To think this is not normal "play"?

[EachToTheirBone]

DS is 7 ; we've just had his friend around for the morning - the same age.

Frankly I'm exhausted from sorting out their squabbles.

DS and his friend are good friends but this is the first time they've actually been at my home together.

They spent a long time setting up DS knights and warriors etc . All going well .

When it was actually time to play with them - ie. DS wanted to move the knights in to battle , his friend became very annoyed and insisted they can't be moved

He also wouldn't let DS move any of the arms / legs of the figures and became quite annoyed when DS insisted he wanted to play and move them.

There was no compromise at all and DS obviously became quite frustrated.

The boy eventually agreed to have his share of the figures static and DS was allowed to move his figures but there were so many rules about what could and couldn't be done , even I was exasperated!

This boy is lovely and polite but I'm a bit shocked at this .

My DS is any only child but I don't think this kind of "play" is normal.

I did mention to his mum that he became a little bit upset when playing but was generally ok and she didn't seem surprised but also didn't say anything

I'd love to have him back to play but I think we will leave the knights in the box !

Its all normal. I have 3 and they all squabble constantly.

It's normal for my 7yo but she is autistic. I wouldn't think it was neurotypical behaviour personally. Her friends don't play like that.

Control freak!
My DC with autism has to be in control of games and has melt downs if others don't follow the rules.

Less squabbles in my experience as they get older as compromise is reached easier. Kids become more resilient, less tired and more open to the others wants. As Trifle said it's a learned skill. Dd is almost 9 and in yr4. She holes up in her bedroom or disappears down the garden with friends. She sometimes does fight with one of her male friends as they are so different in what they like to do but it's rare and these days they will sacrifice what the other wants to do and swap.

Luckily in a few years you can just chuck them onto the street or shut them in a bedroom and throw biscuits in every so often.

You can very definitely do this at 7. Or in the garden if the street is not safe.

My DS is 6 and I never say two words to him and his friends when they are playing. I feed them if they are staying for tea, that is it. I have no idea why adults would be joining in with 7 year olds (unless there are social communication issues that need some support).

Normal. One child doesn't think the figures should be moved, other child does. Children at that age tend to create very unreasonable "rules" during games. It's about being in control and being the "boss".

I agree with Lowdoor - my youngest (of 3) is only just 6 and I don't supervise play nor expect squabbling. Siblings squabble sometimes, but friends over to play don't, and anyone hard work is never invited back. If a parent told me about a specific/ special need I'd go out of my way to accommodate, but as nobody ever has I expect friends over the age of 4 over will mean my kids entertain themselves with very little input from me, and having friends over (which we do most days) makes my life easier not harder.