Son won't leave the house

[AvoidingRealHumans]

I have two and the older one (9) is refusing to leave the house, he hasn't been out since the last day of school.

He won't come for walks which makes it hard to go for walks with the younger one as I don't want to be gone too long. I also worry that it's unhealthy for him to be cooped up every day for 2 weeks now.

He is extremely worried about the virus and I understand that but I think it's gotten a bit much if he won't go out of the front door, he will go in the garden but for no longer than 5 mins.
He seems fine in himself apart from this, when I discuss calmly that he should come out with us he says his chest hurts.

I wondered if anyone knew of anything I could say to him or any online resources to help him overcome this. We stopped watching the news weeks ago as I didn't want to hear it so he isn't aware of the death rates now or anything else really.
It's not like him, he's usually very outgoing and sporty.
Thanks for any input

That must be very worrying for you.

On the other hand, it's not an unreasonable reaction from him.

I'd suggest actively working on other forms of relaxation. Things like yoga for kids, blowing a balloon up with worries and letting them all fly away around the room when you let the balloon go.

Remind him that being out in the sunshine helps your body make vitamins to keep it healthy, so it's good to get outside. Also, being physically active helps your body fight off infections.

Show him proactive ways to stay safe- hand washing when you come inside, hand gel for when you have touched something etc.

And give it time.

Do you have outdoor seating? Could you try eating lunch in the garden just to get out? I am similarly worried about going out tbh but my flat has a balcony so I try to eat at least one meal a day outside, weather permitting, which at least should mean I still get Vit D. (and maybe try indoor activities like yoga or dance, even wii or other active console games if you have one so that he's not totally sedentary)

Thanks for the advice. We have been doing kids yoga and indoor exercises.
Today was a good day, I managed to get him out for a walk, he panicked a bit when we saw other people but everyone kept their distance. We went to a local field and he had the field to himself with his brother which I think settled his nerves and they ran for an hour.
He has said he might not go out tomorrow but I'll take it a day at a time.

Glad you got him out for it.

I think this is the flip side of all the people virtually yelling at ud that if we so much as set foot in our gardens we will kill people - some people are just plain terrified.

I can't get DS1 out of the house. He's 16 and autistic. We had the patio doors open, yesterday, and he was visibly uncomfortable with it. It's not just the virus that seems to be playing on his anxiety but the fact that so many things have changed. He can't just pop into the shop for a kitkst, we can't catch a bus. All the buses have vastly reduced their services so he's not even motivated to go out and take pictures of them.

For a bit.

My youngest doesn't want to leave the house either, although he was never that keen before the pandemic either. He's 13. I'm leaving him to it, but we do have a garden so making sure he gets outside at least. He's taken all the messages about staying in very seriously. I'm slightly worried I won't get him out again when this is over but will worry about that later.