Listen Together!
Listen Together!
Kidventure Episode
This month, we’re exploring friendship! Todd is joined by three warm, thoughtful kids, Charles (9), Bea (8), and Anthony (8), for a heartfelt conversation about one of the most important parts of childhood (and life!): friendship. Together, they explore how friendships begin — from bus rides and Roblox to vet clinics and hospital hallways. They share what it feels like when a friendship clicks, and what it feels like when something shifts. They talk about feeling left out, working through conflict, and the courage it takes to talk about it.
Then, the kids close their eyes and shimmer into the Land of Qook-a-lackas, where they meet Quorra, a Qook-a-leekie played by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw, whose BFF Quenna has been spending time with a new group withouth Quorra. Quorra’s sparkles are dimming, Quorra’s purple is fading to gray, and Quorra doesn’t know what to do next.
The kids help Quorra find the words to share their feelings, the courage to jump in and play, and the patience to wait until Quenna is ready to listen.
This Kidventure supports social and emotional learning by encouraging empathy, expression, conflict resolution, and the understanding that friendships naturally shift and grow.
Listen Together, Learn Together!
IN THIS EPISODE, KIDS WILL:
- Explore how friendships begin and how they can change over time
- Learn that feeling left out is normal and that feelings deserve to be named
- Practice finding brave, kind words for necessary conversations
- Understand that friends sometimes need space, and that’s okay, too
GROWN-UPS, YOU CAN EXTEND THE CONVERSATION BY ASKING:
- How did you become friends?
- Has a friendship ever felt different or tricky? What did you feel? What did you say or do?
- What’s a brave thing you could say if you ever felt left out?
Listen to New Friendship Songs from We're Friends Now
In this Songs episode of Little Kids, Big Hearts, Todd and returning guest Anthony listen to and talk about four beautiful tracks from We’re Friends Now, a brand new kids’ album all about friendship by award-winning children’s musicians Benjamin Weiner and Suzi Shelton. From a song about how opposites make the best of friends, to a reminder to look up from your phone and notice the people around you, to a cozy treehouse hideout, to a table where everyone is welcome, these songs spark big conversations about what friendship really means. Anthony shares his own friendship stories, talks about the treehouse he’d build, and reveals that he makes music too!
About the Album: We’re Friends Now features 11 folk, indie, and pop-inspired songs written and performed by Suzi Shelton and Benjamin Weiner, and produced by GRAMMY-winning Dean Jones. It is out now on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, and more.
Listen to We’re Friends Now: Apple Music https://music.apple.com/us/album/were-friends-now/1875727916, Spotify https://open.spotify.com/album/77Oj3I8EpxrVMVoor2346g
About Benjamin Weiner: Benjamin Weiner is a writer and composer whose work spans Nickelodeon, PBS, and Spin Master. He is also one half of the beloved kids music duo Princess Backpack and Benjamin, bringing joy to kids one story and song at a time. Benjamin has written for shows including Dora and preschool podcasts, and brings warmth, wit, and a deep love of childhood to everything he creates. Learn more at benjaminweiner.com.
About Suzi Shelton: Suzi Shelton is an award-winning NYC singer and songwriter who has been bringing joy and musical fun to families for over a decade. Trained as a dancer, she never imagined she’d become a kids’ musician, but now can’t imagine doing anything else. Suzi and her band have performed at prestigious venues including The White House, Symphony Space, BAM, and the Lincoln Center Tree Lighting Ceremony in NYC. Her music celebrates diversity, inclusion, and kindness, and her live-stream show Sing with Suzi has been watched in more than 70 countries. Learn more at suzishelton.com.