What toys/games should we have to keep 8-9 yr. old boys from destroying my house?

Question

I have 2 boys, ages 5 & 8. They play pretty mellow together - games, legos, creative play etc. But when we have neighborhood kids (other boys ages 7-9) over, it's a free for all. The boys all go wild and play very agressively - tons of energy expelled and not very constructively. Toys get broken, kids get hurt and my house is being slowing destroyed. I think our toys are perhaps too "young" and they get bored quick? We have legos, Thomas Trains, Playmobile sets, Lincoln Logs, Hot Wheels, Rescue Heroes, Spy Gear stuff, etc. We are not interested in getting any gaming systems (playstation, wii, etc.) for a couple years. Does anyone have any suggestions on winter, indoor toys/games that boys this age like to do inside? Or do you think I just need to be stricter and insist they settle down somehow and play with what we have? When they are all playing at other houses, they mostly play the gaming systems (or go wild in someone's unfinished basement where the owner doesn't care what they do).

Answer 1

I think they just need more supervision. Buying more stuff just gives them more stuff to make a mess with or destroy. If they are too wild, bundle them up and send them outside to work off some energy.

Answer 2

Isn't it strange how a group of boys will behave? I've seen the same phenomenon at my house. I think that the toys you have are very age appropriate, and we've made the same choice to avoid gaming systems. And from what you've said, it's not that the boys are terrors; just regular boys who get a little silly and rambunctious. You don't want to ban them from your house, because you'd rather have your sons at your house than elsewhere. Right? But it's hard to cross that line into disciplining other people's children. You just have to do it and get over it. "Please keep your voice down," matter-of-factly, and usually, they will comply. If not, state more firmly, "This is not a house for yelling. If you can stay a little quieter, I can give you a neat activity to do." And, if they're still loud, banish them outside for a few minutes. "I'm sorry, you'll have to go play outside in the yard until yyou can be quieter."

So what you want is a kind of engaged play, in which the boys are focused and not destructive? First of all, get some stopwatches. Boys of this age love to play around with time. You could also try challenges for them, with little "prizes" (they could be as simple as privileges or snacks). Could you make an indoor obstacle course that is safe and non-damaging, and time each other? What about using the Legos to build a bridge that can support five pounds? Can they create a Hot Wheels course that goes through three rooms? What about a Rube Goldberg contraption? Could they use the Lincoln Logs to create a catapult? Who can make an eraser fly the farthest? If you have a video camera, challenge them to create a stop action movie, or act out little skits and film them. (This will keep them settled for hours, especially if they know how to play it back themselves)

Zoom, a PBS show, has lots of great ideas, like games, contests, and activities, for kids this age. Check out pbskidsgo.org and go to Zoom.

Educational Innovations is a science catalog that has neat science activities that aren't very expensive. You can get some little kits to have on hand for those particularly difficult afternoons.

Enjoy the chaos!

Answer 3

Maybe if you address the "Rules" or boundries for your house with the guests Respect each other by respecting each others space and property etc.. and have a consequence such as if you don't follow my rules here you may not play here today. Come back another day when you can etc..
This will help your boys see that the house rules apply to everyone even guest and this should settle them down when guest arrive instead of them assuming you will just let all behavior go when guest come over. If this isn't addressed now you could be sending a message to your children that self control is only neccessary when alone with mom and dad, which could effect how they behave in school later on.

When my son was younger there were 11 boys on our block of all different ages some older then my son. I enforced our house rules on all the children and you know where all kids wanted to play? Our house everyday. They would start at a neighbors and end up at ours eventually they all just met at ours.

The games and toys you have are fine include some healthy kid taste food and interupt there play before you see the signs of hyperness and make it snake time or drink time. bring them to the table and let them mellow, About every 45 to 50 mins or so.

Answer 4

You really should set more rules. Make them clean up before they leave, and if they get to out of hand they either need to go outside or to someone else's home.

It might also be the toys you own are kind of boring to them. For your 5 year old, they are probably great. Try getting some board games that encourage them to move around a little bit like Twister. Card games can be fun too, I recommend Blink!. Getting a Wii might not be a bad idea, once the price comes down a little bit. It's something that gets them up and moving, but you can control how much time they use it. It'd probably be better when your sons just had one or two friends over, and you can use it as a privilege.

Answer 5

$7

Answer 6

I've got two boys - ages six and seven...both are prone to fits of naughtiness and roughhousing.
Since I invested in PS2 and PSP, both Sony, no problems at home or out driving around have been experienced. They are quiet when playing games, especially when in the back seat. I only buy age appropriate games or ones for all ages. There are times when they do go out and play which is good. And there are times when they want to stay inside and play games on the PS2. In short, they are normal well-adjusted kids with other interests and toys.
I use the gaming systems as a reward for good behavior and game playing is limited after school.
You could try being stricter, but, for a couple hundred dollars you can have peace of mind. Your kids will be happier, also.

Answer 7

I would say get stricter or tell them they are not welcome in your home. The only children you need to accomodate for are your own. My oldest son's one friend would come over to our house periodically, sometimes he would even sleep over, and would cry he was bored. The problem was that we don't have the game systems available to each child in our house as my son's friend does and would make it crystal clear as to how unfair we were treating them by not allowing them to have access to it all hours of the night. He may not have been destroying our belongings but was terribly rude and inconsiderate. I warned him numerous times that he could not behave like that in my home and when he continued to do so became unwelcome in my home. Most children today are not taught how to respect themselves let alone others and in return can turn into very destructive behavior.

Another thought is to limit the number of children over and maybe set play dates for the youngest boy with children his age so that the toys he has will be appreciated instead of scorned.

Lastly, the biggest thing you need to consider is would you allow your child to behave like that in your own home let alone anyone else's.

Answer 8

When other kids come to my house and are wild like that, they don't come back over!!!! You need to set more grounds rules for when playmates are over. I say take some toys away, not give them more since they don't respect or take care of them when they have friends over.

We had the same type of trouble with some of the children in our last neighborhood, they had no respect in my house and I didn't; let them come over to play anymore and told them exactly why!

Good Luck!!

Answer 9

Why do you keep asking them back, only to keep destroying your house? You could try getting stricter, but I think those kids already have you marked as a doormat. Do they do the same in their own homes? In a few years time, your house is going to be full of teenagers who do as they please

Answer 10

You should expect them to help clean up at that age. They are old enough. Explain to your children that they have to ask for help or they will have to do it all themselves.