8 years old boy still play "pretending games"

My son always is playng "pretending games" saying that he is a character of a story or a business man, and others crazy  stories and seems normal and very realistic. At school he is telling his friends that kind of stories and the kids are calling him "stupid and silly" and laughing at him. He is getting very upset and saying he will kill himself. Is that normal a 8 years old boy does not know he diference between what is pretending and what is real ? How could I help him to understand it ?

[specialmom]

Oh goodness.  This makes me sad.  I think it is normal for some kids to still pretend at 8 and is actually the sign of a wonderful imaginative mind.  That is, of course, unless he is doing it to escape reality.  Then I'd begin to work on his self image.  Sometimes pretending to be something fabulous in play shows that in real life a child feels inadequate.  Bolster his self esteem if this is the case.  But I would not be at all upset if my child played pretend games at 8 and actually my 7 year old and most of his friends still do this actively.  They tend to act out super heros and such but whatever.  Your boy likes being a business man.  Is that what dad does?

So then it takes you to kids making fun of him.  Ugh.  Kids are cruel and I hate that.  Does he in general lack social skills?  Does he have any friends to speak of that he plays with?  You could tell your boy that the pretend games are for after school and at home only.  Then help him play what the other kids are playing and doing that are his age.  I'd also talk to the teacher and let her know this is going on.  I go back to the question if your son needs some help in the social department.  

Why do you say that he doesn't know what the difference is between what is real and not real?  Do you think he doesn't know?  You've not said anything that makes me think that so you'll have to explain further.  

And if you fear that he is depressed, a counselor is something I'd highly recommend.  good luck

[mamoc65]

Thanks for the advice. It help me a lot. I will talk with a counselor.