is this just boys being boisterous or should I be concerned?

[Lexie1970]

DS started reception in September and will be 5 in March.

Every time there are scrapes in class from playtime DS seems to come home with bruises and today he has a scratch about 2cms long under his chin. it always seems to involve him and another boy - today they were playing motorbikes another time they bumped into each other and it goes on and on.

DS says that this boy is his friend and he always looks forward to seeing him at school so I just need to know am I being a bit PFB or is this something I need to speak to his class teacher about? I should add that DS is generally quite active and is a bit of a dare-devil but the other boy looks quite a toughie and I have a feeling he may have been held back in reception this year but not sure so he could be a year older....

TIA

Some rough play is inevitable & normal, but He shouldn't regularly come home with marks on him. I'd have a word about your DS having bruises & scratches, don't speculate about the other lad. Odds are your DS is keenly encouraging the roughness.

It doesn't have to be particularly rough play to produce all sorts of bruises and scratches, and normally all parties to these games are enthusiastically consenting. As DS is happy, chances are that is what is happening here.

But it's always worth having a word at a convenient moment with the teacher if you're worried about something.

I would always speak to the teacher if you are worried.

Mind you, DS1 never has bumps etc. I only ever had one accident report at nursery, and one so far in four and a bit years at school.

DS2 had weekly accident reports at nursery, and seems to spend a huge amount of time in the school office with an icepack.

He is actually less solid and far gentler than his brother, but tends to muck in a bit more, where his brother would hold back.

I actually asked the teacher to "encourage" him to please sit and do some drawing today, rather than throw himself around.

Thanks for all your responses :)

I spoke to teacher today and it is a case of six of one and half a dozen on another. However other boy instigates all of the rough play and DS is the willing follower. There have been several incidents with 3 of them that all play together and it just gets out of hand with somebody getting hurt. They were told no rough play before Xmas, calmed down and had to all be told again. Today DS and other boy were called in from play time as they were not behaving.........

Anyway I feel much better and teacher has said they will all be kept an eye on and I have said for her to drag DS in from playtime, reprimand him etc as often as they see fit :)

I'm glad the teacher is keeping an eye out, and it's a good sign that she'd already spotted the dynamics. I hope it all settles down again.