Do I persevere with play groups?

[BlueThesaurusRex]

My son is 19 months old and quite a handful. I take him to play groups and spend the whole time defending other children who he’s trying to hit, hair pull etc.

I’m constantly removing him to sit on the side and watch the other children play before I let him back and the chaos starts all over again.

Do I continue to go or wait until he’s older and can understand discipline/behaviour a bit better?

You’re doing the right thing in teaching him not to hit etc. I think it depends on you, when my now 3 year old was in this phase I gave playgroups a swerve for a bit as I found it tiring constantly sorting problems.

That’s kind of what I’m thinking @discotits (great name!)

I’m just so unhappy and exhausted by the end of group (and embarrassed too)

Thanks.
Don’t be embarrassed, other parents will see you’re trying. I have a slightly older child who never did this, so it’s luck of the draw if you get a child that does. Skip it a few weeks, maybe the park instead and try again.

Persevere if you can face it - there were several known thumpers/biters/shovers in the groups DS attended, but as long as their parents were actively managing them nobody blamed them. In every case they have gone through that phase and are now playing happily with the same children they previously walloped.

I would also say most children go through a physically rough stage, and getting it out of the way at 19 months (when nobody judges) is better than dealing with it in a large 3 year old.

Thank you!

Persevere, its better to be teaching him now than when he's bigger and stronger.

If I saw a 1.5 year old doing this at a playgroup I wouldn't think anything of it other than he/she looks hard work, I wouldn't judge you at all as they're at an age where they're only just learning and understanding.

I'll admit when DS was around 18/20m I gave playgroups a miss for a bit because they were stressful.
Plus he was starting nursery in a bit so he'd get socialised that way.

He's 2.2 now and plays nicely and doesn't snatch. Sometimes just a few months makes them change loads.

If you are finding it stressful maybe just stick to parks for the summer and start again in September when he'll have better understanding.

Thank you everyone.

I think playgroup is for the parents as much as the children - if you’re having a shit time maybe have a bit of time off and stick to parks where LO can run around and burn off some of that energy!

Parks are usually good for us (until someone else turns up 🙈)