I’m so confused and honestly a little frustrated 
My 5 year old son absolutely hates going to birthday parties. Every time we get invited to one, he either begs not to go or ends up sticking by my side the entire time, refusing to play with the other kids. I don’t know if this is just his personality or if there’s something else going on here. I want him to enjoy these experiences but also don’t want to push him too hard. Has anyone else dealt with something similar?
I totally relate! My 5 year old is the same way, he freezes up when in large groups and only stays near me. We tried doing smaller gatherings to see if he would open up more, and progress has been slow. It may just be his personality at this stage. Kids develop social skills at their own pace and sometimes forcing them can backfire. You are doing great by just respecting his comfort zone.
Same here. My son won’t even walk into a party without clinging to me. It’s so hard to watch him feel overwhelmed by something that’s supposed to be fun. You’re definitely not alone in this.
I totally get this! My son struggled with parties for the longest time. What finally helped was making an exit plan. Before going, I’d tell him it was okay if he wanted to leave early or take a break whenever he felt overwhelmed. Just knowing he had control helped. I also let him bring a comfort item like his favorite small toy and he felt safer. For a while, we only stayed for 20 minutes and then worked up from there. Now he still doesn’t love parties, but he can at least manage without clinging to me. It’s definitely a process, but you’re not alone!
I wonder if it’s more about the noise and crowd? My daughter doesn’t like parties either and says it’s “too loud.” Could it be sensory overload for him? Maybe smaller playdates would help him get used to socializing without the pressure of a big group?
In my experience, it might help to try a gradual approach. With my little guy, I started by taking him to less crowded gatherings, like family get-togethers where he knew everyone and then worked up to larger events. We’d also talk about what would happen at the party beforehand, what games there might be, who would be there, etc. Sometimes we even looked at pictures from previous parties to ease his anxiety. He’s still not a fan of huge crowds but it’s helped him feel less anxious.
Thank you all for these great ideas …! I’ll definitely try talking to him beforehand and bringing a small toy. I think he might feel more comfortable if he knows we can leave whenever he wants. I appreciate the support, it’s comforting to hear others have similar struggles with parties.