Little boys- rough play question....

I guess this post is sort of a reverse of the "little boys/dolls" post...

My DS is 3.5 ....I have a friend who's son is also 3.5 and he is very into superhero's, Power Rangers etc...My DS knows who the superhero's are etc... but thats the extent of it...has a few Spiderman things, but he couldn't care either way about them, sometimes he will pick it up for a minute or so, then he moves on..

When I get together with my friends son, he is very "rough", using his figures to fight eachother etc..which in turn gets physical with my DS in one way or another...My DS doesnt play like this, so I am always saying "OK, thats enough, someones going to get hurt blah blah blah" ...She one of those that says "Oh leave them, they're boys etc..."

IMO, there is nothing wrong with children my DS's age playing with the figures etc.. and I know I cannot keep my child sheltered from the world , but at 3.5, I don't feel children of this age can differentiate what is appropriate when it comes to this sort of play all of the time...Theres plenty more years for him to get involved with this type of play and I'm perfectly happy with him playing with his matchbox cars and Littlest Pet Shop
(yes, my son plays with Littlest Pet Shop

) He actually uses his superhero figures to set up pretend birthday parties etc- LOL

Am I fooling myself here on trying to preserve some of his innocence ???

Any opinions on any of this ???

Re: Little boys- rough play question....

We all know...every child is different. Both the behavior of your son and your friend's son are very normal...but also very much (in my opinion) a reflection of their individuality - something that cannot and should not be changed.

I am reading a really good book right now 'Wild Thing: The Art of Nurturing Boys" and have to say it is a great book. They talk about boys at certain ages...your son and mine are 'Explorers' soon they will move on to 'Lovers' funny, right? But there is reason behind the labels. One of the authors goes on to say how his 'Explorere' was really into swords and play fighting...meanwhile he and his wife had never introduced any of it.....were not big fans of it...but realizing that when he was turning his food into guns that this was what he was into ...they gave in...to a degree...they allowed him to have certain approved toys that fuelled his imagination and allowed his role-play.

So.....back to your post....(sorry) I think both boys are being themselves and that's fine...amazing to see these little personalities unfold.

Re: Little boys- rough play question....

well, i have 3 boys. age 10, 7, and 3.5 like your son
they are all sooo different. But my oldest and my youngest are rough housers like your friends son. my middle one is a little more gentle (the lover) and more fragile. He was never into superheros.. mostly arts and crafts and things.. although all 3 of them are into video games with swords..
my husband says its in the blood boys will be boys. i let them be.. sort of like your friend.. and say well, they are boys. if your son doesn't have any older brothers that teach him swords and guns and fighting then he won't be into it is my guess.. it'll probably come with time though

Re: Little boys- rough play question....

Well I would say that my DS is not "gentle" by any means...he's 150% boy, all about sports ( which ironically my friends DS is not at all) etc- always running , jumping flipping and getting dirty etc - LOL...

The big issue I have is that he doesn't role play "fighting" like my friends DS and one of them is always getting hurt when my friends DS initiates this KWIM ?? And since I'm always the one trying to control the situation, its tough because what she thinks is "cute", I do not ...