If anyone could help would be v grateful. Got a 9yo who has lots of lovely qualities, kind, generous, bright....
He absolutely will not try at anything. I've known for ages he's not naturally sporty. That's fine. He absolutely will not try with sport, academic stuff. Anything. He's naturally shy and lacking confidence. He's learnt 'if i don't try I don't fail' and honestly its heartbreaking to watch. My family just say 'take him to football' etc but he won't go and if i were to drag him he would strop in the corner. He's really not managed to make any friends - i just think peers don't see his qualities as he's too busy being grumpy and refusing to do something. Help!
How would you approach this? I can't just sit down and say this all to him as it's crushing. Basically i love you but you've kind of got it all wrong. I think if he just smiled, said yes and gave things a go he would realise that trying makes you improve and everyone praises effort. But i cannot for the life of me get him to do that. He's not got anywhere near the confidence.