Kids Clinic: What to do if your child feels left out
Summary
Clinical psychologist Dr. Anne Kio joins Kira Kelly and Shane Coleman to discuss how parents can support children feeling left out. The episode covers identifying subtle signs of exclusion across different age groups and emphasizes approaching conversations gently to avoid making children feel interrogated. Dr. Kio advises against overreacting or projecting personal anxieties, suggesting instead that parents help kids develop social tools and seek perspective from teachers or other adults. The discussion highlights that while exclusion is painful, navigating friendship changes is a normal p…
Topics discussed
Introduction: Dr. Anne Kio on children feeling left out
Signs of exclusion across different age groups
Approaching the conversation: avoiding interrogation
Timing and settings for open dialogue
The danger of over- or under-reacting
When and how to intervene with schools
Seeking external perspective and support
The difficulty of subtle exclusion vs. bullying
Equipping children with social tools and phrases
Levels of intervention: child, social, and adult
Parental projection and sensitivity to exclusion
Managing firstborn dynamics and parental history
Normalizing friendship changes and long-term growth
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