Practical educator topic

Rough and tumble play

Rough and tumble play can be one of the hardest areas to judge in the moment. Children may be laughing, wrestling, chasing, crashing, pushing and pulling, while educators are also thinking about safety, supervision, comfort, consent and whether every child involved is still enjoying the play. This page is here to help you think through what you are seeing and what might support safer, more purposeful physical play.

Something to think about

What does rough and tumble play look like in your service?

Think about where this type of play tends to happen, which children seek it most, what your team currently allows, and what tells you the play is still mutual and enjoyable. You might also notice whether your team redirects physical play automatically, or whether there are ways to provide safer spaces and clearer boundaries for it.

Practical resource

Rough and Tumble Activities

A 26-page educator resource exploring physical play through movement, balance, body awareness, pushing and pulling, climbing, crawling, cooperation and playful physical challenge, with reminders around developmental readiness, supervision and individual comfort.

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Ready to share with families

Children often seek pushing, pulling, climbing, rolling, crashing and playful physical movement because these experiences give their bodies important information about balance, strength, body awareness and space. At home, rough and tumble play does not need to mean uncontrolled wrestling. You might try crawling races, climbing over cushions, pushing a large cardboard box, rolling across a soft mat or playing a gentle hand-pushing game. The important part is that the play remains mutual, supervised and enjoyable for everyone involved. Watch your child's signals, keep the environment safe and stop when anyone is uncomfortable or no longer enjoying the game.

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Coaching for early childhood teams

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