Son's Socialization Skills Need Improvement
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Son's Socialization Skills Need Improvement
Question
Dr. Braccio: Our fifth grade son is having problems getting along in school. He's very smart but has a hard time getting along with children his own age. We hoped this would pass. We began home schooling him in the third grade because of the same kind of problems. We put him back in school this year because his therapist said he needed more interaction with children because he felt he was too isolated and becoming too selfish and set in his ways. We don't know what to do. Our son doesn't like school and wants to have me start teaching him again. Academically he's well above grade level. What should we do? How can we help him?
Answer
To home school a child can be a fine choice for many children. That is not true, as in the case of your son, when someone cannot get along with his peers. Unless the children are all unreasonable, and that would be highly unlikely, he needs to learn to get along with them.
Part of a person's educational process is socialization, which includes learning to get along with one's peers. Your son has proved academics can be learned outside of the traditional academic setting. What he needs to learn is that his character is developed in the often difficult and turbulent world of social interaction.
If he is selfish and not able to get along with people now, imagine how difficult his life will be in the future. To this point in his life, he proves that education is more than just academics. It appears your son has never learned how to share and be involved in team work. He needs to learn this to be effective in life.
Try to find activities he can do at school that will enhance his ability to share, be part of a team, and learn both tolerance and flexibility. You can talk to his teacher and/or school counselor about this. Any small group activities at school dealing with these issues could also be helpful.
In family discussions at times ripe for good communication, let him know he must learn to share, accept differences of opinion, seek out friendships, and try to be a team player at home, school, and in the community. Listen to his arguments, but firmly let him know he must change to be an effective and caring human being.
Encourage friendships by inviting possible friends to come over to visit, go to a movie, a community event, or other activities. Parent involvement can be very helpful in encouraging friendships of our children.
Involvement in peer activities in churches, boy scouts, or community recreational activities could also help.
Due to the long time your son has developed his personality and outlooks, it will not be easy for him to change. Continued efforts by you, his therapist, involved school personnel, and trying some of the above suggestions can make progress possible for him to become not just academically advanced, but also socially advanced as an effective and caring human being.