My 3.5 year old DS seems to be struggling in busy social situations recently. Since the school holidays have started anywhere I try to take him on days out or simply just to the playground, he just wants me to pick him up and doesn’t want to get down and play. He says it’s because he’s tired and nothing to do with the fact there’s lots of people/bigger children but he’s fine when we get home, so I’m not so sure. He normally loves going to playgrounds or National trust places and runs about like a loon. I was only saying to my friend the other day how he doesn’t walk anywhere, just runs! We went to the Isle of Wight a couple of weeks ago and he was fine while we were there, coped well with staying away from home and all the new experiences. So I can’t understand what’s changed.
I’m trying my best to not get frustrated with him and understand how he’s feeling. But it’s just so out of character for him. He has struggled in the past when meeting new people but he seemed to get over that. Now this social anxiety seems to have come back with a vengeance and I’m wondering if it’s something else - like high functioning autism.
He is very clever for his age, already can read a lot of words, and has a huge vocabulary. He goes to nursery and no one has picked up on anything there. Although towards the end of term (they break for summer) he really struggled With transitioning to a different room (see another one of my posts!) He’s also very fussy with food and has got worse over time but I’ve just put this down to being a toddler!
I can’t work out whether he is just having a ‘tired’ phase, maybe a little under the weather although no other symptoms. Or if this is something I should start to look into getting him checked out/assessed? I know it can be a long process, especially if the signs aren’t glaringly obvious. But if he is going to need support in the future with school etc I really would like to get the ball rolling now rather than wait and see.
just wondering what anyone else thinks. I know it’s hard from a mumsnet post to get the whole picture. It’s just this social thing that’s got me worried and getting me down to be honest. Feel like I can’t take him anywhere anymore because he seems so unhappy and it’s disappointing and stressful for me. But that’s what we’ve always loved, our day trips out together, and i had so much planned for the holidays! Appreciate anyone’s thoughts or advice 🥰