We have friends with children who are friendly with our DC. Eldest is pleasant enough, but the youngest (let's call him Z)(aged 8) is just generally obnoxious - never stops talking about himself and how brilliant he is, and always seems to be 'putting down' DS2 (who is a bit lacking in self-esteem anyway).
For example:
DS2: "I'd like an XYZ for christmas"
Z: "My best friend, N, is going to get me a MASSIVE present for my birthday. Bigger than anyone elses, or anything you've ever had"
DS2: "Our cars are the same"
Z : "No, ours is miles better - ours has a roofrack and has alloys"
Me: (after we had a new kitchen extension)
- we're having tea in here... do you like our new kitchen?
Z: "Our kitchen is much bigger and we can get 8 people around our table..."
It's just so boring and irritating. I've always taught my kids not to boast, but when he's going on, they look at me as if to say, "Mummy, can I argue back/cut him down a peg or too?"
It's not just boasting either, it's downright nasty too soemtimes. Last weekend the kids were adding something up. DS2 got the sum slightly wrong.
Z says, "Are you any good at Maths?"
DS2 proudly (cos he actually IS quite good at Maths) "Yes, I am..."
Z: "Well it doesn't seem like it, cos you can't even do that sum..."
The thing is that Z's mum even heard him say that and didn't say anything 
. I would've pulled my child up on it straight away and told him not to be so mean.
I'd really rather we never had to see this child, but it's not that easy, as they are neighbours and long-standing 'friends'.
What would you do? I don't feel comfortable letting him do this in front of me/the kids, but it's hard when his parents don't seem to deal with it.
Surely it's not right for a child of this age to be so full of himself and sneering and critical of others?
(To be fair, he probably gets it from his Dad, who is just the same, and always has the 'best' golf club/ car/ wine etc etc 
)