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Primary education

Helping a shy 5 year old build confidence

5 replies

arsearsearse · 26/10/2018 13:21

My ds is 5 and the youngest in his year 1 class. He’s happy and loves learning, and made lots of friends in reception. But this year he’s been saying he doesn’t have any friends to play with. Some of them play too roughly for him and he’s not into football. One boy was picking on him a bit but I spoke to the teacher and that seems to have stopped. He just seems to be on his own a lot. And it’s not helped by the fact that he’s very shy, so finds it hard to join in.

In reception they had a lot more things to play with so I think hat helped him make friends. But now that it’s all football and fighting he doesn’t know how/ want to play.

He says he is lonely and has started wetting himself quite regularly. What can I do to help him?

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blessedmum2x · 26/10/2018 16:16

Sorry about the wetting.

On overcoming shyness, what I did with my DD was to sign her up for activities that gave her an opportunity to go on a real stage before an audience . I signed her up for ballet, singing and street dance. So every term she got to perform three times on stage before an audience. It did wonders for her. It also helped her make friends.

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arsearsearse · 26/10/2018 16:36

thank you blessedmum2x that is a good idea. How old was she when you started? I can't find any local classes that start for 5 year olds but perhaps I should look further afield.

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Xiaoxiong · 26/10/2018 22:42

I was about to say the same - my sons did Perform once a week from age 4 and it made such a difference. I can't recommend drama clubs enough for this, particularly if it's one like Perform that isn't a "stage school" as much as one that builds confidence. Sports clubs are also helpful as I can see that my sportier DS always has an "in" with other kids, always something he can do with them if he is confident kicking a ball around.

We also do a lot of role plays at home - how would you talk to a teacher, an adult you don't know, another kid in school or in a playground. That helps DS1 as he is fearful of anything unfamiliar so if we practice it at home he feels like he's done it before.

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Xiaoxiong · 26/10/2018 22:45

Sorry I see he's not into football - other sports are available though sometimes you wouldn't know it when you look at the primary school playground. There must be some kids that don't do football though, at age 5 - maybe tell him to search out the kids that are doing other things in the playground round the edges?