ds is 7, he has mild speech delay meaning that for the first 2 years at school he was difficult to understand. He is now more or less understandable besides a couple of sounds he struggles with (ch/j)
He is behind with his reading and particularly spelling but doing ok with maths.
I think these issues haven't helped when it comes to joining in and making friends, although he does have friends and does play. he seems to struggle to initiate games and to deal with anyone being slightly mean to him. for example, yesterday his friend said that a game they were playing was stupid. so DS wouldn't play with him and got upset and just seems to hold a grudge. he seems more able to join in when hes just being silly/wild, but if its a game that requires a bit of calm hes not confident enough to join in, it seems he gets bravado from being a clown.
he also gets angry quickly, not so much at school or with friends but at home with siblings, particularly his 4yo brother. he shouts and storms off and is quick to react. if his brother hit him for eg he wouldn't tell me, or even hit him back at a similar level, but push him really hard or grab his arm and leave a mark.
ive spoken to him and tried so many things but I just more than anything don't want his friends to stop playing with him because theyre fed up of him. im just not sure how to help him.
we have tried reward charts, positive reinforcement, intervening and helping him and friend sort it out, leaving them to it, talking about how what we say and do affects others.