My son is making himself a target

[funnyfish]

My son (8) is not very good at making friends, he does try but he's not like the other boys, he's not rough and ready although he pretends to be...anyway he has a thing for hugging people, I've always been very "hands on" and "physical" with him as I never had that as a child but he does it at school to the other boys, he's developed a game called "squishy" where he and his friend squeeze each other and now some of the other boys are calling him gay, run away from him and just generally be horrible to him.

Now my 6 year old is at school he's very much one of the "lads" and not at all like my eldest but when they see each other they cuddle each other, the other kids think its wierd and can't understand why they cuddle and kiss each other.

I don't want to discourage them from being so affectionate but I don't want my eldest to be stuck labbled as "the gay kid" as he's growing up....any advice?

It's really sad - we blokes don't do physical affection with one another and it must be around then that we lose it. DS is 4 and he and his best mate at nursery still run up to each other and give each other Manly Hugs.

Kids are vile, but I think he wuold be better off if he could learn to be be socially appropriate in his touching. help him understand that he can hug you and his family but not his friends at school in front of other people. Sad, but I honestly think that you need to do this for his sake. I am absolutely horrified how widespread the word 'gay' is as an insult in schools. It's so, so depressing.

poor ds.I would second Alohas advice and sentiments