8 yr old with low self esteem

[kibiwright]

I got called in today as my 8year ds. has become the class snitch. He has no friends as a result. I am pretty sure this is because of his low self esteem. He is a bit of a loner and socially awkward which is not helped by his siblings pointing it out all the time!

Is that what they said? That he is the "class snitch"?? If so that is shocking! If not....and either way...they need to be assisting him socially. What are their plans to help him? Did they put anything in place?

Yes they used those words! They have laid the problem at our feet. We had a long talk with him last night about his happiness. I have been advised on a board game called 'socially speaking'. has anyone tried this game?

It's not good enough is it...poor DS! The school have a responsibility to set some strategies in place....if I were you OP I would repost this in chat or in primary education asking people for input about what kind of things schools have done for their DC in similar situations.

I know there ARE things they can do...my own DD who is now in year 4 had to have some help when she first arrived at the school in year 3...they helped her by teaching the class old fashioned circle games...she was often made to be "games master" so that she had to interact...the teacher made her do it and as a result, these circle games became popular at playtime and then DD felt she could join in.

Different for a boy though....but there WILL be things they can do...for a start, are there any lunchtime clubs which he could join in with? Some schools have lego or computer clubs...often popular with shyer kids or kids who just prefer indoor play....or you could help by asking him if there are any boys at all he likes and gets on with and who are nice to him that he could invite to play after school one day?

Not sure if this will help but I read years ago that if you can find something - anything - your ds is good at and get him involved in that and this will help improve his self esteem. Be that art, dance, gymnastics, karate....

I agree with that Duffle....my DD was suffering with similar and she's always been good at art so I began entering her art into competitions and she won a prize which we took into school so her teacher could show the class. DD now has a "thing" which is hers...she's the one that's good at art.

Is there something DS is good at?

There is a good book called "The Optimisitic Child" which addresses self esteem issues -available on Amazon.