Has this world become so worried about feelings that we might be actually hurting our kids by protecting their feelings? Is it really a good idea to be so worried about hurting a child’s feelings instead of preparing them for the adult world where no one cares? The idea of participation trophies is a rarely new concept that has been popping up. In a world where there is no winners or losers could actually be setting back our children’s mental development.
When I was a kid if there was a baseball game, we kept score. If out team won we cheered and got taken out for ice cream. If we happened too loose we got told we will work harder for the next game. If nobody wins and nobody looses where does the work ethic come in? Being human, competition is instinct. Without it we feel no sense of accomplishment. Without accomplishments what do we really have to look forward too? Maybe these participation trophies aren’t such a good idea after all.
Giving a child a participation trophy what you are really doing is telling the child its ok for you to just be here. How is it fair that they get the same trophy as the kids that put the work in and strived to become a good player? First of all that is the wrong example to be set for the child that is there not really doing much. Second of all you make the kid that did put the work in feel as though he can stop doing the work and still win.
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Think about your job. Does your boss congratulate you when you hand in a report late? Does your boss get happy when you don’t come in or are on your phone all day? No, you would more than likely be fired instantly. This is what we need to teach our children, the future of this country. Work hard, get good grades, practice hitting that baseball, take those 100 free throws. Nothing in life is going to come easy. There will be no participation trophies when you have a job.
Just remember, when you want to give that trophy out, are you really protecting your child’s feelings or are you hurting them for adulthood? “Prepare your child for the road, not the road for your child”
