Roughhousing?

[kindredspirit]

I don't allow any play fighting (even between toy figures), inside or out. It's not realistic-in real life, people get very hurt from fighting. Even police try to talk it out first, and only chase/fight if provoked. If they respond that they can do it at home, I explain that they may have different rules at home, but at school (preschool) they follow school rules.

No climbing, jumping or running inside the house. On a storm day I put a hopscotch mat in an empty hall, and they can jump there. We go out everyday, rain or shine, where they have opportunities to jump, climb, turn upside down, etc. Inside, when they do those things, I say the positive "we will run outside, inside we need to walk", or "the couch is for sitting, we can climb the tree when we go out". It cuts down on the 'no' and reminds them that the behaviour is not bad, but it is not appropriate everywhere.

I have a younger sibling (2.5yo, have his 4yo brother now) starting next week, and I anticipate having this conversation many, many times in my future!

[Lee-Bee]

Gahhh. I had 2.5 and 3.5yr old brothers. They were constantly trying to rough house. Drove me bonkers. They would literally walk up behind each other, grab the other and throw them to the floor then land on them. Just not acceptable in my mind. Especially with a 2.5yr old that does not have the coordination for such things. I also felt that if I was going to allow them to do it with each other then letting my daughter in on the action was only fair game. She is 4, pure muscle, 43", 49lbs and in Jiu Jistu lol. No way I was letting her go at a 2.5 year old.

I have a very firm hands to yourself rule. It is just not acceptable anywhere outside of their own home and therefore not acceptable in my home.

Also no running. no standing/jumping on furniture, no sitting on the coffee table etc. It's just common sense. I provide plenty of time for being active and using gross motor skills outside there is no reason they need to do such things inside.

But I also find that I seem like no fun. I find myself constantly reminding them to sit and play with a toy (other wise they start running and throwing things).

[carrielind]

Thanks for all the information guys! I am in a battle (with myself I guess) that I'm a boring daycare. We have free play inside and outside and stuff and I do play with them as much as I can, but I find I'm mostly saying "don't claim on there you don't want to fall, don't hit, don't throw that, please be quiet there's babies sleeping " etc.