Do you stop the play fights between the children? (toys, boys, playing)

[skahar]

My boys wrestle all the time. Mine is the opposite problem my son is bigger than his friend and I always have to watch that he is not too rough on the little guy. As long as you step in when it looks like one of them is actually getting hurt they should be fine.

[WIfornow]

I have 2 boys, and I let them wrestle up to a point. You can kind of sense when someone is about to get hurt, or fun has turned to anger. That is when I step in and say, enough rough housing, find another game to play.

[Momma_bear]

I don't let the kids play rough in the house. There are to many ways for them to get hurt, even if it's not malicious. If they want to play rough they need to go outside where there is more space.

I do suggest that parents of boys who enjoy rough play enroll them in a physical sport (football, wrestling, lacrosse, hockey, etc.) so that they have an acceptable outlet for their physical play. I have 3 sons and my oldest and youngest are very physical by nature. They both play football, wrestle and play lacrosse. That cuts down on lots of physical stuff in the house.

[thebanker]

You have to stop the fights ESPECIALLY IF YOUR SON IS ON THE LOSING SIDE. Or would you rather wait till boy next door dunks out an eyeball and a thumb?

By the way, your English is not as bad as you think, I totally understood everything!

[maciesmom]

Boys play wrestle all the time. If you notice your son is always on the bottom and being forced to "give" I would certainly so something to teach him some moves and confidence to even up the score. I also agree with keeping an eye open and noticing if/when it looks like enough is enough.

[haggardhouseelf]

Hi Reute,

I have two boys, too. I don't allow my boys and their friends to play fight, so I offer them alternatives, here are some ideas:

- nerf gun battles
- water balloon fights
- water gun fights
- water hose fights
- playing the wii (They like to do the wii boxing game... they are still "fighting" each other, but only on the game so no one can actually get hurt. Also - they wear themselves out and get exercise. )

The wii is actually great for boys for working out lots of pent-up energy. My boys and their friends like to do the sports games - baseball, tennis, boxing, golf, etc.

I feel like boys play fight when they are bored and can't think of anything better to do. Keep them busy and focused on something and hopefully the playfighting will at least not happen as much.

Put your foot down in your house. If it makes you uncomfortable, don't allow it. If they don't like it, too bad - you're the mom! Better safe than sorry, I've always thought.

Good luck!

[AaronK]

When I make my child fight the neighborhood children I don't usually stop it unless he is winning. Usually I video tape them and put them on Youtube.

[aidxen]

outside.
On the grass.

We do not allow rough play inside.

Outside OK so long as it is not mean. So if it is a play fight then thats OK but not if its being used to bully. A bit of boys will be boys and a bit of rough and tumble does not necessarilly mean that it is nasty.

[kygman]

Originally Posted by zonababe

If one child if pummelling another and you as an adult do nothing to stop the fight, that is called child abuse in the United States.

There you go, zon! Let's blow it all out of proportion! There wasn't any pummeling. It was PLAY FIGHTING!!! You can just check in on them every now and then. If they aren't crying or one doesn't get hit hard enough to bruise, then don't worry about it.

[NCyank]

Originally Posted by zonababe

If one child if pummelling another and you as an adult do nothing to stop the fight, that is called child abuse in the United States.

Quick, call the wedgie patrol, call the noogie patrol....boys across the country are getting way out of hand!!




OP, I wouldn't worry about it too much as long as both are having fun and the play fighting is more play than fighting. Yes, set some limits and rules on the rough play, especially in the house. Heck, I'm a girl and used to wrestle with my brothers and dad...none of us were ever seriously hurt and suffered no long term damage from the 'abuse'.