Those of you with older kids that couldn't make friends...

[lifesteeth]

My 8 year old has no friends, he is constantly ridiculed, called names and bossed around. One kid that used to be his friend is now constantly picking on him, my son made a new best friend and they were best friends for ages but then this friends mum became good friends with my sons "tormentors" mum and now those two are inseperable which completely pushes my son out on his own.

Things have pretty much always been like this for him ever since nursery...what I'm wondering is, is it likely to continue all the way through school? those of you with older kids, where yours ever like this and did they get through it ok?

I have visions of my DS as a depressed and withdrawn 15 year old wanting to end it all and its scaring me.

I'm sorry I don't have experience of this but wanted to bump your post.

Your poor boy

If this name calling and picking on is happening at school, the school should be able to use their bullying policy to deal with the other kids; stuff like this IS bullying and it is important to deal with it.

What about out of school - does he do any activities and come into contact with a different group of kids through them?

I definitely think now is not the time to worry about him being a depressed teenager; don't cross your bridges and all that! So much can change before then, there's no point in agonising about it now.

I also agree that out of school activites are a great confidence and friend builder.

How many of us have worked as adults with folk we don't get on with. Help him develop social skills outside of school at something he enjoys, sporting, art clubs, local drama clubs foe example. I aways told mine to try a new club once and if they really didn't like it they wouldn't have to go again.

sorry he is having a bad time of it at school