Growing Friendships

All about children's social and emotional development.

Eileen Kennedy-Moore Ph.D.

The Danger of Telling Kids “Do Your Best”

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.

Why Grit Is Overrated

Promoting grit as a key to success raises both practical and philosophical concerns.

Handling Political Disagreements in the Family

It’s tempting to steer clear of political topics with loved ones who have different views, but these conversations are possible and can even be useful.

Is Your Child a Good Friend?

It takes effort and practice for children to learn how to be a good friend.

Finding a Less Awkward Socially-Distant Greeting

There’s an awkwardness to greeting people we care about in a socially distant way. Here are some alternatives.

Top 5 Parent Concerns About Kids Wearing Masks

Having to make their children wear masks worries many parents. Here are five top concerns and ways to address them.

Top 5 Texting Mistakes Kids Make

By talking about some of the common texting pitfalls, you may be able to help your kid avoid them.

When—Not If—You Lose It With Your Child During Coronavirus

While you certainly didn’t intend those imperfect parenting moments, they’re actually an important opportunity to teach your child about relationship repair.

Helping Lonely Children During the Coronavirus Pandemic

After months of social distancing, many kids are feeling very, very lonely. Here are some ideas to help your child feel more connected.

How to Love the Ones You’re with During Coronavirus

We love our families, but constant confinement puts a strain on everyone’s nerves. Here are some ways to get along during coronavirus.

How to Help Kids Talk About Feelings

Children often struggle to be able to talk about how they’re feeling. Here’s a simple technique to help them find the words they need.

Coping With Worries About the Coronavirus

The headlines are scary. The uncertainty is worse. How can you manage your anxiety about the coronavirus?

When Your Child Hates Compliments

Reasons why receiving a compliment feels so uncomfortable for some kids and possible solutions.

What Is Psychologists’ Favorite Word?

One small word encompasses a big shift in thinking that can help people become unstuck. Learn about the power of this simple word.

Is Your Child “Addicted” to Screens?

How can you tell if your child's screen use is a problem? What can you do to help your child be smart about online activity?

When Your Child’s Best Friend Is “Stolen”

For children, the feelings of jealousy and betrayal when a close friend starts spending time with someone else can be as intense as those of teens or adults coping with infidelity.

3 Levels of Stress Management

Stress is like a river with three waterfalls, representing three levels at which we can intervene. In general, the higher up-stream we address stress, the easier it is to handle.

Not All Homework Help Is Helpful

Battles over correcting homework may cause more harm than good. Here are better ways to help your child with homework.

When You Don’t Like Your Child’s Friend

You may be tempted to forbid your child from hanging out with a friend you don’t like, but there are other options that can help your child learn about navigating relationships.

Overstepping Boundaries: When Your Kid Comes On Too Strong

Some children struggle socially because they frequently overstep personal boundaries, angering peers. Being aware of common boundary violations can help children avoid them.

When Your Child Can’t Decide

Some children agonize over even small decisions. Teaching indecisive kids about myths and truths of decision-making can help them make up their minds.

How to Resist Competitive Parenting

At its worst, competitive parenting says to kids, “You need to achieve in order to prove that I’m a good parent.” Here's how to resist getting pulled into that game.

What’s Wrong With Sticker Charts and Reward Systems?

At first glance, using a sticker chart or other reward system seems like a harmless way to gain children's cooperation. But there are some potential downsides to this strategy.

What's My Child Thinking?

Children are not just short adults. They think about things in qualitatively different ways than adults do. These differences can be delightful, baffling, or exasperating.

Children’s Friendship Groups

Friendship groups add an extra dimension of fun—and complication—to children’s social worlds.

What We Get Wrong About Children’s Self-Esteem

Real self-esteem isn't about loving ourselves; it's about being able to let go of the question, "Am I good enough?" by connecting with something bigger than ourselves.

Helping Perfectionist Kids Learn to Tolerate Mistakes

Kids often hear that mistakes are part of learning. But if they have perfectionist tendencies, they don’t believe it. Here’s a way to help kids be more accepting of their mistakes.

Can Parental Touch Help Socially Anxious Children?

Touch is our most basic way of connecting and comforting. A recent study suggests that parental touch can also serve as a safety signal for children.

Teach Your Child to Ask for Help—the Right Way

Asking for help is a surprisingly complicated skill—especially for kids. Here's how children who have a hard time asking for help can do so effectively.

Want Your Child to Listen and Learn? Don’t Lecture

When children do things they know they shouldn't, it’s tempting to lecture them. But lectures make kids feel defensive or resentful. Here's what to do instead.

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