Hi, I have an amazingly close relationship with my little brother, of whom is just 5. Recently he has been looking incredibly sad when I pop over to the family home to see him, and very reserved.
As a background picture, he's incredibly bright and often prefers adult company, instead of playing with children his own age. Despite that though, he's incredibly popular with his peers and has lots of friends (despite constantly pointing out their flaws).
My Mum was pulled up by his teacher yesterday because she has observed that he isn't interacting with the other children anymore and instead reads in the corner of the playground!
I ask him about this behaviour today, and his reply was that "he finds them unbearably silly". I haven't seen him smile (a bloody 5 year old), in a week!
My Mum insists he is just feeling sad because he's had to go back to school after his break, and is incredibly blasè about it, but I think this has been going on for quite a while longer.
I asked him how he was feeling after dinner (I tucked him in tonight), and he says he feels "really sad and bored". I don't know what to do. He is the most intelligent, charismatic child I've ever come across and has friends and resources at his fingertips, yet he is apparently bored.
Another red alarm is he's decided he doesn't want to go to his swimming lessons anymore and resigns to his bed after school each day. My Mum thinks nothing of this and I just can't believe it doesn't concern her.
Perhaps I sound a little overbearing but his symptoms come across as slight depressive behaviour to me, and I'm worried, really worried.
Sorry if I sound like a nosey cow, maybe I am.
Any thoughts?