On the one hand, I don't see anything wrong with playing alone or in small groups since I've always preferred to play with building toys, and other "quiet" toys, but I totally understand your concern that he isn't relating to others. Sometimes I wish I was more able to relate to others and that I was even interested in interacting.
I think continuing to take him to a child psychologist/therapist who can help him learn to empathize with others (and also help you work with him) is a good idea. I think if he learns to recognize, understand and respond to emotions appropriately then that alone might make him more apt to be social. I mean, maybe the whole reason he's not very social is because he's unable to really recognize emotions?
Maybe a pet would help? Obviously, it would have to be the right kind of pet for your son AND your household -- you couldn't get just any dog or cat (or bird, ferret, hamster... and you probably wouldn't want a cat like Jaws, LOL or a really boisterous dog), but I think it's worth looking into (talk to his psychologist about it). Pets are used therapeutically in helping to bring children out of their shells -- especially children who have mild autism/Asperger's or such tendencies.
I think he can recognize emotions. When we look at pictures he can describe the feeling he sees in the image but he cannot emphasize them. Recently a bird flew against our kitchen windows and laid dead on the ground. His only reactions was to find a way that the birds in our garden noticed the window. His way to deal with the situation was logical and objective but not emotional.
I think continuing to take him to a child psychologist/therapist who can help him learn to empathize with others (and also help you work with him) is a good idea. I think if he learns to recognize, understand and respond to emotions appropriately then that alone might make him more apt to be social. I mean, maybe the whole reason he's not very social is because he's unable to really recognize emotions?
Maybe a pet would help? Obviously, it would have to be the right kind of pet for your son AND your household -- you couldn't get just any dog or cat (or bird, ferret, hamster... and you probably wouldn't want a cat like Jaws, LOL or a really boisterous dog), but I think it's worth looking into (talk to his psychologist about it). Pets are used therapeutically in helping to bring children out of their shells -- especially children who have mild autism/Asperger's or such tendencies.
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I was thinking about a pet too. Maybe a cat...
Thanks for your help!
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