I'll take that as a complement Alberta :-)

They do it daily lol

Have you noticed though, your own kids don't mind tearing hell out of each other?

I think I could write a book on this subject, there's so much to say. Kids are wonderful like that, generally, but sometimes they can't do it either. We've had to learn a lot about this aspect of social intergration because one of the effects of our daughter's being autistic is that she finds it very hard to mingle - there's huge wall in the way, it seems. One of her main problems is the inability to imitate. 'Joining in' is in effect imitation - letting go of what perhaps you were doing at the time, bending your will to another's (or being willing to bend other's will to yourself), leading to all those little issues of taking turns, listening and caring about what another person is thinking and feeling. Children are good at this because it's their job to look and learn - starting off with a base knowledge of zero it takes time unless you do this. Adults have cleaved out their niche and don't expend a tenth of the energy on making new discoveries that children do - they go to work instead. Some people don't seem to lose this ability but I think it might not always be for the best. My mother (for example) is notorious for talking to anybody and anything, and makes friends in a jiffy. She's also incredibly immature and seems to have missed out on developing any ability to discern between - well, any qualities in people at all. ... (I must stop yabberring... )

Children get used to playing alongside each other in all sorts of places including school playgrounds. Gradually the games seem to become integrated and it appears to happen seamlessly. We could indeed learn a lot from children - but they do sometimes need a referee.

It sounds like a good mix David.

And yes, jakill, children do make good role modles.

My missus tells me I act like a bloody big kid most of the time. Especially when I don't get my own way and throw a paddy.

One of the things that pleases me is the lack of bias in children. When I was a lad, I daren't make friends with a black lad, whether Asian or Afro-Carib. Older, wiser, couldn't give a stuff what anyone has to say, I have Muslim, Hindu and Afro-Carib workmates and friends and much to my relief, my children and grandchildren have a mulitcultural and multi-racial set of friends. It's heartening.

Children do make great role models in this respect. I've had children from three different families visiting recently. They'd never met before, but all got along famously.

A lot of adults do act like children Paul, unfortunately the spoilt brat types!