Boys and rough play

[WipsGlitter]

Is it normal? DS is four, I've just collected him from a friends house and they (five kids at a party) were all pushing and tussling and generally bring rough with each other. DS is in the thick if it.

How do get him to stop and is it normal?

Perfectly normal and as long as no-one is getting hurt I'd leave them to it.

Perfectly normal and you can't get them to stop

It is normal, and isn't restricted to boys (unless a DD has been conditioned to "gentler" behaviour from an early age).

The important thing is that surveillance is needed, so roughness doesn't tip over into someone being hurt, and to ensure all those playing continue to be enthusiastically consenting.

I look after a 2 year old and 7 year old and the rough play is never ending. It always ends up going too far and the younger one being in tears. Nothing stops him though he's still trying to do it all over again once I've wiped away the tears.

Well I'm glad to hear it's normal. It's never really rough but I don't like seeing them play like that.

Have a look at a book called Playful Parenting - it's excellent - it talks about how children use play to explore emotion and to figure out the world around them. I think you feel reassured after reading it.

My two tumble like cubs.

Seems pretty normal to me. Someone gets hurt, they get over it and either go back for more or they go do something else.

They also both want to wrestle with DH.

Oh yes, it's very normal, it's very difficult to stop them doing it and it very often ends in tears. If you don't have more than one DS you can look on the bright side and think that at least you don't have it going on at home the whole goddamn time!

Children learn a lot thru rough play, about risks, limits, fun. It's instinctive. Even my cats do it. :)