5 year boys and persistant one-upmanship!!

[carocaro]

DS1 and his mates are driving me nuts, all their conversation seems to start with the word 'anyway' then it goes something like you don't have this toy/I am odler than you /I have more this, that or this other or can do this and you can't. Then it's 'I'm going to do this and you can't' Why can't they just play as normally as poss, to be honest it is only 2 of his mates, the others don't see to be obsessed with the persistant sodding one upmanship. I have tried distraction, saying things like 'well we are all different' 'nobaody is the same' but still it goes on. Why oh why do they do this? It's like they are trying to make the other person feel small, left out and worhtless.

dont think its because they are just being horible, its actually quite normal.
Children need to feel they 'good' at stuff and that they are included within a social group..... so therefore have to exclude others, if that makes sense, we are guilty of excluding others to make ourselves feel better right through our childhoods and into school( and some of us beyond!).
kids are naturaly very competative. but obviously you need to be clear that although normal, it isnt a particularly nice personality trate. I would be harder on them and a little telling off when it gets out of hand wouldnt hurt!