Kelly P...How do your daycare children understand that it is okay to rough house, which is physical but they aren't ever allowed to physically touch anyone else??? Seems like it's mixed messages there to a group of children who are at an age where they would easily find it confusing to differentiate between when it is appropriate and when it isn't. I understand what you are saying that if they are in a situation where they have to share or aren't getting their own way then it isn't appropriate to resort to physical contact such as pushing, hitting etc but age 3 and under is such a funny age that in my experience this would be something that would commonly be misunderstood. I have two kids who rough house at home and here they have a really hard time not being physical both in play and in conflict resolution not just with each other which is to be expected with some siblings but with all the other children too. I have a 2 year old who quite clearly doesn't get how its okay for him to play fight with his sister at home but when he is mad he gets told off for hitting her.

Rough housing is play fighting/wrestling and IMO is not productive. It gets out of hand very quickly and somebody always gets hurt. How do I tell a parent that there kid has bruises or hurt themselves today but its okay they were only play fighting. Seems like a pointless activity to me when they can get plenty of gross motor activities that are way more fun with less risk of injury along with the elimination of mixed messages of when it is, or is not appropriate to have physical contact with another child.

My 4 year olds may be able to understand when it is appropriate but my 2 year olds don't and how can I allow the older ones to partake in it but not the younger ones who don't understand? Also some kids are rougher and stronger than others so even playing gently could still easily hurt others. Why anyone would set themselves up for extra conflict is beyond me. If there is a set rule of "keep your hands to yourself", then it's never an issue. If anything the kids I always have more problems with when it comes to that rule, are the ones who rough house all the time at home. My own kids had plenty of physical contact with others which is an important part of development without the roughness. Lots of kisses and cuddles and ticklefests.