How to calm wild kids

amother

Lawngreen

Sat, Sep 24 2016, 4:21 pm

I have two boys, ages 7 and 4. They are both great boys, the older is really sensitive, responsible and loves to help, and the second is extremely mature, self-aware, very giving, and has beautiful middos. However, I noticed especially when we go to the park on shabbos, when with their friends they immediately become hands-on. They'll start chasing their friends or mock wrestling with them. Their friends generally run straight for their mothers who are not impressed. My boys are doing it completely with a sense of fun and have absolutely no intention of hurting anyone. A new neighbor brought her two boys over to play for a few minutes and after about three minutes my kids were throwing things and play wrestling with the other kids. It's really my older son and my younger one worships the older one and just does everything the older one does. Is this normal boy behavior? How can I teach them acceptable social behavior with friends?

I have quite a few younger brothers and I'm not looking for perfect angels but I keep ending up leaving the park extremely embarrassed.

5*Mom

Sat, Sep 24 2016, 4:40 pm

You can talk to your 7 yo and teach him to ask first before starting a chasing/wrestling game because some kids don't like it or are sometimes not in the mood. He can just ask, "Do you want to play a chasing game?" or "Do you want to wrestle?"

imasinger

Sat, Sep 24 2016, 10:15 pm

I'd ask a couple of experienced mothers of boys to come with you to the park on different occasions, and get some sense of what is going on.

It sounds from your post like it might just be boys being boys, but I'd want someone closer to verify. Preferably more than one person.