Mainstream & social difficulties out of school

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Love the school, had a great experience there so far
But socially, out of school DS (who has ASD) is a bit left out
He is still doing parallel play - at 5 - so naturally, other boys aren't going to request their parents to invite him round, they will want someone they can actually play with.
It's generally fine in term time, parents and kids generally filter out for a group play in the local park but in holidays it is going to be hard
I've woken up so sad for him.
I hadn't realised

(I knew he'd been left out of some parties but put that down to lack of space)

Has anyone been through this?
Included successfully in school with education and social issues but not quite in the loop socially out of school?

My DS (5) is not really included socially but at the moment he doesn't seem bothered so I try not to worry about it. He has only just started to get imaginative play. He gets invited to the odd party here and there which is nice. I am going to try Beavers soon to see if he enjoys that.

Dd3 is 11 and she has never really been involved socially outside school.

I have organised trips to the park and days out with her "friends" and a couple of parents have done the same.

We cant really do play dates at home because Dd3 doesnt like people touching her stuff although if the weather is nice and they can be outside we do do it occasionally.

She goes to scouts which she loves.

I dont think that she is socially isolated, tbh a day at school just about finishes her off socially anyway.

Try not to worry too much, get out there with your Ds and enjoy spending times with him.

Good luck

It is hard isn't it. Dd1 has had a great year in Y1 and actually has some friends now, but still has not been invited to one single person's house to play all year. She actually loves visiting other peoples houses (as long as I am there) and talks about it for months afterwards. We have invited her friends over but they don't invite us back. She finds playdates at ours far more stressful than visiting theirs too.

Thanks everyone
It helps to read other people's experiences though I'm sorry you are going through similar
We have had a great time just going out and about ourselves!

DS gets a lot of children saying hello and mummy that's ... but he just doesn't notice and doesn't respond. Given that he still takes prompting with his hellos and goodbyes it is not surprising. He has once followed a younger child around in a playground and they were sort of interacting which was lovely. I think he is getting more sociable but like everything it just takes that bit longer.

If you're around over the holidays, "volunteering" to host a picnic get-together at a local park might work. It's like inviting people over, but without triggering the whole 'invading his space' issue.

And more people come because it's a group thing. A group also means if it's going badly, you can just disappear without causing major offence.