I’m currently reading Lawrence Cohen’s Playful Parenting. I highly recommend the book, and as a little teaser, here’s his rules on wrestling with your kids. I was surprised by rule number nine, but I’ve stopped tickling my kids when we wrestle, and I have to say, there’s been a lot less tears.

If only my older brother had followed these rules!

Larry’s Rules of Wrestling

  1. Provide basic safety.
  2. Find every opportunity for connection.
  3. Look for every opportunity to increase their confidence and sense of power.
  4. Use every opportunity to play through old hurts.
  5. Provide just the right level of resistance to the child’s need.
  6. Pay close attention.
  7. (Usually) let the child win.
  8. Stop when someone is hurt.
  9. No tickling allowed.
  10. Keep your own feelings from getting in the way.