How to Help Kids Build Positive, Healthy Friendships | Thriving Kids Podcast

Friendships are a huge part of growing up — but they don’t always come easy. In this episode of Thriving Kids, Dr. Dave Anderson talks with Dr. Mandy Silverman about how parents can support their child’s social development in meaningful, practical ways. From navigating playdates to balancing online and real-world relationships, they break down what kids need to build strong, lasting friendships — and how you can help without hovering or overstepping. You’ll get expert guidance on what’s typical (and not), how to encourage connection, and what to do when your child seems to be on the outside looking in. Subscribe for more evidence-backed parenting advice, every other Thursday. Explore more free resources: childmind.org/resources ⸻ Resources Mentioned From the Child Mind Institute: • Friends and Socializing Resource Center: childmind.org/topics/concerns/friends-socializing • How to Help Kids Make Friends: 12 Evidence‑Based Tips: childmind.org/article/how-to-help-kids-make-friends/ • Kids Who Need a Little Help to Make Friends: childmind.org/article/kids-who-need-a-little-help-to-make-friends/ • Helping Children Make Friends: What Parents Can Do: childmind.org/article/helping-children-make-friends-what-parents-can-do/ • Contact a Clinician: childmind.org/contact/ • The Thriving Kids Projects: childmind.org/education/outreach-partnerships/thriving-kids/ Other Helpful Reading: • APA – How to Help Kids Navigate Friendships and Peer Relationships: apa.org/news/press/releases/2023/08/help-kids-navigate-friendships • Harvard Health – What Parents Can Do to Support Friendships: health.harvard.edu/blog/helping-children-make-friends-what-parents-can-do-202301052874 • Verywell Family – Controlling or Toxic Friend Guidance: verywellfamily.com/signs-your-friend-is-controlling-and-a-bully-460803 • Raising Children Network – Encouraging Positive Behavior: raisingchildren.net.au/ ⸻ Episode Breakdown 00:00 – Welcome to Thriving Kids 01:15 – Why friendship worries quickly spiral for parents 02:30 – The impact of screens and “curated” social lives 04:30 – What kids actually need from friendships 06:00 – Values vs. behaviors in choosing friends 08:00 – How much control do parents really have? 09:30 – Quality over quantity: busting the “more friends = better” myth 11:30 – Social development in different communities 13:00 – From classmates to playdates: building friendships step by step 15:00 – Structuring playdates (and why unstructured time backfires) 16:00 – What about screen-based friendships? 17:30 – Why IRL friends still matter (but online isn’t bad) 18:30 – Pushing past discomfort: when to nudge your kid 20:30 – Helping kids grow through new experiences 22:00 – A personal example (spoiler: it’s okay if they cry at first) 24:00 – Do as we say, not always as we do — lessons from our own parenting