Teaching Kids the Value of Losing and Being a Good Sport
"It's not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game." So goes the old adage. But we all know how wonderful it is to win. What might be news to some is that it's just as important to lose every once in a while.
What Kids Learn from Losing
Losing now and then teaches perseverance. Kids who keep trying learn from their mistakes and get better. These kids develop better planning strategies. Temporary setbacks teach resilience and build character. It's important for children to learn to take risks; sports provide the perfect setting.
What Happens if Kids Don't Learn to Lose
Children who don't learn from losing often cry out "not fair!" when they do lose, unwilling and ultimately unable to accept responsibility. These kids place blame, point fingers, and don't learn from their mistakes. They are, in short, poor sports.
What is Good Sportsmanship?
A good sport has respect for teammates, opponents, and the game. S/he is graceful at winning and losing. Good sports are empathetic, aware of other children's feelings. They do not gloat or put themselves or others down.
How do you Teach your Child How to Lose and to be a Good Sport?
There are many ways to help your child learn to lose.
Losing is a part of life. Teaching our children to accept this, and learn from it, will help them grow into well-adjusted adults and to succeed in the future.
What Kids Learn from Losing
Losing now and then teaches perseverance. Kids who keep trying learn from their mistakes and get better. These kids develop better planning strategies. Temporary setbacks teach resilience and build character. It's important for children to learn to take risks; sports provide the perfect setting.
What Happens if Kids Don't Learn to Lose
Children who don't learn from losing often cry out "not fair!" when they do lose, unwilling and ultimately unable to accept responsibility. These kids place blame, point fingers, and don't learn from their mistakes. They are, in short, poor sports.
What is Good Sportsmanship?
A good sport has respect for teammates, opponents, and the game. S/he is graceful at winning and losing. Good sports are empathetic, aware of other children's feelings. They do not gloat or put themselves or others down.
How do you Teach your Child How to Lose and to be a Good Sport?
There are many ways to help your child learn to lose.
Set personal goals for your children/players. Focus on improvement skills. Create reachable goals tailored for each individual such as: Pitch two strikeouts; kick the soccer ball five times today; try for at least one basket. This way children can win whether they actually win the game or not.
Don't always let your child win when you play together. While most experts agree that it's fine to do this now and then, letting children will all the time means they will never learn to lose. This will make it difficult when they start playing with people other than you.
Model good sportsmanship and graceful winning and losing.
Acknowledge disappointment in a loss, but don't allow disruptive behavior.
Losing is a part of life. Teaching our children to accept this, and learn from it, will help them grow into well-adjusted adults and to succeed in the future.
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