My sophomore was exactly the same way last year. It was heartbreaking because he really didn’t have any friends and I could tell he wanted them. He did not want to join clubs because the idea of walking into a classroom with people he didn’t know was stressful. I told him he had to do something this year and that since cross country was a no cut sport, that seemed like a logical choice. He’s not that athletic, but this Fall has been really good for him. He even got selected for the last invitational, which made him feel good about himself. I’m not sure if he will make friends that he will hang out with on the weekends socially, but he certainly feels much more connected and has people to talk to during lunch and in some of his classes. They seem like a really good group of kids who are supportive of each other. He’s now motivated to do winter track and spring track because the same students from cross country normally do that and he wants to maintain those connections.

He doesn’t need a social skills group but probably anxiety medication and CBT.

I was a very shy kid. I was in band and track and made friends there. Any repetitive activity where he will interact with the same kids everyday is ideal.