DS almost reclusive!!

[bossboggle]

Help!! Got a 16 year old DS just started 6th form and he is almost a recluse, locks himself in his room for hours and has even started taking his meals in there - apart from when I yell at him and tell him to sit at the table!! When he does converse he is articulate and intelligent but how to do we get him to sort of engage with the rest of the family again?? My others were DD's so I haven't come up against this problem before.

Er I still have said DD's they are just a lot older!! DS is the youngest!!

Not sure, mine is the same age (ish , 17 in a week) and behaving similarly - last year (gcse) it turned out to be procrastination and general unhappiness. But now I think it is a way of avoiding conflict with parents who have "too high expectations". He hates the junk that my DD (13) wants to watch on TV and has a pc in his room to watch iplayer at will. They do have to do the distancing themselves stuff as well us perhaps and modern technology means that they don't have to go 'out' to do this the way we did. What do you think? Please tell me DDs were easier.. He played whist (whist!!) with his grandparents in the holidays, so it is physically possible for him to engage with families, maybe he just can't cope with parents..

I have two DSs, one just started 6th form. It's true he spends a lot of time in his room but he does have a lot of work.
However he eats with us, they both do. Family meals at the table are non-negotiable. At least they are forced to listen talk to you while they eat .

Information appreciated!! My DS does seem to have a lot of work all of a sudden, I wandered into his bedroom the other day and there were files and stuff everywhere!! His best friend also comes over and they seem to enjoy time 'killing' things on his X box too!! I suppose they have to have some down time too!!