Playing Rough

Playing Rough

by: Lazy Ozzie - 22-05-12 21:16

Hiu, I was just wondering what you guys personally thought of play that was a bit more rough. Rough and tumble, play fighting, weapons (swords and guns) etc. Also what are the rules in your setting and what do parents generally think of it. Where i work its all seen as bad, i think its great and the parents generally seem to be ok with it, although as it's not really allowed its not something that i would hear parents opinons on very often.

As well what about getting involved, if you are happy for rough and tumble to happen in your setting would you get involved yourself and does the whole thing depend on the childs age, (ok at after school club not at nursery or vice versa)??

by: stormgirl

We do not ban gun or weapon play (although children can only bring comfort or show & tell items from home- this is a blanket policy so that toys from home don't get lost or broken.) 

They can make their own guns as long as they follow 'gun safety' rules- don't aim them at people who aren't playing your gun, listen when your friend asks you to stop or looks sad etc...

Similar rules apply with the "rough & tumble" We encourage the children to think about where & when. e.g Outside on the grass away from children that are playing quietly is ok- inside in the book area is not. We encourage them to look at the other children playing rough to check that they are still happy. We encourage them to communicate (in a way that is appropriate for that child) but be specific "I don't like it when you push me" instead of "stop I don't like it" If someone says stop- the others must listen. We monitor the play, if it seems to be getting out of hand we do a quick reminder "You are playing a rough game there, everyone still having fun?" If someone gets hurt we remind them "sometimes people might get accidently hurt when playing rough games, if you don't like that type of game play a different game for a while." 

Rough & tumble is so important for children, they learn so many important social skills, not to mention it is great exercise. It does require very involved & attentive adults though, especially when children are new to the centre and not sure of their limits yet. 

by: kaz (the first one!)

Very nicely put Stormgirl. I love a bit of rough play and I am usually in the thick of it!

Some children need to play a bit rough or be able to be aggressive without hurting anyone. Gun play/ superhero play is very easy to monitor or redirect if it gets a bit out of hand.

I do have some staff tho who are uncomfortable with rough play so don't forget to take staff feelings into account.

by: Karine

Teasing and rough and tumble play are normal for young children and acceptable within limits. This is known as pro-social and not as problematic or aggressive.

Fantasy play also contains many violently dramatic strategies, blowing up, shooting etc., and that themes often refer to ‘goodies and baddies’.  But these can offer opportunities for the children and practitioners to explore concepts of right and wrong. In relation to this play, you should be able to tune in to the content of the play.  Experienced and knowledgable practitioners who understand child development, should be able to gently suggest alternative strategies for heroes and heroines, making the most of ‘teachable moments’ to encourage empathy and lateral thinking to explore alternative scenarios and strategies for conflict resolution.

For children under five, behaviour is momentary, spontaneous and often without cognisance of the feelings of the person whom they have hurt.

We Most under fives have not yet developed the means to manage intense feelings that sometimes overwhelm them.  As practitioners we need to find ways of exploring emotions via role play, superhero play, through activities that support the verbalisation of emotions, such as using mirrors, visual aids, to provide pictures that support the words to help them further name their emotions and feelings.

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