5 Yr Old Son and Playing Rough

Sounds like normal boy play to me.
I understand the teachers responsibility to keep ALL the children safe. It could lead to accidents but she can be more creative in this situation as well...instead of time-out maybe she could use redirection and structure a race time or other "event" that is safe and competitive like tug of war ect. Talk to her about alternatives and redirection or a more structured play time go watch it for yourself and observe them on the playground.

When I was a headstart teacher I played right along with the children. They always loved to race or have competitions on the balance beam.

Your son is engaging in what is called rough and tumble play. Most adults mistake this for aggressive behavior. This is actually healthy, normal behavior which research shows helps children develop several important skills. This type of play helps develop gross motor skills, leadership skills, and the skills needed in reading people's intentions. In rough and tumble play, they have to be able to read the signals of the other player(s) to tell if they are still playing or if they are really being attacked. They need to be able to read these signals in order to respond appropriately. The adults need to be more skilled at reading the signs in the difference between rough and tumble play and true aggression.
By the way, I am an early childhood instructor at a university and am pursuing my doctorate in early childhood education.

K., it actually sounds hilarious- the scene you described. Of course the sticks are so dangerous and I never let any kid within 200 yards of me pick one up anymore. But it sounds like the thing he loves the most is playing with that boy so taking that away may be the answer. I believe you will just have to wait this one out. Also there is a good (old) series of books entitled "Your 5 Year Old, Your 8 Year Old, etc" . The sound goofy but they really helped me when my boys moved into a different stage. It was all explained there. You can get them at B&N I believe and they are very inexpensive.
Good luck.

That's just little boy behavior! They play rough. Sometimes daycare workers don't want little boys to be little boys because they fear injuries on their watch. Little boys play fight, wrestle and roll around on the ground and do kung fu kicks with each other. It is not bad, it is just different from little girls.

There was a study that showed that even when mom's and childcare workers tried to keep toy weapons away from boys they still found ways to pretend they had them--even to the point of eating a piece of toast into the shape of a gun. However, they also found that in the kids' play they were not pretending to be a bad guy, they were usually the good guy, saving their friends, family or the world.

Kids used to play cowboys & Indians, Cops & robbers, Superman, Spiderman & Batman--and there was no problem. It didn't make them grow up to be killers. Now it's just not "PC" to allow little boys to play like little boys. My brother was an only boy and he would fight invisible foes!

I would suggest that this happens at school because being an only child, school is where he finds other little boys who understand "boy play." If you don't want him to get in trouble at school just ask him to cool it at school and invite some of his school friends over.
If they are not getting into real fights, I don't see any problem with their behavior. The phrase "Boys will be boys" actually dies apply here.

Hey K.. How about putting your son in an evening karate class. This will teach him discipline along with the basic moves, a bit of history of the art of karate, etc. The discipline is what he needs to learn. They will teach him how to use these tactics in appropriate times and ways. Truly your baby boy sounds like a very healthy little boy with alot of energy to burn. I think the classes will help to calm him greatly without taking out the little boy in him. In fact, he'll develop self-esteem, pride, and many good qualities to add to his already angelic-being! Good Luck.

Girl tear dat butt up..he'll love ya either way..but he will respect u more.

He's just being a boy - in general, boys temd to play rough at that age. As long as no one is getting hurt, let him play.