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Should I worry about this play between DD6 and DS4?

8 replies

whizzylala · 07/04/2010 16:35

My DD is a bossy 6 yr old and when she and DS 4 play together it is always "mummy and baby", "teacher and toddler" you get the picture. She will not allow DS to be the lead role in any game and if he suggests it she just won't play with him.
I personally cannot bare the mummy and baby games, their twee voices drive me mad but I am assuming they all do it.
My worry is that him always being the one being bossed is surely going to have an affect on him eventually. He is a boys boy with his own friends, definitely shyer than her but not "shy" and is doing fine. I just wonder if this is normal behaviour and dynamics and anything I can do to encourage them to play more evenly together.
The only time they play together by the way is games like these, they never do anything as equals like puzzles, playing with toys like the farm etc.
My gut feeling is that i have to just leave them be but I really would like to know if others are like this too.
THANKS!
Whizz

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PixieOnaLeaf · 07/04/2010 16:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

drivingmisscrazy · 07/04/2010 16:55

for a minute there whizzy I thought you meant DD number 6, and DS number 4, not their ages . I'm all for big families, but was about to keel over in awe

helyg · 07/04/2010 16:58

lol DMC I thought the same!

I have a 4 yr old DD and an alost 6 yr old DS, and they play exactly the same. Sometimes they playmums and dads, sometimes dads and babies. Its all role play and good for their developent.

If he is unhappy with not being in charge though I would mention it gently to DD.

whizzylala · 07/04/2010 17:07

Tee Hee! Blimey can you imagine!! NO definitely just the two at the moment - if I had 10 I dare say I wouldn't notice what they were up to (and they would be fine)!!!

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LadyOfTheFlowers · 07/04/2010 17:11

My eldest 2 boys aged 4 and 3 play 'Mummies and Babies' quite a lot and the necessary voices drive me mad too.

My 4 yr old always insists on being the baby though and 3 yr old is the mummy.

heth1980 · 07/04/2010 18:02

I have no experience of this with my 2 yet as they are too young (2 and 7weeks) but I have a brother who is 2 yrs younger than me and I remember I used to be the same way with him! I always had to be the lead role whilst he had to be the baby etc. Poor thing got bossed around constantly! Doesn't seem to have done him any harm (he's 27 now!)

annoyingdevil · 07/04/2010 18:57

My two(5 and 3) spend the entire day playing mummies and babies. DS seems happy to take on the baby role, assume they'll grow out of it sooner or later

whizzylala · 09/04/2010 16:29

OK so they're normal, I shall learn to live with it for now! (DD fine at sharing by the way and no problems with peer group play that I know of!)
Whiz

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