Welcome to the Big Kid Support Group (BKSG)! All support group questions are submitted anonymously through this form and answered in a private discussion for paid subscribers only. Today’s question deals with fitting in and making friends.
My 7yo son is a really kind kid. A rule follower. Creative and loves pretend and imaginative play. Since starting elementary school, he seems to be struggling in his friendships with other boys. His feelings get hurt when he is excluded from video games he knows nothing about (ie Minecraft) and movies he hasn’t seen (ie Marvel Superhero movies or the more violent anime videos). We aren’t very strict with what he watches, but he is easily scared and declines a lot of options. I worry that he will continue to struggle with these male friendships until the “right” kid comes along who is sensitive and overly-kind like him. He is the oldest of three with two younger sisters, whom he loves and protects *almost* all of the time. How do we help him navigate wanting more “boy friends” without feeling like he isn’t being authentic to who he is? Is this just what it’s like for awhile? Most of the kids in his class seem to have found their group but he hasn’t settled into any strong friendships yet and I worry about him a lot.