Our middle child has never had any friends. He had significant global delay and glue ear which further impacted his speech so that was even further delayed. We’ve been very lucky with schools and he’s gone to secondary school with high self confidence and, although he is still a little delayed, he has mostly caught up and is doing well academically. He is in the top set for everything. It has been a struggle getting SEN support to help him meet his potential, as he is doing so well, but his tutor has been amazing.
He has a wonderful relationship and friendship with his siblings and makes strong connections with adults: family, school & clubs - but never has had any of his own friends. It doesn’t seem to bother him. Other kids are friendly but he keeps himself separate unless is an organised interaction. He’s never been invited to a party after whole class parties stopped and the only people who came to his parties after this were the kids of family friends. We do family parties now which he is totally fine with.
I’ve haven’t discussed it with school, as I was hoping moving from a tiny rural primary school to a large secondary would give him a chance to meet his tribe but whilst other kids are friendly to him, he still has no friends. I worry it’s going to impact his development. I guess when he’s an adult, he is likely to continue to get on with adults still so those relationships would then count as friends.
Is there anything I should/could be doing? Would telling school make any difference? He joins in several clubs and is happy in school - so I’m loathed to raise it in writing. I was going to say when I saw his tutor or SENCO in person but communication is all over email or in a group setting with other parents or he is there. It definitely bothers me more than it does him.