DS is 2.7 and I am slightly concerned about his behaviour in groups of children. Specifically when it involves participating. He is not too bad one to one with friend's children and will play alone at toddler groups fairly happily but he is just not interested in taking part in any group activities. He will not stand in a circle to sing, dance or take part in any craft activities that other children are doing. He won't be gently encouraged and if I persist it leads to him screaming and lying on the floor.I do not think he is scared or shy he just seems to be completely unwilling to even attempt to take part.
We have dropped out of swimming, tumble tots and rhythm time because it was just too horrific. DS is size of 5 year old and half my body weight so when he just drops to the floor and refuses to move I really struggle. We would arrive at these places, he wouldn't be too bad for the first few weeks (would sometimes sit in circle and occasionally join in, would wait turn etc, not great and not as co-operative as other children but I thought at least it was a start) but then he would get worse as time went on and by the fifth or sixth week in I wouldn't even be able to get him through the door. He would refuse to get out of the car, I would force him, he'd be screaming and if I eventually managed to get him into the building he would spend the entire time running for the door. He is very physically active so I thought we might do better at tumble tots and swimming, but no, exactly the same.
He is NO interest in what the other children are doing and seemingly does not enjoy these things. Yet at home he will happily sing, dance, do actions to rhymes, paint etc. In fact he is a completely different child at home and in places that are very familiar to him such as his grandparent's house. I would say his reluctance to participate comes from being scared or phased by something new but I do not think this is the case as he actually gets worse the longer we attend something. It's like he gets bored.
AIBU to be concerned? All the other children at these groups seemed to manage the majority of the time. I am not expecting him to take part ALL the time and sit quietly and join in but AIBU to think he should be able to do these things sometimes? The other children are a similar age but seem much more sociable and willing to join in. I am concerned because he should start nursery in September and school the following year but I just have visions of him running for the door all the time and refusing to go.