Episode 17 - From Loneliness to Connection: Navigating Friendship Development

Episode 17 - From Loneliness to Connection: Navigating Friendship Development

From Raise Strong by Alex Anderson-Kahl

March 9, 2026 · 20 min · Episode 17

About this episode

This episode explores healthy friendship development in children and the emotional skills necessary for building lasting connections.

Many parents quietly wonder: Is it normal that my child struggles socially? Maybe you’ve watched your child walk onto a playground and felt a knot in your stomach. Will someone include them? Will they know how to join in? Will they get hurt? In this episode of Raise Strong , we explore what healthy friendship development actually looks like — and the emotional skills that matter far more than popularity. Because friendships aren’t built on charisma. They’re built on learnable skills. What You’ll Learn in This Episode In this episode, you’ll discover: • The core emotional skills that help children build lasting friendships • Why popularity is far less important than belonging • What often gets in the way of friendship development • How everyday moments at home build social confidence • Signs your child is developing healthy friendship skills This episode blends attachment science, child psychology, and practical parenting insights to help you support your child’s social world with more clarity and less worry. The Big Idea Friendship readiness isn’t about having lots of friends. It grows from five key competencies: • Emotional regulation • Perspective-taking and empathy • Social…

People in this episode

Host: Alex Anderson-Kahl

Topics covered

  • friendship development
  • emotional skills
  • social confidence
  • parenting insights
  • attachment science

Keywords

  • friendship
  • social skills
  • emotional regulation
  • parenting
  • child psychology
  • belonging
  • confidence

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