8 year old social skills - please help!

[autumngirl714]

I am worried about my 8 year old son.
He has always struggled socially a bit as he likes to play what he wants, and the moment someone suggests something he doesn't, he will just leave the chat if you will!
Sadly most of the boys in his school year love football, he hates sports. I think he struggles because he doesn't really have anything in common with the boys. There are a lot of louder characters in his class too with additional needs which I think my son struggles to connect with.

He is quite sensitive and introverted.

Today he told me he did the mental health quiz at school and he put that he always worries. I asked him about it and he said that it's because he feels like he doesn't fit in with the other children and he's happier to be on his own. He isn't sad about being on his own, but as a mum it breaks my heart to hear it! I've brought up his social skills in every parents evening and the teachers never really respond. They said he does well and floats around circles.

What can I do to help him? Should I be happy he is happy doing his own thing? He has swimming and karate lessons but zero interest in any other clubs.

I know how he feels. When o was younger I was painfully shy and I really struggled making new friends. I don't want him to go through that :(

Does anyone else have any introverted children who struggle? Should I be worried?

Feeling really sad tonight :( I'll be bringing Thai up again at the next parents evening.

My 12 year old is fairly introverted. She’s not interested in hanging out with a group of girls.

But she is fine and she’s happy. She’s in a swimming club and has friends there. This is very important to her. I feel like it’s a place where she can be herself.

It is difficult to see but I would try not to worry. Has he any friends?

Can he hang out with the girls in his class?

DS was more comfortable around girls at that age, and most of his friends were girl’s. He still has the same group of friends at 14.

Yes my son has friends at swimming too, although they are more advanced then him and I am concerned they'll move up soon. I love seeing his happy he is around them! I can't clock who their parents are to try and get friendly though. There's a massive waiting area and it's so busy where we go!
I try and encourage him to play with girls but it's a hard no from him 🙈 but I do think if he found a girl who was into gaming he would be so much happier!

Is it swimming lessons? Because it’s difficult to make anything more than a fleeting friendship at a lesson. The club has longer training sessions, days out and even trips away at her age: so it offers the time and space to build friendships. It’s worth looking into something similar so he is getting a chance to flex his friendships muscles.

I’d be worried that he said he was worried about it. I’d definitely approach the school again, maybe outside of a normal meeting. Your child doesn’t have one friend at school and they are shrugging their shoulders?

They absolutely need to get on board.

Yeah it's just swimming lessons!
I've found a dodgeball group in our community it's that is there for children who aren't on existing sports teams and who may be more into gaming etc. I am going to sign him up for a taster as that sounds more up his street.

Agreed, I'm going to ask that he gets some support in his confidence and social skills.

I kid of wish they didn't just let them all play football every break time but I know that's unreasonable of me to ask 😂🙈