Episode 2 – Brayden, Age 12: Friendship with brother

Welcome! I’m Dr. Eileen Kennedy-Moore, also known as Dr. Friendtastic.  I’m an author and clinical psychologist based in Princeton, NJ. Let’s listen to today’s question:

Hi, my name is Brayden, and I’m 12. My question is: How can I be a best friend to my little brother?

Hi, Brayden, I just love this question! What a kind thing to be wondering! The fact that you’re asking means you’re probably already a very good friend to your little brother.  But let’s think for a moment about what it means to be a good friend. Good friends have fun together! That’s the first thing. So, think about what you can do with your brother that you both enjoy. Good friends are also kind to each other. You might want to think about what you can do  to show your brother you care about him. That could mean helping him, saying kind things to him, or maybe just doing small things that you know will make him smile.  Here’s the hardest one: Good friends forgive each other. I know you love your little brother, but it’s hard to live with people! It’s very likely that at some point he’s going to do something that bothers you or you’re going to do something that upsets him.  Good friends are able to move past those rough spots. You might need to listen or explain or apologize. But mostly, you need to forgive each other and keep trying to be a good friend. This has been Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic. If YOU have a question about making and keeping friends that you’d like me to answer, go to DrFriendtastic.com, and click on Podcast to see how to submit your question.