How rough and tumble teaches kids to handle their anger

IT helps burn off boisterous youngsters’ excess energy – but rough and tumble play can also be good for children emotionally, researchers say.

Four-year-olds who enjoyed ‘high quality’ physical play with their fathers had fewer emotional difficulties and better behaviour, a study found.

The scientists believe that this is because it allows children to release their competitive instincts while learning to control their aggression.

It can also provide a ‘real-world opportunity for a child to observe and practise important social skills such as recognising emotions, suppressing impulse and aggression, and sustaining reciprocal play,’ they said.

Lead researcher Jennifer St George, a senior lecturer in family studies at the University of Newcastle in New South Wales, Australia, added: ‘We know both girls and boys enjoy physical play with

‘Practise important social skills’

dads, but we were interested to see it also pointed to good outcomes for children.

‘Children whose fathers engage in rough and tumble play that was warm and playful are also children with better emotional and behavioural outcomes.’

Dr St George and her team watched 24 pairs of fathers and four-year-olds engage in games such as trying to get each other’s socks off, and youngsters trying to stop fathers from standing up.

Limits on the games were set to prevent aggression or injury and to allow children to enjoy themselves – including sometimes being given the upper hand.

Dr St George said: ‘This play involves competitiveness, restraint, role reversal where the child is the strong one, and lots of laughter. It’s not aggressive, it’s playful and often involves letting the kids win.’

Dr St George said some parents thought rough and tumble play would make it harder for children to be able to play quietly too, but this was not the case. She added: ‘When kids engage in this kind of play in the playground it can mean they are more ready for other, more quiet games at other times.’