I can honestly say that there is only one area in parenting in which I clearly outperform my wife: roughhousing. That's one reason why I am encouraged by the recent publication of "The Art of Roughhousing" by Lawrence COhen and Anthony DeBenedet. (Disclosure: The book is published by Quirk, also publisher of the DadLabs book.)

This book asserts that rough play can be very beneficial to kids.

What do you think? Do you play rough with the kids? What forms does your horseplay take? Any recurring games?

Does it drive your wife nuts, like it does mine? Well, at least we have a response now.

So share your roughhousing techniques -- the kids will thank you.

Yep! The four of us wrestle in the den while mom looks on worried about the furniture and bones. It is great because Walker, Ella and Myers all partake! Dad against the world. Throwing the little ones in the pool is also enjoyable and gives you a good gauge of how much they are really growing. Throwing Walker last summer was kind of like throwing a big water mellon, this year it's like throwing a small car!

Nothing says love like giving your kid a Suplex or a DDT!
Yea we all love to wrestle and roughhouse.

Oh yeah! My 19 month old jumps and crawls all over me begging to get rough. Like I really need to say it but it is all within 19 month old limits. Although I'm sure the day is getting near that he will try some wrestling moves on me. He already has the Stinger Splash down pretty good on his own!

even with 4 girls i still throw them all over and they love it especially when at the pool of on the trampoline the youngest has taken a shine to MMA at the moment and is developing a mean right hook that is saved just for daddy apparently lol

It's a daily ritual in our house for me, the 7 yo boy and the 2 yo girl. Some times it's one on one, other times it's both of them against me. Mostly involves lots of tickling.

We frequently play a game called the "Tickle Tunnel" where I'll get down on all fours and the kids will belly crawl under me. Sometimes they pass through unhindered and untouched. Other times they'll get part way through before the tickling begins. Occasionally, they'll get 80% through before I catch an ankle and tickle. Then there's the "dreaded" tickle tunnel CAVE IN! That's when I collapse on them preventing any forward movement and tickle them until their nearly breathless and in order to escape, they have to say the magic words "Daddy is awesome!"

Great great fun for all involved. the anticipation alone of not knowing whether they'll get tickled at all or trapped in a cave-in generally get's them all amped up. We have a blast and it's a great way for me to get out of the "office mode" and really get engaged with the kids.

The only downside, is the 7yo has been training in Karate for a year now. While he usually has the discipline to remember that you only kick and punch in the dojo, he sometimes needs to be reminded to dial it back. Fortunately, he's never turned those tactics on his little sister. He's excellent about that. He only abuses me. The 2yo is MUCH worse, because she's seen her brother train extensively, and she has NO concept of "only in the dojo."

Oh yeah! I occasionally chase my 1.5 y/o around on my hands and knees and give her tickle time on a regular basis. Horseplay is essential!

Mixed feelings about rough-housing.

I do it with my boys - and I do it almost daily. It's mostly chasing, tickling, belly-bloopers, etc.

They both love it. The part that gives me mixed feelings is that my older son emulates me and tries to roughhouse with the baby. I don't think he understands why it is okay to roughhouse sometimes, but not othertimes, or why I can do it, but he can't.

Plus, the little one looks like he'll end up being bigger than his older brother. So, I'm thinking there's going to be some payback coming.