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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Lonliest little boy in the world

7 replies

GooseyLoosey · 08/05/2007 21:25

It was ds's 4th birthday at the weekend and we took him and some friends to a local playground. Its a great place with lots of really exciting things and all of them had a great time, except ds who chose to go there. I lost sight of him at one point and then noticed he had retreated to a corner of the playground and was sat on a see saw on his own with no one at the other end while all his little "friends" ran round with each other. He looked so lonely!

I wish he would play with other children, but generally he just ignores them or will talk to them for a few minutes at the most. I don't want him to be lonely.

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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littlelapin · 08/05/2007 21:28

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

dinny · 08/05/2007 21:28

oh, please don't be sad. maybe he is a real one-on-one person and would have been happier with one good friend to play with? many children seem shy and alone at different times in a group situation. what did he say about it?

dinny · 08/05/2007 21:29

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Original poster

GooseyLoosey · 08/05/2007 21:32

Thanks - you're right ll, he did not seem particularly unhappy. It was just such a stark image for me that it actually made me want to cry. Dinny, not sure he will even do one on one with other children for more than a few minutes.

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3monkeys · 10/05/2007 13:53

It's awful to watch them on their own! My DS1 was like that for a long time and I wouldn't take him to football or anything because I couldn't bear it! He was never upset about it though, and now at 7, he 's not the most sociable child ever but joins in much better- he just learnt it later than the others. It will come with time

castlesintheair · 10/05/2007 13:56

My DS was like this GL until he started school in September and now he's friend mad! It is gut-wrenching to watch them like this but as long as he is happy, wait and see how he is at school.

bananabump · 10/05/2007 14:02

Does he communicate and act "normally" around you and other adults? I tended to get on with adults a lot better when I was small as all my brothers and sisters were 15+ years older than me. Children seemed rash, unpredictable and less caring in comparison.

Having said that, he might just not know how to make friends or get involved with activities. Perhaps you could try just inviting one friend at a time round to your house for tea, and engineering friendly activities with no competition where he doesn't feel threatened by the other child? Activities which are funny and get them both laughing could work.

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