Bit of a long and complex one.
We live in and my child has grown up in a street with lots of children. We have always liked it as it is more of a ‘traditional’ childhood outside with lots of children to play with. Generally he plays great with anyone and is excellent at making friends wherever we go.
Trouble is with the boy friend group amongst them he is always left out. There are 5 of them that play regularly and as he’s not into the same things as them (football - he doesn’t like it) and PlayStation/fortnite/among us (we don’t let him play it, he’s 6). He wants to play with them but they leave him out, always make him the ‘bad guy’ in games and generally aren’t very nice a lot of the time. One of them who I would say was his “best friend” is now friends with one of the other boys and leaves him out. They go in for each other and walk past our house. As he’s getting older he notices it. He’s very attuned with how he feels and is good at discussing it. I am very much one for letting them sort things out amongst themselves but it’s becoming more apparent that this isn’t something that he can do on his own.
We’ve spoken about moving house to a bigger one for a year or so but have always been hesitant because of the fact it’s so safe for the children to play so freely here. I’m not sure that this is our sign to move on from here although I know my son is sensitive and he’ll be hurt by moving. I know it’ll be beneficial for him in the long term especially as he seems to be becoming more ostracized.
Question is, have you dealt with something similar? How did you approach? Have tried speaking with parents previously and honestly it went down like a lead balloon (very much ‘not my child’ vibes) so unsure what to do next? Have told my son to walk away if they’re being unkind or given hin words/phrases to use when something unkind is happening. Not sure where to go from here or to cut our losses with the street friends, focus on his other friends from outwith and go ahead with plans to move?