Regarding a 12 year old.
My godson is 12 years old and is showing a lot of signs of depression, but his parents don't want to do therapy right away. We are in a very rural area where therapy is looked down upon because it can "put a bad name on the family".
He isn't allowed to go and hang out with friends or go anywhere because his parents parenting style is much different from other families, and they don't want him exposed to things other parents allow their kids access to. I understand, but I also feel like he is isolated with only being at home around the clock, and no interaction with other kids his age. He's just been really mean to everyone around him and anytime I'm around to do something with him, it just seems like he's getting in trouble and getting yelled at. He does have ADHD. I want to get him out for the summer and get active, but I have no idea what things would help regulate him more. I know he's struggling with emotional regulation and impulsive decisions.
I can't tell anyone else how to parent their child, because their parenting style is their choice. I wouldn't want anyone telling me how to parent my own child, but I do think the lack of interaction with kids his age is playing a big part of his anger and depression. He is also a boy, so he is expected to work on the farm and has more responsibility than others his age in that aspect. His parents (my close friends) are extremely strict and protective, but I want to make sure he can have some sort of fun when I take all the kids out this summer. What activities would be best to help him get some form of relief? Are there any books I could anonymously send his parents that would help them better navigate things with him as well?
A lot of his parents anxiety and strict parenting style comes from the loss of a child prior to him in an accident. He was just a baby when the accident happened so he doesn't remember his sibling, but he has expressed a lot of sadness over it over the past year. I think that's the driving factor for not really letting him out of their sight except for when he goes to school.