Hi Sisterhood, just afyer a bit of advice.
A bit of background. My DS is 5 1/2 years old and is an only child, we keep him busy with sports and I believe he has a pretty good social life. My gripe is that his so sensetive. How can we teach him to be more resilient especially with other kids.
Its frustrating and I am ashamed to say but embarassing at times times. For example tonight we were football and some of the kids were making a game of knocking each others hats off. My DS just happened to be nearby and one of them knocked his off and my DS lost it and started crying and carrying on, and the other kids just stopped and looked at him like "whats his problem". The same thing happened when another child accidently stepped on his toe.
It feels like an on going battle (maybe not the right word). We try to explain to him that some kids play rough and use your words instead of crying, move away is someone is doing something you dont like. What I really want to say to toughen up and stop being a baby!
Its frustrating because my husband and I are not like that, and we werent as kids. We've never babied him or wrapped him in cotton wool, he doesnt get what he wants without earning it, we are huge on repecting others and good manners, the only thing I can put it down too is being an only child and not having to battle with siblings for attention/toys etc... I feel like a failure because I cant give him a sibling and wonder if it would be different if he had one.
Anyone have any advice on how we can make him more resilient to the ways of the world.
2 Replies
Some kids are just more sensitive. But do hubby and you model being silly and bumping each other and laughing it off? It can be a bit forced to start with and over acting. I'm not saying beat each other up, but a bit of game play and then involve your son.
Following. I have a sensitive souled girl. She's so sweet just trying to help she's started saying sorry for everything. Sorry for being in the way. Sorry if I made that fall over. Sorry constantly. I dont want her to apologize for herself. I want her to have confidence and belonging. But how?
I recently watched a documentary about trophy kids and being rough and tough on them definitely doesn't work - it does the opposite!! So that rules out that.
Im currently trying to build her esteem and confidence with comments and role modelling confident replies and being right and allowed and unapologetic for being herself.
Role playing might help so he cab practice other ways to handle it and things he could say.