Rough play with mommy but not children

[Brittni88]

I have a 2 1/2 year old only child who I stay home with. Which sadly means that he doesn't get much time with children his own age so mommy is his playmate. When we play together or when him and his daddy play it always ends up with an adult getting hurt, but when we go to chick fil a ( or favorite place to play) he always plays nice and even tries to hug all the children there. Yet every time he plays with me it is so rough. How do I stop the jumping on my head/stomach and the kicking, rolling over me and throughing things? I know that he doesn't mean to hurt me but it does. I say "baby that hurts mommy" and stop playing for a bit while trying to explain and ask how he would feel, but nothing seems to work.

I would sternly (but not roughly) pick him up, tell him that you will not play if jumps on you, put him down away from you and turn your head away. If that does not work, then walk away from him and stop the game.

But more than that, I wonder if he's getting over-excited and needs to burn off energy in more productive ways.

Try reading Playful Parenting for play ideas.