Young boys seem to have a natural urge to wrestle with each other, so what stance should childcarers take? asks Annette Rawstrone.

Is wrestling a suitable activity for boys in an early years setting, or is it too rough and potentially dangerous? Such was the debate on the Nursery World forums, with some posts saying wrestling had been banned in their nurseries, while others embraced it. One forum user's son was close to being labelled a bully at school for his propensity to rough and tumble - he went on to be a semi-professional wrestler!

Child psychologist and early years author Jennie Lindon's opinion is that as long as the wrestling is not hurting anyone, then it should be allowed to continue. 'If the participants look happy and if they are wrestling in an area where they cannot roll into other people and hurt them, then do not worry about it,' she says. 'Staff should watch and not immediately label it as aggressive.'

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