Boys rough play

[Sally210577]

So I have 2 boys, one 4 year old (nearly 5) and one 2.5 year old and they are literally driving me crazy. They seem incapable of playing without it involving throwing stuff, kicking stuff, screaming, wrestling/pushing/jumping on each other. Generally it's just really rough play. Anyone else in the same boat? They have so many toys and I can perhaps engage them for a short time by playing with them together but it soon all falls apart. My husband's response is "They're just boys!" ...I don't feel this is an excuse! I have to take them out every day otherwise world war 3 would break out. It's exhausting just trying to think of things to do with them to try and exhaust them!

Do you usually give them a time out? If they fight they will need to have to stand in front of the wall and let them have a break. I usually did that to my kids when they fight over toys.

Do you usually give them a time out? If they fight they will need to have to stand in front of the wall and let them have a break. I usually did that to my kids when they fight over toys.

Seriously? Do you want them to grow up with no self esteem? They are little boys playing and expressing themselves, just because it isn't to an adults taste doesn't mean they should be punished like that.

I have twin boys aged almost 3 and they squabble all the time! The HV's suggestion was to 'distract them' but clearly there's only so much of that I can do when I also have to cook, clean, sort out washing etc...

I do find they are much better when they're not in the house for any length of time. Like your DH, my DP says "but they have loads of toys!" and it's true, but after not very long a while they'd rather be out at the park/ sandpit/ feeding the ducks. We go out for at least an hour a minimum of twice a day for everyone's sanity!

Are there any groups you could take your boys to to break things up a bit? A lot of the baby ones near us will accept older siblings for the summer hols. Maybe an activity-based one like Creation Station so there's something they are both interested in but they (probably!) can't fight over?

It is kind of typical of a lot of boys though - DD2 got invited to a class party which was predominantly boys and she was the only girl who actually went. You know those cartoons where the characters are scrapping and it's just a cloud of brawl that moves around with the odd limb or protagonist popping out for a second then jumping back into it? It was like that!

DD2 didn't give a shit regardless and just carried on with what she was doing amid it all.