Help! My 7yo boy could end up a recluse!

[justnally]

He's not exactly a recluse, but he just doesn't seem to be interested in doing anything other than playing computer games.

We can't get him interested in sports. He went to Beaver Scouts for a while. He currently goes to Karate club, but he complains about it all of the time! Almost every week after karate club he says he has enjoyed himself, it's just getting him up and ready and dragging him along can be so difficult and he sulks whilst he is there. Last week he gave me those 'how could you put me through this' look for the whole hour and refused to do some of the things the other kids were doing. The instructors were patting him on the back and asking if he was alright. I felt awful.

If we didn't make him go to a club, he would happily sit on his own with his DS or play on the ps3 until the cows come home. I have tried to find a computer club, or something like that, but have had no luck

He doesn't have that many friends and doesn't seem bothered by it!

He is a bright young thing. A real thinker and 2nd top in his year at school! His teachers have said that he could get into the grammar school when the time comes.

Aaagh. It's so frustrating! Any suggestions would be wonderful....PLEASE?

Does he have friends round after school or at the weekend?
We don't let ds on anything electrical Mon-Thursday- so he has to go and do something else. Have you tried that?

Get rid of the PS3 and the games. Truly. Cold turkey. They're like white noise for the brain.

If it makes you fel any better I have managed to give birth to 3 reclusive children. even my 14 yr old dd needs dragging to make ANy contact with her mates

Seriously, limit the access to computers.

He only has one friend, who is exactly like him - not interested in anything else but consoles and his DS. At school, when they play, they act out their favourite games - Mario and Pokemon. Unfortunately, due to my job, I can't have his friend over after school. I am a childminder and my 'allowed numbers' mean I would be breaking Ofsted's rules by having that extra child in the house .

I can't really get rid of the ps3. It's not his, it's my husband's! None of the kids are allowed to play on the consoles whilst the minded kids are here anyway, so he doesn't get to zone out most afternoons. The minded kids go home at 6.30ish. But ds will just sit and read, or watch tv... nothing that involves spending time with anyone other than himself! He really only plays on the ps3 at the weekend.

Only one of the minded kids is a boy and he will be leaving in July, to go to secondary school. Then my ds will be surrounded by girls!

We also have 2 dds, who are outgoing, loud, have loads of interests and loads of friends as well!

Should I be worried???

I don't think I would be worried, Justnally. What with going to school and the mindees around so much, sounds like he is surrounded by folk and social interaction tonnes, so he is just having some space when he can.

You are, presumably, a social type with no problems making friends and talking to people?

Suppose your son is just the opposite - happy with few friends, limited social contact. Why force him to do sports and be something he isn't?

My parents wanted me to join Brownies when I was a kid. It never happened, fortunately. My idea of hell.