DS fighting with "friends"

My DS has a little buddy that lives down the street. They play 3-4 times a week. They are 6.

They are so darn competitive! They just can't have a catch with a football. They have to play a "football game" and keeps score and keep track of balls going out of bounds...and they end up fighting with each other.

They fight over everything. Wii games, who gets what nerf gun, kickball, who kicks off and who receives in football.

My DS gets mad more easily and I know he probably starts most of the arguments. I keep trying to tell him that if he keeps fighting with his friend he's not going to want to play with DS anymore. I know its because the other little boy is better as some of the games they play and DS is mad about that but I just want them to play and have fun.

I'm hesitant to schedule playdates with other boys for fear of DS flipping out and starting a fight.

Is it normal for boys to be so competitive at that age? How to you "help keep the peace" when your child is having a playdate?

Re: DS fighting with "friends"

I am not sure what is "normal". There are kids my DD plays with and they get along great. Then there are kids that she constantly fights with. Sometimes I wonder if its normal, or if the other child and her are not a good match. I don't think they should be arguing all the time. Once in awhile is normal. My DD is very bossy and sometimes that is the problem, other times its not her. I don't get involved every single time, but most of the time I try to help them work it out or make them play something else. I would try playdates with other kids to have something to compare it to. See if he gets along better.

Re: DS fighting with "friends"

I would definitely try playdates with other kids. My DS used to play with a neighbor on the block (same age) all the time when they were 3-4 years old. Around the time they turned 5, something just changed in the dynamic of their friendship. They just started fighting over every little thing, always aggravating each other. They simply didn't click any more. Thank goodness both my DS and the other boy were starting kindergarten (different schools) and developed other friendships, so their relationship has really dissolved and they rarely play together anymore. I don't see this dynamic at all between DS and his other friends.