Rough And Tumble

Written by Lisa on Monday 3 April 2006

Ray and Jay have always played well together. watching them enjoying each others company has made me glad that we didn't leave too big an age gap between our children. Sure they bicker and row, but generally they get on well and are so affectionate and loving with one another.

Recently their play has become more rough than usual. They often play "battles" which consists of chasing, wrestling then chasing again, and sometimes incorporates a pillow fight. I don't allow things to get too rough, but I do believe that they should be allowed to jostle with each other, and I have read many times that this sort of play is especially important for the development of young boys.

I have begun to have problems though when I take the family to our local mother and toddler group. Often when Jay is playing with some of the other children his age he tends to get a wee bit rough. He doesn't mean to hurt them, but when he tries to wrestle with them, or chase them round the hall, he either scares the living daylights out of them, or manages to knock someone over.

I worry that all the other mums think that Jay is a bully. He is very very tall for his age and although he is only 2 1/2 he is the size of a four year old and is very very sturdy. He rarely means to cause anyone any pain, but by being so clumsy, and rough he occasionally does.

I don't want people to think that he is a bad child, or a bully. i have tried to explain to him that he needs to be more gentle with other children and I watch him like a hawk while we are out. But he just doesn't grasp what I am saying. He doesn't realise that he is so much bigger than the other children, or that he is hurting them. He just wants to play.

Our Jay, the not so gentle giant!