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Hello Its a tough world for a sensitive 10 year old boy. Keep in mind that there are many children his age who find the pressure of little league or other competitive sports overwhelming. Being sensitive can be a great character asset but we all need to be able to cope with life's 'ups and downs.' I am impressed to hear that he has made sufficient gains with the help of therapy to be able to play such a demanding sport! baseball is particularly tough since each player's performance is easily observable and one boy's mistakes can lead others to blame him for the loss of the game. The most simple solution to the problem is to ask him if he finds baseball so stressful that it is no longer fun. If it is no longer fun then perhaps it is time for a change. I would sit down with him to determine activities that will reduce not increase his stress level. Since summer is coming you have many camps and courses to select. If he decides he wants to stick with baseball you can applaud his courage and work with him to find ways to cope. You can help him practice deep breathing using self-talk (repeating messages to himself like "Its just a game. I'll be ok.") or helping him select ways to distract himself if he feels tears coming. The more you practice these skills across different situations the more automatic they will become. A psychologist or counselor can be very useful in assisting him with general frustration tolerance. I recommend therapy if coping with frustration has become a problem in other areas of his life such as school or in his ability to participate in play activities with other boys. Peer acceptance is very important for boys this age. If his crying has lead to teasing peer rejection or bullying therapy can help him learn effective ways dealing with strong emotions and navigating the social waters. Best wishes

2015-02-05 10:55:26

Amy