Plays Too Rough

[Riverdong11]

I'm starting to get concerned that Liam plays too rough with other kids his size/age. He knows to be gentle with kids that are smaller than him, but if they aren't then he is grabbing at them or tackling them. Nothing we say curbs this behavior. It's starting to get embarrassing to have him play with our friends kids who have no problems with keeping their hands to themselves. 

I just don't know what to do to change his behavior and I'm feeling like a failure at parenting right now.

[somethingcleverer]

I'm still struggling to get Shane not to play too rough. I think some kids like the tactile feeling of rougher play. We just reinforce to be gentle and give time outs for playing too rough.

Maybe mrsrek10 has a better insight?

[sarasansh]

I think some kids just need rough play more than others. If you google there's a lot of research about how some kids need that kind of physical interaction--we've even had "rough play days" at recess some years because kids just need it.

How do the other kids feel about it? Is it a problem for them? Sometimes I feel like kids are like puppies, and if they get a bigger/older kid to put them in their place it can help.

[junkytrunk]

We seem to have that problem when we go to the play place at the mall. He always grabs kids shirts and I feel like I'm constantly yelling at him to not touch. So, I don't have any advice, but I can commiserate.

[Riverdong11]

Some of the kids care and some of the other kids don't mind it. I just see the parents' faces and they all mind so I feel like a jerk. I try to talk to him and remind him not to touch people roughly and to use soft touches but when he's running around in the moment he completely forgets what I told him.

[jennmm]

My kid got in trouble at daycare for putting other kids in a headlock. Yep. That's my girl. My tiny little girl who is the smallest kid in class.

[MissMusic]

No advice, but I wanted to see the answers and advice out of curiosity Sorry you're having this situation!