So DS2 is now 5.9. Once had severe receptive language delay and sensory issues. Almost certainly well within normal range now. Doing stunningly well for a child who didn't recognise his own name at 3.4 - has two little mates in reception who come round to play - one of whom considers him his best friend - I can leave him alone with either little friend and hear their conversations and their games - I don't need to intervene. gets on brilliantly with DS1 (8), though DS1 is very understanding - perhaps even too much so......
As you'd expect from a child with this history of delay, his social skills are still pretty raw. He gets anxious around other kids because he doesn't understand swift changes in rules and doesn't pick up the etiquette of a new game very fast - there's probably also still some invisible language processing problems. He and DS1 just had a disastrous game of baseball with two neighbouring kids and he just annoyed everyone. He couldn't understand why they weren't playing "right" and tried to impose his rules with zero success..... you get the picture....
If he was a natural loner, I'd leave it at that and think "well that's fine, I love him as he is, and he can always pursue specialist interests with his chosen few friends as he get older".
But he's very sociable - playing on his own doesn't count as play for him.
So I can see that he will want to play football, want to understand jokes, want to be easy in other kids' company.... but that's going to be a long journey.
Do I ditch the piano lessons (he excels) and spend that time teaching him how to kick a ball around in more flexible ways with a wider range of children? Or do I think "sod it, his chances in the happiness lottery of life are a bit smaller than some, but he has to learn his own lessons now"....?
answers on a postcard please!
total chaos, are you around?