DS (almost 8) is being picked on when out to play and I don’t know how to help him.
We are lucky to live in a very safe area with lots of kids who all go out to play. There are around 12 boys of a similar age.
Some (in fact, most) of the boys are lovely and DS can play happily with them for a while. However, there are 2 in particular who don’t like him for some reason and whenever they show up, within a minute of two they are calling him names and the nice boys join in. This afternoon, a line was crossed and it became physical, although not violent - one of them grabbed him by his lapels as if he was picking him up. Later one of the nicer boys said sorry over the garden fence - he said he was ‘pretending’ to pick on DS so he wouldn’t get it.
DH and I have both spoken to the parents on separate occasions (we are on friendly terms with both families).
Family 1: their son was DS’s friend and the bullying has been very gradual, interspersed with friendly play so we thought it had been sorted.
Family 2: their son was DS's friend at nursery school. His dislike of DS was very sudden. The dad is very charming and fun but (in my opinion) can be a bully too. He’s overbearing although in a very charming way, if that makes sense? He does not accept that his child has done anything wrong and, in fact, blames my DS. He has overheard my DS saying things in his own defence which, out of context, can appear that he is being mean.
The boy from family 2 is one of the older boys in the school year (DS in one of the youngest). It makes sense that he is more likely to be the power base. He is often a lovely boy who is clever but also rather sneaky in a way that DS has not learned to be yet.
They are all in the same year at school (one of them is in DS’s class). Things were fine at school but it has started there too, albeit not as often. DS says he avoids them in the playground.
Can anyone offer any advice please? It’s breaking my heart and I'm terrified this will continue long term