Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Learning Environments How do I help my lonely child?

My DS11 is a sensitive soul, and fairness and good behavior have always been important to him, to the point of hurting him socially. He's shy, not assertive, and judgmental of others. He gets offended easily and holds on to those little grudges for a while. That said, he's quite kind to others and tries to reach out. When they ignore him, he feels hurt. Lately, he's been vocal about not wanting to go to school because it's boring and h doesn't have any friends. He even thinks one of his teachers doesn't like him and honestly, he may be right. How do I help him feel better about himself?

Have any of your DC felt lonely in school?

DS tends to exaggerate and so we've always downplayed the offenses and downplayed the fact he doesn't have friends. We point out that various kids do nice things or say nice things. I'm not sure though that tactic is working. Maybe there really is a big problem and we're not facing it.