To think that kids are mean!

[IUseAnyName]

Was at a national trust play park today, there were a mix of different aged kids there from around 2yrs to 12. I was sat in the middle as I was watching my 18mnth old play.
I was over hearing convos between different groups and there was a lot of sniping/competition (my stick is better than yours)/telling tales/bossyness/too rough a play going on. A 3ish yr old just stomped about shouting get out of my way and throwing leaves about, an 8 ish year old was bossing other kids about for not building her den properly, my 5yr old and his friend were rough playing and competing cobstantly that it's a wonder they were having fun at all :/
Aibu or is this normal kid behaviour?

It's normal.
It's pretty normal for adults too - only we are mostly constrained by social conventions.

normal in children

lol at superior stick competition

I was driving back home and the two 5yr olds in the back of the car were competing over who had the biggest calculator!
My son had one with him in the car, which sparked the convo.
His friend: I have a bigger one.
My son: i have a huge one at home.
Friend: Can I see it?
Son: no, I've lost it!

That's why I love kids, you know where you are with them. Adults do pretty much the same thing except they're usually much more subtle about it.

Yes, no dodging around the subject or passive aggresiveness!
It just make me wonder how any of them have any friends!

Totally normal. I have a mixtures of boys and girls and I find the boys (especially my eldest) are very competitive and the girls bossy! There's a lot of "you're not coming to my party" between the girls.

Yep, normal. Kids are vile. Don't you remember school?! Happiest days of your life, my arse!

Terry Pratchett had a brilliant bit in Hogfather about how lovely the sound of children playing is as long as you can't hear what they are saying

Haha Viking!.... I haven't read any Terry Pratchett... My dh loves him!

Totally normal! The beauty is that they forgive and forget in a split second so the friendship survives.. Until the next time

The other day I witnessed my 7 yo boy refuse to take an invitation to the birthday party of about to turn 7 id twin girls - the girl giving him the invite told him they'd chosen 3 girls each and jointly chosen him as the 7th and final invitee - and he said he couldn't go to a girls party, refused to take the invitation and turned into the drive.

I did make him apologise but they shrugged and said they had a back up choice :o

I will be reminding him publically at his 18th birthday party :o

Haha MrTumble!.... My ds also told a girl in his class that he wasn't going to her party and that he'd thrown the invitation in the bin! But on the other hand, showing to me that he was excited to go!

I always thought my ds was a nice kid, but nw he's been in school for a year I see a different side to him!.... He's very outspoken but obviously doesn't realise! He was at a birthday party the other day and the host mum said that a certain boy couldn't make it as he was poorly. My son piped up and said that's good that he's not here as he's naughty! I was cringing!

I work with year 2s. They can be mean but also pretty hilarious. One boy sitting with five others was trying to be top dog by threatening not to invite anyone not agreeing with him to his party. One boy called his bluff and said he didn't care about this party. The others came and told me X said he doesn't care about Ys party. When I got to the bottom of it they were shocked that I reprimanded Y.

Yes they're auch telltales Scabetty!.... My ds friend today did nothing but tell me that ds did this, ds did that! It's a suprise they trust eachother to want to be friends!

I think that's cultural Iuse - we're inGermany where kids are eencouraged to sort out their own problems, and DS1 has more than once come home upset that child A had child B on the floor kicking him or similar (neither child being ds1, both being his sometimes friends) and because I know from previous conversations that child B tells his parents (and teacher) nothing (due to being one of those kids who just says nothing happened at school, always, not to a bad relationship) I have actually been over to child B's (a few doors down) or phoned his mum just for a quiet word in her ear, and it's always turned out that once she asks her son the story pours out in great detail. Her son teases child A too - he's not a blameless victim - but it's a situation that needs adult help to sort out yet the convention of not tale telling here means sometimes nobody knows what's even happening.

Wow MrTumble
My sons friend is constantly telling tales! It drives me mad and I'm always glad that ds doesn't do the same.... He is the type that tells me nothing about school! Maybe I should probe more!