Boys Playground Games...??

[mrsdil]

My ds is in reception and always tells me the games they play during lunch break..which are all violent games in my opinion, bulldozer is one where they have to 'bulldoze' into another child and try to knock them over!

When asking what other games they play he says tig, wrestling, tripping each other over. Alot of the year groups play these games and they tend to play againt each other i.e. reception vs year 1.

I asked him to play nice games but he says he doesnt know any and i cant think of any! Can anyone help me out with some ideas of easy fun games i could show him to play?

Or is this just the way boys play?

Are they allowed to play football? What about stuck in the mud (at least they have to stop every so often). Is there any equipment they can use at break times?

My DS is in Reception too and they either play football or Power Rangers. Or other superhero type play-fighting games.

His teacher is baffled as she teaches them games in PE that she tells them are great to play in the play-ground but they still revert to type!

It's a boy thing!

I will have to check on the football thing..was told when he started school he couldnt take anything in..i have seen older yrs playing football(4 upwards).

How does stuck in the mud work?

Think all i used to play was ponies and handstands at school

At our school they are not allowed take toys in generally but a football seems to be OK.

My ds plays dodge ball - or tig of some sort. They have playground equipment - balls, skipping ropes, these wee flower pot things they can balance on etc.
They have also just had some games repainted on the playground - an dthis morning a group of about 8 (boys / girls aged from 5 - 11) were all playing snakes and ladders which looked really great!

Basically, "It", but when you're caught, you have to stand still with your legs apart. Someone who hasn't been caught can then "free" you by crawling between your legs.

sounds like he likes using his imagination to be buuldozer! what about pirates or something similar? can pretend to sword fight (no physical contact!), look for treasure, etc.

This is a real bugbear of mine! I wish DS1's primary school would provide more games etc for the children to play at break times, as in Scotlou's school. DS1 doesn't like fighting and finds it hard to see the line between real fighting and playfighting (not surprising when playfights seem to end up in real fights quite frequently.) However, all the boys in his class play these games at break, including DS1's best friend, so he doesn't have much choice if he wants to fit in. It's got to the stage recently where when I ask him if he's had a good day he either says 'Yes - no fighting today' or 'No - it was a fighty day' (!) I wish they could be given a few ideas/bit of equipment/some kind of structure - it's a shame as otherwise the school is great.

What is the time mr wolf?

Its just a boy thing. ds1 is always playing Power Rangers, and comes home saying I was fighting with xxx and I was fighting with xxx. Its only play fighting, boys have always played that way, and always will.

As long as they know the difference between playing and real life, I think just let them get on with it.

My DS plays a game at school that involves batting a tennis ball with a bare hand. Not sure of the rules but it seems really compelling. I think it is similar to the American game of 'four square'.

In addition ot this, I think marbles and jacks can be fairly popular with boys.

DS's favourite game is running through the girls' changing rooms without getting caught by a prefect...