2 1/2 yo Freaking Out- What Can I Do?

[angelandmisha]

I have a 2 1/2 yo ds, I think he may be a sensitive child, but haven't done enough reading about it(any book recs on that would be welcome). The issue I'm concerned about is this: lately when we go to the playground, if another child comes up to him, or near him, he gets very upset and will start to scream. It's a strange scream, almost like something is hurting, not just a wailing cry, but a very tense, tight sounding scream. We don't have any other friends his age and he doesn't do any sort of daycare or time away from me. He's never been too interested in other kids but this freak out is new.

I don't really know what to do. I want to honor his feelings and not push him to interact with other kids if he doesn't want to, but at the same time, I'm beginning to worry that his resistance is a little over the top.

I don't know what other info to give that might help you help me figure this out. We go to a Music Together class and he's fine there, but he's always been exceptionally shy and a bit clingy. We have a 5 yo neighbor he's crazy about, so it's not everybody. He doesn't seem to be bothered by adults. He much prefers the playground when no one else is there.

What do you think? Is this normal, a phase? It just has intensified and I'm just beginning to worry. I want him to be able to have friends sometime.

What can I do? What are your thoughts, suggestions? Help me, please! Thank you!

[ElsieLC]

No advice, just sympathy. DD is the same age and is recently (unduly) sensitive to certain situations. Have you tried having his stuffed animals do a simple reenactment of the playground? That's my latest idea for my daughter. And to talk about how "some kids don't like it when other kids walk up to them on the playground...they're worried about the other kids" or whatever I think *might* be going on inside DD's mind.