This is becoming extremely difficult for me.
Every single playgroup I've taken my son to, he hates walking in. The second he notices there are other children milling around inside, he starts to beeline for the exit. I mean, that's IF we make it past the front entrance at reception.
If I manage to get him to go inside and hang out one time, the next time we go to that same location, as soon as he recognises the route there, he begins wailing in protest that he doesn't want to go in. I've tried taking him to 6 different playgroups in town, and he's had total distress-wails at every single one.
Similarly if we arrive somewhere to visit a friend or relative, when he notices it's a house we're going to, he will protest and not want to go in. I have to convince him to go in somehow - for example I've used the weather as a reason to be indoors ("it's raining, sweetheart, let's wait for the rain to stop then we will have a walk outside". I will actually take him outside, too. I don't like to lie), or I will suggest we play some games inside for a bit.
The only places he likes to actually go are outdoors or open public spaces - parks are a particular favourite. The beach is fine, supermarkets and going for strolls through malls are fine. The only way I can describe it is that if he wants to go out, he wants to go out -- side. Not into a building where he's cooped up.
We went to the London Sealife Center recently. He tried to walk us out of the building but I managed to convince him the exit was through the corridor, so he spent the next hour casually gazing around while also searching for the way out. When we got to the souvenir shop it was a bit of a relief, but again he was most relieved when we left the space.
For a while he enjoyed soft play areas, but due to lack of funds recently, I've not been able to take him to any for quite a number of weeks now.
The issue I have is lots of people suggesting to me that he needs to socialise more, and yet when I take him to spaces supposedly designed for children to socialise, he is so upset, I have to bring him home, or go to our usual parks for him to enjoy some active time.
He doesn't go to nursery and I've been back and forth on the idea because I am a stay at home mum and don't necessarily need him to be away from me for errands etc. I bring him with me and he's very much involved in daily activities with me.
He will happily go to his grandparents house and I can leave him with his grandparents or uncle or dad no problems. But if we go to playgroups in particular, he absolutely HATES it.
Another thing is he really gets upset when other small children come to our house. In particular one of our neighbour's boys. He is the same age but is already talking (my son is only just starting to talk), and the boy is a bit of an outgoing character who tends to go in for hugs and throw himself into play without invitation. My son finds this very upsetting as he is more introverted.
I just wish I knew how to encourage my son to be more social and enjoy playgroups and want to be around other children.
Any thoughts or suggestions?