8 year old has no friends

[Boleyn]

Hi - my 8 year old son has few, if no real, friends at school. I thought he did have at least one girl as a close friend but have found out today that she has not invited him to her party. He told me today that another boy he used to play with now longer does. This has happened a few times. I now worry that he has no friends and either plays on his own or tags along.

We invite children round to play and to his birthday parties but he does not get invites back.

He is bright but bossy. He cries when he does not get his way - he probably has the nickname of "Weeping William".

[notagrannyyet]

So sorry for your DS.

Have you thought of getting him involved in cubs/boys brigade or a sport where he might make new friends. Try asking the other mums if their DC do any out of school activities.

[abraid]

I agree about the out of school activities: these will help boost his self-esteem and emotional resilience. Football club? Swimming? Judo?

[Boleyn]

Hi - he does swimming (no-one from his school), drama at school and we have just started him in cubs. He loves cubs but so far has not made any friends - though there are chilodren from his school there.

[abraid]

It's not necessarily that there are children from the school at these activities, more that doing the activities themselves eventually builds up the esteem levels, etc. I do feel your pain--I had issues with my son at about the same age. Eventually we moved him (not just for this reason). He's now a happy 12-year old and much more confident.

[t875]

Carry on with the play dates, and i would also talk to the teacher, see if she can put your son with someone who he gets on with so it will help build there friendship.

Maybe also if you are friends with any of the mums of the children in your childs class, who you feel you can trust..ask if thye can get an idea from their child what your son is coming accross like in the class etc.

I had the same thing with my daughter, i worked on her feeling confident to approach the children and play dates and also asked my friend for feedback from her child in the class.

Hope it sorts itself out, i know its horrible to think they havent got anyone..my daughter is loads better and is mixing really well now and has been invited here and there outside of school.