Hi I have my 7 year old grandson in my care I’ve had him for 4 1/2 years now gorgeous kid but extremely full on My problem is he doesn’t seem to have friends I don’t think people like him he doesn’t go to our local school so doesn’t know many kids around our way I’ve tried play dates a few times but the two boys he had them with are now friends and are leaving him out he is joining Cubs next week but I feel sorry for him he is lonely at times and being a Nanna think the young mums stick to there own age feeling sad
9 Replies
Try just putting him out the front in the street to play. Bounce a ball, ride a scooter, take a chair out and read a book if you want to be out there too, it's amazing how many kids are on the same street and don't know each other, but they come out when someone else is out playing.
Do you have a Scouts group or Auskick near you? He’ll make friends there!
That is sad. You probably already do but I would teach him how to be a good friend and then expose him to as many different activities as you can afford financially and physically to try to find his passions so he is with like minded children. Does he have friends at his school you could arrange play dates with? Weekend sports would at least have him with other children for an hour or so interacting in some way. My daughter is a similar age and I take her to the creche and she plays with whatever kids are in there on a Saturday morning. If he is lonely I think it would help to give him some social opportunities even if it is not with close friends or the same kids all the time.
You describe him as full on? Could this be putting kids off??
Has he been looked at by a peadiatrician? Attended any social skills groups?
What are his interests and hobbies?
I was this kid. I tried netball, guides, drama club etc.
What I found worked well for me was playing an individual sport (like tennis) where I had to improve on myself. It helped me a lot and each week I got to know fellow competitors and also entered team events but played individually. I made many many great friends this way!
Can you post in what area you live? Im sure there's other mums or nans that could have playdates with him?
Im an older mum in nsw with a 6 yr old who gets quite lonely on weekends.
We have him in karate and soccer. If you are in nsw you canuse the active kids voucher to enroll him at a dsct in an activity.
I have found that people just aren’t that friendly as a whole these days. So I’m not sure it’s because your a grandparent 😢
I definitely don't think it's because she's a grandma. My mum looks after my son everyday instead of going to childcare and she takes him to playgroup, music class, swimming etc. and has made friends with some women who are MUCH young (like 30 years younger) in that time :) there's also 3 other sets of grandparents at one of the classes also.
If it helps, my son hasn't stuck with being friends with specific kids until the past 12 months. He is 9 and now has close friends. Playing sport has helped as hes formed friendships with kids outside of school.
You could also talk to his teacher about it.