You know that gut-punch moment when your kid says, “Everyone in 7th grade was invited to the birthday party… except me”? Yeah — we’re going there.

In this week’s episode of Parenting Matters, Rebecca is joined by psychologist and mom of two, Dr. Nina Kaiser from Practice San Francisco to talk about the real stuff: middle school social dynamics, exclusion, and how we can support our kids when things feel rough.

We get into:
•What to say (and not say) when your kid feels left out
• What you can do to create buffers for your child: hint even just one friend, sometimes outside of school, can make all the difference
• When it’s time to seek help or get other adults involved and how to do it
• How social media or even just group text threads can add fuel to the fire

It’s an honest, practical conversation for anyone trying to help their kids build resilience — and feel a little less alone as a parent too.

Takeaways

• Mental health skills can be learned and practiced.


• Social exclusion can start as early as third grade.


• Parents should validate their child's feelings of exclusion.


• It's important to teach children self-advocacy skills.


• Having one good friend can significantly impact a child's well-being.


• Parents should underreact to their child's social mistakes.


• Social dynamics in middle school can be challenging for both boys and girls.

Early intervention can prevent significant social challenges later on.

Children need tools to navigate social situations effectively.

Communication is key to understanding a child's social experiences.

For more info on Dr. Nina Kaiser and PracticeSF:

Practice San Francisco website: https://www.practicesanfrancisco.com

Other Mothers weekly newsletter on Substack:  https://othermothers.substack.com

Instagram: @practice.sf and @drninakaiser

Connect with us:

Website: earlychildhoodmatters.com/podcast

Instagram: @EarlyChildhoodMattersSF
Facebook facebook.com/ecmsf

Got a question for a future episode? List it in the comments, comment on our web site, or email info@earlychildhoodmatters.org. We’d love to hear from you!

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Chapters

• (00:00:00 ) - Introduction to Parenting Matters and Dr. Nina Kaiser
• (00:02:44 ) - Understanding Social Exclusion in Middle School
• (00:05:58 ) - The Importance of Early Intervention in Social Skills
• (00:08:59 ) - Navigating Birthday Party Exclusions
• (00:11:48 ) - Building Resilience Through Social Challenges
• (00:14:45 ) - The Role of Parents in Social Dynamics
• (00:17:54 ) - Helping Children Understand Exclusion
• (00:20:48 ) - The Impact of Social Media on Friendships
• (00:23:48 ) - When to Seek Professional Help for Social Issues
• (00:26:35 ) - The Importance of One Good Friend
• (00:29:51 ) - Supporting Children Through Injuries and Social Changes
• (00:32:37 ) - Encouraging Self-Advocacy in Children
• (00:35:29 ) - Conclusion and Resources for Families