Hi everyone. I'm looking for some advice on how to deal with this.
My DD12 has become really withdrawn over the last year. Before she hit 11 she was very active, part of a swimming team, went to theatre school and had private singing lessons. She loved meeting people and she was competitive with herself in a healthy way, which she used to get better at things she enjoyed.
At the end of year 6 she was given the lead part in her leavers play and was required to sing solo in numerous parts. She has a soft delicate voice so was quite quiet in comparison to others. She received some not friendly comments from a few class mates but got through it and she did brilliant. But straight after she wanted to end all her out of school activities. I encouraged her to carry on but she was adamant she wanted to stop, so she stopped.
She was very popular in primary school so the jump to high school in year 7 was daunting for her. She wasn't with anyone familiar in any of her classes but within the first month she gained a nice little group of friends as well as keeping a few old ones.
We're almost a year later now and she won't do anything, it's so hard to get her motivated. She hates how she looks (she has gained a little weight) and her confidence is so low. Her sleeping routine is really messed up at the moment, with lockdown now helping and I think she is really missing the routine of school. She's a very shy girl now and really just keeps within her circle at school.
She has just started piano lessons, which I'm really pleased about and I'm hoping this with build her confidence a little.
I'd just really like to know if this sounds normal? I have a DS16 too and he never went through anything like this, he's always been very motivated.
Does anyone have any books she can read to help her self esteem or if there's anything that might help? Any help would be brilliant and really appreciated.