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7yr old boy choosing to play alone all the time

4 replies

Herewegoagain31 · 16/10/2023 18:08

Hi my 7yr old boy is very happy in himself but chooses to spend his breaks and lunchtimes at school often alone (voluntarily) and we can’t work out if this is normal or a bit neurodiverse. Wondering if anyone else has had a child like this? according to his teachers he is very personable and has great interactions in the classroom at school, but at break and lunch he will choose to go off by himself even if asked by other children to play with them. He does it at home too, just goes out in the garden and skips up and down alone for ages. His teacher wondered If he is a bit neurodiverse but I’ve googled it and I just cant see that he fits any of the asd ‘symptoms’ - However he’s definitely not like other ‘normal’ boys and not at all like his sisters who are definitely ‘normal’ if there is such a thing! He’s also never had a proper friend or been invited on a play date. He’s had some friends round and they do always play well together so he’s not awkward. It’s very confusing. I just don’t want to try to encourage more social interaction if it is a neurodiverse thing as that wouldn’t be kind, but if it’s just a habit I’d like to speak to him about it to explain that ideally he would save his alone time for outside school and try to be more interactive at playtime at school so he does make some friends

OP posts:
SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 16/10/2023 21:04

Why does the Teacher think he may have ASD and have they suggested referral for assessment?

Herewegoagain31 · 17/10/2023 08:51

No, he is excelling academically and behaviour wise has nothing that would recommend a formal assessment, I’ve been through all the checklists myself and while he’s not ‘normal’ in his behaviour as a boy I just don’t See that he has asd behaviour aside from this tendency not to want to interact with his peers

OP posts:
Omma23 · 17/10/2023 22:12

I mean… he could just be an introvert. Where extroverts feel energised by being around others and in groups, an introvert feels drained after a period and needs alone time to recharge. Some people are extroverts, some introverts, and there’s nothing wrong with either. The fact he has good relationships and no other concerns raised suggests nothing serious.

Crispautumn · 19/10/2023 16:23

He does sound neurodivergent OP, not unlike a 7 year old boy I know with autism.

Does he have any sensory sensitivities? These could be touch, sound, smell, taste, feel of clothes etc. Or does he sensory seek, the skipping for ages sounds like it’s a repetitive behaviour or a sensory seeking behaviour?

Either way it sounds like you embrace who he is and he’s happy to be himself, which is great.

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