Parenting

My 6-year-old doesn’t want to celebrate his birthday with his friends. He rarely wants to go to birthday parties too. Should I just let him do what he is comfortable with?

Answered by Team ParentCircle

Dear Parent,

Unusual behavior in children can be a cause of concern for parents. Not wanting to attend birthday parties or celebrate his own birthday does seem unusual for a 6-year-old. But before deciding what to do, let’s first ask ourselves: What is the reason for this behavior? Is your son shy? Does he have difficulty making friends? Is he being bullied by someone in the class? Some children are introverts by nature. They prefer more time to themselves and feel overwhelmed when surrounded by lots of people. Or does your son have a completely different idea of a celebration? To find answers to these questions, have ongoing conversations with your son (not in a ‘let’s sit and talk about it’ manner but a very casual manner, while watching TV or driving somewhere together). You will gradually gain a better understanding of your son in terms of his personality, social skills, and preferences.

Once you’re convinced that his reasons have nothing to do with any problem such as being bullied or a lack of skills in making friends, go ahead and let him choose how he would like to celebrate his birthday. After all, it’s his special day!

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