Mixed Age Play

That's great. And I bet it's really cute to watch the little ones bowl with balls bigger than their heads. :)

I run a youth bowling program at a local bowling center. I've been doing it for about 7 years and learned more about kids and how to raise mine through the antics that go on there.

Those are great stories. It's nice to know that it is possible to improve behavior with some patience and gentle guidance.

MagnetMom- what sort of youth program do you work with?

Some of my favorite memories of coaching teenagers and young adults is when they take it upon themselves to help keep an eye on my youngest. She's only now learning how to play DDR (the dance game), but they all wait for her to finish her turn before they go on and go nuts on it.

When I first took over the youth program, I had trouble with the high school set occasionally swearing like sailors. I understood, since many played much more aggressive sports where that kind of anger is channeled differently. My trick there was to move the high school group right next to the bumper bowlers (aged 3-7ish). While they were never embarrassed about swearing around the junior high kids (and setting a bad example in the process), they immediately stopped swearing when around the littlest ones. Eventually we found ways to channel their frustrations that didn't require 4-letter expletives, but the older ones got to be role models and the little ones were the ones teaching the big ones how to keep their mouths shut. :)