Guidance re: my 5 year old son

I am looking for any additional insight in how to address behavior issue with my 5 year old son.  He is the youngest of three (two sisters 11, 9).  He is in kindergarten full days.  He is doing well in school.  Academically he is on the same level as an "average" child his age.  He is socially , I think, immature.  The teacher has no overriding concerns regarding his behavior (working on keep hands to him self, things like that) but has noticed he prefers to play one one with a child (always boys-never girls) rather than in a group.  She felt he needs to learn to play more with groups of children.  At home, for the most part, he is a sweet, loving child.  On occassion, though, he can have a temper-tantrum the likes of which are deafening usually in response to being displined about something.  When he does play with children in the neighboorhood, I notice he can be the roughest.  He doesn't set out or intentionally try to hurt someone, but if someone starts rough housing he does too, and then some. My husband says I worry way too much that he is like most other boys his age.  Is this typical for 5 year old boys?  Any suggestions for reigning in the behavior a bit?

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Based on your description, I don't perceive any dramatic cause for alarm. The one-to-one preference socially is OK. Yes, it is a bit immature for his age, but not seriously so. He displays some problems with impulse control, but this can be prtty common for his age. Continue to set good limits and intervene when he behaves inappropriately - do not ignore the behavior.