I would appreciate some input to a discussion going on in our household. 11yo DS y7 is not exactly excelling at school (possible dyspraxia may be an issue?). He finds school stressful. At 3 hours a day on the bus plus 6 in school plus 1 hour a day homework that is 50 hours a week, more than most adults 🙃. No wonder he's stressed. But this is compounded by what I would describe as functional social anxiety (rather than crippling). He copes by going to the library outside class time and not speaking to any student he doesn't know. He hates the other kids other than one or two friends from primary. He dislikes nearly all the teachers. He finds most classes unstimulating. He finds a few too challenging (PE, art, DT) and is close to tears leaving home those days.
On balance I wonder if school is doing him more harm than good. But would HE be better? I've seen friends and acquaintances HE so right know what to expect. I'm a secondary qualified teacher myself so the challenge of facilitating HE does not worry me unduly. But DS, who is very reserved and doesn't speak to people he doesn't know, would be at home all the time. Wouldn't that make him worse in the long run? I see there are plenty of group activities in the nearby town but it won't be the same for him as a long term trusting friendship.
Has anyone else HEed a socially anxious teen/ preteen and how did that go?
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Home ed
Social anxiety and home ed Y7
2 replies
BlooDeBloop · 06/01/2023 15:31
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