lone ranger!

[Cussy]

Hi all,
My 5yr old boy is very bad a mixing and playing with other kids. He is very serious and deep thinking. He would prefer to just dig holes or do any 'jobs' outside, on his own or with a grown up. How do I lighten him up and get him mixing better with other kids?

Bless him. I imagine this is what my baby will be like in a few years. hes is so desperate to be and adult and get moving, he totally hates being a baby and being around kids. He sounds like a cutie but I can understand your concerns. Some kids are just more mature and don't understand 'silly games'. Maybe he's just very intellegent and thoughtful. If he's ok with grown ups then I think he's fine, he isn't under socialised or anything. He just enjoys adult compqny, it's sweet really. Have you tried taking him to out of school clubs like beavers or maybe he's too young for that yet. He's fine though, sounds adorable wanting to dig and do jobs, lovely sensible kid, you're lucky!!!

I don't think you need to do anything much apart from give him opportunities to mix. He may or may not want to. Either way that's fine.
My eldest ds was like this and he never really liked groups. He did come round in his own time and had friends similar to him. They know their own minds and join in with things if it takes their fancy but never because they think they should.

Can't help as ds is younger (2.7) but I can so imagine him being the same at 5!

He is quite happy pottering around, helping with jobs similarly and has a take it or leave it approach to other kids. He sits and thinks and you can see his little mind ticking over bless him.

It is hard sometimes even at ds's age as other parents try so hard to get him to join in and be sociable and they mean well but it doesn't really work. They're either interested or they're not.

Definitely think when your ds is a little older he will meet similar kids and find friends with similar interests.

just give him opportunities and see if he does or not. does he like movies? i sometimes think for kids who aren't really outgoing its a bit too much pressure to entertain each other so it might be nicer for them to sit and watch a film together.

Is he at school? I have a 5 year old ds last week he went to tea at one of the other boys house and hasn't stopped talking about it. It's made me realise that I should have made more effort to invite some boys back here, poor thing (3rd dc!). So, I'd suggest inviting some children to play.

Thanks for all the advice. You have all put my mind to rest. He is still only a baby and in his own time will make a really good friend for life probably. He is such a good, caring boy. He does enjoy sitting and watching a movie and when he gets more settled into school I will invite a friend around.