Mom of two high energy boys at 2 and 5. I only grew up with sisters and quiet boy cousins. I have no idea how to handle this. I love them BUT THE NOISE.

Lots of sports

Make friends at Urgent Care

OUTSIDE

GO OUTSIDE

We bought a couple of nugget sofas online last year - I literally line the walls of the basement with them and the boys can go at it.

Almost 10 year old twin boys. Yes, outdoor physical play to get the energy out. But just know that it takes a while for the body to adjust after an adrenaline boost. So we try to get them outdoors to the playground, biking or some such regularly . If we can't go, then we send them to the backyard.

First sign of running, rambunctious behavior gets a "slow down" warning. When it happens again (it virtually always does), then they go outside to play in the back yard. That's what we have a fenced backyard for. I tell them to stay out until they can be calmer inside and not run and jump, etc. When it is not good outside, I can pull the cars into the driveway and let them do stuff in the garage. If they come in and start up again, I tell them they need to take that back outside. Sometimes that calms them down. Sometimes not and they go outside again. IF they don't want to go outside, like now when it is blazing hot outside, they'll calm down.

Basically, they have a choice, rough play outside or calmer play inside.

I’m exhausted reading this! Are you all super high energy??

Lots of sports and physical exercise. We were basically outside all the time unless it was a thunderstorm or torrential rain. During this time, I used to pick DS2 from preschool, go to the pool, let him swim/play in the water for an hour or two and then have a peaceful, quiet evening.

Swimming in the hot sun + I bribe them to slow down with snack and tv time when I need them to start getting calmer

Anonymous wrote:Swimming

My boys are swimmers! One plays lax, too. My sister's three boys play hockey and have a pool at their house, so they swim all the time.

I also have a very athletic girl who gets in on the crazy. I've found that kids crave activities that give their bodies the feedback of resistance. I learned this from a preschool teacher who used to have the kids push on the walls with their arm and feet before they went outside because it cut down on kids crashing into each other on purpose. So, if they're little, swings, trampolines, even dribbling a basketball are good for getting them the "hits" that their bodies crave. Swimming helps because it gives you full body resistance -- starting with a cannonball contest makes it even better! If it is raining and they're little, you can wrap them in a gym/yoga mat and gently roll one kid over the other one in the mat. We call this human tacos. We also had an indoor trampoline.

Mine are 7 and 10 and insane. We do it all. Tons of outdoor play both structured and unstructured, etc. Sometimes we have them run laps. It's so tough.

I have a 3.5 boy only and you’ve describe it accurately. I just nag nag nag nag don’t run stop running slow down don’t clump don’t jump. I gave up. Of course he hits his head falls and bites his lip the whole thing. And he doesn’t do it just in house it’s everywhere on sidewalks at a farm outside every.where.always.

No advice just commiseration.

Swimming

Anonymous wrote:I have 3 boys ages 3, 7, and 9. I've given up.

This made me laugh. My boys are the exact same ages, and I feel the same way.

I have boys who are 9 and 7. Agree with others re the physical activity but it sounds like you're pretty much on that.

I have had more success with specific bright line rules and immediate consequences. I don't aim high here but for one, they cannot run, jump, wrestle, race, etc. in the dining room or kitchen (breakable and hot things). They also cannot throw/dribble/bounce in the house. If they do, the thing they were playing with gets taken away. We live in a small house and don't have a finished basement, and it doesn't work to say you can throw around this ball but not that one. No balls inside.

Like one of the PPs we are also constantly telling them that XYZ is an outside activity.

I hear you though, next time it's 50 degrees and pouring rain and my kids are on top of each other all day, I know I'll be sitting here begging them to just do a freaking puzzle and dreading the screams of whatever kid bumps his head first. I don't have any great solutions.

Anonymous wrote:I have 3 boys ages 3, 7, and 9. I've given up.

Same!!