Your Child Is Struggling to Make Friends — Here's What Dr. Ashley Poklar Says Actually Helps

Watching your child struggle socially is one of the most helpless feelings a parent can experience — and most of the advice available either oversimplifies the problem or puts the entire burden of change on the child without giving parents any concrete tools to help. Dr. Ashley Poklar is a licensed clinical psychologist who bridges the gap between psychological research and the practical realities of parenting — and what she shares with Stacey Chillemi about how to help your child develop the social skills and emotional intelligence that make meaningful friendships possible, how to teach empathy and confident communication in ways that feel natural rather than forced, and the specific strategies for navigating playdates, group activities, and the social situations that most challenge kids who struggle to connect will give you the most practically grounded and immediately applicable childhood friendship development framework you have encountered. Your child deserves a social life that feels good. This episode gives you the tools to help build it. Discover Ashley Poklar's insightful ponderings and valuable resources on her website, A Poklar Ponders. There, she bridges the gap between psychology and day-to-day living in parenting and education. Explore more at Visit the Sentinel Foundation website at to learn about their impactful initiatives in combatting child exploitation and preserving human life. Subscribe for more parenting tips and insights, and let’s work together to unlock your child's social circle!  #Parenting #SocialSkills #Friendship #ChildDevelopment #EmotionalIntelligence #SocialCircle #KidsFriendships Become a supporter of this podcast: . Follow The Advisor with Stacey Chillemi for weekly episodes on mindset, wellness, spirituality, and business growth—without burnout. Newsletter & resources: https://substack.com/@staceychillemi Watch & connect: • • Be a guest/sponsor: [email protected] • or Disclaimer: Educational only; not medical, mental-health, or legal advice. © The Advisor with Stacey Chillemi. All rights reserved. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices