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Original poster

To think my boys playing is a bit much

38 replies

Todayisaday · 16/05/2025 17:45

I have two boys age 7 and 12. They play by winding each other up, making war games, that end in some sort of combat. Making challenge games up, that end in one losing and then a fight with cushions. Going in each others rooms to play then ending up annoying each other and ends in one shouting get out. Throwing socks at each other etc. Play football in the garden and purposefully see who can kick the ball highest then ends in one kicking the other ones ball over the fence on purpose.
Is this normal play for boys or are mine extra?
I am sure me and my sisters played nicely, playing offices, schools and board games. Maybe rose tinted spectacles but it seems so different.

OP posts:
BlueTitShark · 18/05/2025 12:43

I don’t want to frighten you but my two are now 20yo and 22yo.
When they get back home, Theyre still exactly the same.

You have years of winding each other up.

ToffeePennie · 18/05/2025 12:52

Mine are 7 and 11.
My little one is the biggest wind up on the planet.
They are both like this but even worse.
This morning the littlest farted on his brother’s head to wake him up, which resulted in my youngest being pushed out of the oldests bed (bunkbed, so that was fun)
When all the tears had died down and we had made sure there was not a scratch on either of them, my 7 year old decided it was a good time to jump over the couch…..
I swear they are trying to see how many ways of almost dying there are.

Houseofpainjumparound · 18/05/2025 13:03

I have 2 girls and they are like this.... I call it Pre Fighting cause invariably most games end up in someone rage quitting and some sort of fight... drives me mad but I leave them too it until I think it's going too far and something or someone will get hurt.... mine are 8 and 6

emziecy · 18/05/2025 13:07

I have 3 boys, 15 year age gap between 1st and 2nd, 15 months between 2nd and 3rd. The youngest were exactly the same as you describe, if not worse when they were younger. They are now 18 and 19 and still do it sometimes 🤣

SeaToSki · 18/05/2025 13:08

I have 3 DSes and a DD. We had a rule in our house that if any dc yelled Done, then all horsing around had to stop, everyone took a breather and checked in on each other that no one was hurt or overwhelmed etc. Then the dc that yelled Done could restart things. There were big consequences for any dc that didnt respect the Done rule, and it worked very well in protecting the smaller dc until they were bigger.

I read something when they were little that home should be a safe place for dc since the world and school etc can be tough. This was my work around to allow the horsing around they enjoyed, but stop it getting to the point of pushing around

Wavescrashingonthebeach · 18/05/2025 13:11

Boys and girls are TOTALLY different so of course it will be different to how you and your sisters played!!
Of course, there's always going to be exceptions on both sides but in general boys are alot more active and boisterous. They sound totally normal to me.
And I was friends with lots of boys as a child, was a bit of a tomboy, we did all the army games and weapons stuff 😂

Pherian · 19/05/2025 20:50

Todayisaday · 16/05/2025 17:45

I have two boys age 7 and 12. They play by winding each other up, making war games, that end in some sort of combat. Making challenge games up, that end in one losing and then a fight with cushions. Going in each others rooms to play then ending up annoying each other and ends in one shouting get out. Throwing socks at each other etc. Play football in the garden and purposefully see who can kick the ball highest then ends in one kicking the other ones ball over the fence on purpose.
Is this normal play for boys or are mine extra?
I am sure me and my sisters played nicely, playing offices, schools and board games. Maybe rose tinted spectacles but it seems so different.

This is normal. Mine are 14 and 16 and it hasn’t stopped. I just tell them to knock it off. That lasts about 10 min until they are at it again.

Undethetree · 19/05/2025 20:57

This is exactly how my two sons play -similar age gap.

Paws81 · 21/05/2025 09:43

I could have written this myself, my boys are the same age and this is them to a tee!
it’s completely normal

midlifeattheoasis · 21/05/2025 09:56

They sound just like my two boys now 21 & 19. My best friend with 3 girls of a very similar age was always in disbelief when my two behaved like this as her girls would just potter along nicely Grin

Alwaystired23 · 21/05/2025 10:18

My sons are 11 and 13, and they sound just like them.

PeatandDieselfan · 21/05/2025 10:30

I have 4 boys, 13, 11, 8 & 6. They all train sports. They also all play musical instruments and spend a lot of time playing individually or together with lego/cards/random craft/building projects.

However, their absolute favourite (and main use of time at home) is making up new ways to insults each other and wrestling/ picking each other up/knocking each other down. It is really loud and really annoying (for me) but seems to be essential for them, and weirdly although it mostly sounds pretty unpleasant, they actually really like each other.

Original poster
Todayisaday · 21/05/2025 10:43

Alwaystired23 · 21/05/2025 10:18

My sons are 11 and 13, and they sound just like them.

Oh thanks for your stories, yes mine like each other a lot.
It just drives me mad sometimes 😂
Fjrst one to the car, who found the biggest stick, random pushes for no reason, deciding to try bare knuckle boxing when I wasnt looking (quickly separated 😂), who sits next to dad, kicking the other ones favourite soft plushy down the stairs.
Sounds like it is all quite normal and I get to enjoy this for many years to come 😂

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