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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Step son has no friends

3 replies

OneSharpSwan · 18/01/2026 07:05

My step son is now 17, he goes to a sen school now the college part. He has delayed development and adhd (which now you definitely couldn't tell compared to when he was younger) he has no friends to socialise with and it makes me sad. He has friends at school but none that he is able to socialise with outside of school due to where they live their additional needs and other factors. He comes to our house every weekend and just sits in his room or with us, or going shopping with his mum or going to his nans. we've tried setting up meet ups with people from school but he does it once and never has interest in doing it again. He goes to youth club once a week but still doesn't seem to have made any friends. He just doesn't gel with people his own age even ones with the same interests as him. I dont know how to help him but he really needs to socialise with people his own age and actually enjoy his youth. Does anyone have any advise?

OP posts:
Meadowfinch · 18/01/2026 15:10

Has he thought about getting a Saturday job? He'd get to know the people he was working with who would probably be local.

My ds17 works at a leisure centre as part of a team of older teenagers. It has worked well.

Mummyoflittledragon · 18/01/2026 15:11

Is your dss happy because he doesn’t seem to want to see his peers outside of school? If he needs more interaction, perhaps he could do an additional club. Idk what he’d like to do. Things like a softer martial art like Judo might be good. Or could you get him interested in some volunteering? Does he like animals? Or maybe he could find some work / work experience somewhere?

Geneticsbunny · 22/01/2026 07:42

Does he have any hobbies or special interests? Maybe he could join a group who share his interests and make friends like that?

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