-Moore Ph.D. on December 16, 2022

Clear guidance can help your child avoid or deal with online meanness and cyberbullying.

Clear guidance can help your child avoid or deal with online meanness and cyberbullying.

Grief

How to Comfort a Child Who Has Lost a Loved One

Eileen Kennedy-Moore Ph.D. on December 15, 2022

Losing a loved one is upsetting and confusing for children. Here's how you can help your child cope with grief.

Losing a loved one is upsetting and confusing for children. Here's how you can help your child cope with grief.

Stress

When Coping Well Is Costly

Eileen Kennedy-Moore Ph.D. on September 30, 2022

Sometimes people who look amazingly capable feel depleted by the enduring strain of having to cope well.

Sometimes people who look amazingly capable feel depleted by the enduring strain of having to cope well.

Anxiety

What to Say Instead of "Be Careful!"

Eileen Kennedy-Moore Ph.D. on September 28, 2022

Saying "be careful!" gives children no useful information. It only tells them, "I'm anxious, so you should be, too!"

Saying "be careful!" gives children no useful information. It only tells them, "I'm anxious, so you should be, too!"

Health

The Limits of #MentalHealth Content

Eileen Kennedy-Moore Ph.D. on September 15, 2022

We need to be wise about understanding the benefits and limitations of #MentalHealth content.

We need to be wise about understanding the benefits and limitations of #MentalHealth content.

Teamwork

4 Common Complaints About Teamwork

Eileen Kennedy-Moore Ph.D. on December 18, 2021

Four complaints that children and adults commonly voice during group projects, and some possible ways parents or teachers can respond.

Four complaints that children and adults commonly voice during group projects, and some possible ways parents or teachers can respond.

Friends

Does Your Child Need a Best Friend?

Eileen Kennedy-Moore Ph.D. on September 30, 2021

How common are best friendships among children?

How common are best friendships among children?

Bullying

Helping Your Child Move Past a Bad Experience

Eileen Kennedy-Moore Ph.D. on September 27, 2021

When bad things happen to our kids, we can help them create a narrative that genuinely acknowledges their feelings and also offers hope.

When bad things happen to our kids, we can help them create a narrative that genuinely acknowledges their feelings and also offers hope.

Forgiveness

How to Move Past Parental Blame

Eileen Kennedy-Moore Ph.D. on September 25, 2021

We can't rewrite the past. Here are five reasons to stop blaming your parents and what to do instead.

We can't rewrite the past. Here are five reasons to stop blaming your parents and what to do instead.

Education

How to Stop Overthinking Things

Eileen Kennedy-Moore Ph.D. on June 30, 2021

Rumination involves repeatedly and passively focusing on the meaning of negative feelings and circumstances. Here's how to shift away from this unhealthy mental habit.

Rumination involves repeatedly and passively focusing on the meaning of negative feelings and circumstances. Here's how to shift away from this unhealthy mental habit.

Gender

Loving and Supporting a Trans or Gender-Creative Kid

Eileen Kennedy-Moore Ph.D. on June 28, 2021

A loving response from a mom offers comfort and support to a trans kid.

A loving response from a mom offers comfort and support to a trans kid.

Forgiveness

The 5 Worst Ways to Apologize

Eileen Kennedy-Moore Ph.D. on June 27, 2021

These common apology mistakes can hurt your relationship.

These common apology mistakes can hurt your relationship.

Friends

5 Friendship Skills Your Child May Have Forgotten

Eileen Kennedy-Moore Ph.D. on March 31, 2021

After a year of living remotely, children may have forgotten a lot about getting along with peers. Here's an overview of five essential friendship skills.

After a year of living remotely, children may have forgotten a lot about getting along with peers. Here's an overview of five essential friendship skills.

Friends

6 Types of Friendship Breakups

Eileen Kennedy-Moore Ph.D. on March 29, 2021

Children’s friendships end for many reasons. Here are some of the main types of breakups.

Children’s friendships end for many reasons. Here are some of the main types of breakups.

Friends

When Friends Have Different Family Rules for COVID-19

Eileen Kennedy-Moore Ph.D. on March 22, 2021

Differences in families' pandemic rules create friendship challenges for kids. Here's a way to understand those differences.

Differences in families' pandemic rules create friendship challenges for kids. Here's a way to understand those differences.

Perfectionism

The Danger of Telling Kids “Do Your Best”

Eileen Kennedy-Moore Ph.D. on December 31, 2020

Some kids hear "do your best" messages as "do the best job you can possibly imagine!" Here are some problems with that message and an alternative.

Some kids hear "do your best" messages as "do the best job you can possibly imagine!" Here are some problems with that message and an alternative.