A kindergarten boy with an anxiety-withdrawal disorder is likely to have difficulty with which area?

The focus on building peer friendships due to limited social skills is particularly relevant for a kindergarten boy with an anxiety-withdrawal disorder. Children with such disorders often experience heightened anxiety in social situations, which can lead to withdrawal from interactions with peers. This withdrawal can inhibit their ability to develop social skills, such as initiating conversations, sharing, and working collaboratively with others.

In a kindergarten setting, where socialization plays a crucial role in a child's overall development, these difficulties may prevent the child from forming meaningful relationships with classmates. As they withdraw, they miss out on opportunities to practice and refine their social skills, further exacerbating their difficulties in engaging with peers. Consequently, the child's experience of social anxiety can create a cycle where the lack of peer interaction contributes to low self-esteem and increased anxiety, making it even harder to connect with others.

By contrast, while learning to read and write, as well as managing behavior, can be influenced by an anxiety-withdrawal disorder, these areas are often more related to cognitive and motor development rather than direct social interaction. Hence, the impact on forming friendships stands out as the most significant challenge for a child facing anxiety and withdrawal.