My 5 year old son has always been very gregarious. He was the baby who anyone could hold, the toddler who went into the gym daycare with no problem, and the preschooler who made friends easily and talked to anyone who would listen.
He seems to kind of suddenly be struggling with social anxiety. It started about a year ago, we took him to a soccer class (games, etc. to learn the basics of soccer). He FLIPPED out and wouldn't participate. Cried non-stop...we tried the second week, same thing. We never went back. So I figured it was something about that particular class. Then this fall he got several birthday party invites for friends he's known since he was a baby. He knows these boys very well (they go to preschool together, have playdates, etc.) - he is always very comfortable with them. Suddenly, at these parties he didn't even want to go in. He was crying at the door before we could even get in the house. Not a tantrum kind of crying, but real, I'm scared, please don't make me go, kind of crying.
It seems to be escalating. It's happening more often and for smaller occasions. It's to the point where his friends are now staring at him and then looking at each other and shrugging, like "What is wrong with him??"
I feel like most kids are finally outgrowing this kind of thing and he is just starting it. And it really bothers him. THe other night, as I was tucking him into bed, he said, "Mommy, I wish I didn't get so scared. I know I don't need to be scared, but I'm just really scared sometimes." It breaks my heart.
He is still really talkative and confident and outgoing most of the time, it's just these incidents where he totally loses it. There are no big changes in his life - no traumatic instances, etc.
Anyone have any advice? Been there?
He seems to kind of suddenly be struggling with social anxiety. It started about a year ago, we took him to a soccer class (games, etc. to learn the basics of soccer). He FLIPPED out and wouldn't participate. Cried non-stop...we tried the second week, same thing. We never went back. So I figured it was something about that particular class. Then this fall he got several birthday party invites for friends he's known since he was a baby. He knows these boys very well (they go to preschool together, have playdates, etc.) - he is always very comfortable with them. Suddenly, at these parties he didn't even want to go in. He was crying at the door before we could even get in the house. Not a tantrum kind of crying, but real, I'm scared, please don't make me go, kind of crying.
It seems to be escalating. It's happening more often and for smaller occasions. It's to the point where his friends are now staring at him and then looking at each other and shrugging, like "What is wrong with him??"
I feel like most kids are finally outgrowing this kind of thing and he is just starting it. And it really bothers him. THe other night, as I was tucking him into bed, he said, "Mommy, I wish I didn't get so scared. I know I don't need to be scared, but I'm just really scared sometimes." It breaks my heart.
He is still really talkative and confident and outgoing most of the time, it's just these incidents where he totally loses it. There are no big changes in his life - no traumatic instances, etc.
Anyone have any advice? Been there?
