Kids play on sports teams where they don't keep score, where they don't have "outs" (baseball), where adults are allowed to play certain positions DURING GAMES to make it easier for the kids to learn and have fun. How can you learn when you are not actually learning the rules and regulations and ACTUAL WAY TO PLAY THE GAME?
I think at a very young age it should be fun and not too competitive. But we are pushing this "everyone is a winner" into higher adolescent age groups, and what are we doing for kids? We are not teaching them to better themselves. We are not teaching them how to cope- with the unfairness of life, with their strengths or weaknesses. We are not teaching humility or humbleness, and thus later in life they do not know how to handle these feelings. We are not teaching sportsmanship (although we think we are) because we are not creating situations where they can be a good sportsman. Everyone is on the same "playing field", so no one has to step up and be the bigger person.
It appears that there are aspects of the games are considered 'too negative or too harsh' for children to comprehend so we bend the reality to make it easier on them.
How can we do this to our kids? How can we bend reality?
I played sports as a kid. If someone on my team was better than me, I sat the bench. If someone was out, they were out- because the other team made a good play or a better play. If we were losing by 10 runs they ended the game (it was called the 'mercy' rule). If you played well, you got chosen to play on a special team called "the all-star" team who played other all-stars. If you were named to all-stars you got recognition at the end of season banquet. If you won with that team you got a big special trophy/medal. If you sucked, you didn't make the high-school team. Your mom could not talk your way on to the team because it "wasn't fair" (however rumor has it money and favors talked...) If your stats weren't there, you didn't play.
And you knew the feeling of being denied. Of being told NO. You knew there were standards you hadn't measured up to and you either worked harder or you found something you were better at.
I may become a mother some day... and I hope I can set my kids up to be successful ADULTS. Because that's what childhood is about- prepping them for #Adulting (post about that forthcoming)
I think at a very young age it should be fun and not too competitive. But we are pushing this "everyone is a winner" into higher adolescent age groups, and what are we doing for kids? We are not teaching them to better themselves. We are not teaching them how to cope- with the unfairness of life, with their strengths or weaknesses. We are not teaching humility or humbleness, and thus later in life they do not know how to handle these feelings. We are not teaching sportsmanship (although we think we are) because we are not creating situations where they can be a good sportsman. Everyone is on the same "playing field", so no one has to step up and be the bigger person.
It appears that there are aspects of the games are considered 'too negative or too harsh' for children to comprehend so we bend the reality to make it easier on them.
How can we do this to our kids? How can we bend reality?
I played sports as a kid. If someone on my team was better than me, I sat the bench. If someone was out, they were out- because the other team made a good play or a better play. If we were losing by 10 runs they ended the game (it was called the 'mercy' rule). If you played well, you got chosen to play on a special team called "the all-star" team who played other all-stars. If you were named to all-stars you got recognition at the end of season banquet. If you won with that team you got a big special trophy/medal. If you sucked, you didn't make the high-school team. Your mom could not talk your way on to the team because it "wasn't fair" (however rumor has it money and favors talked...) If your stats weren't there, you didn't play.
And you knew the feeling of being denied. Of being told NO. You knew there were standards you hadn't measured up to and you either worked harder or you found something you were better at.
I may become a mother some day... and I hope I can set my kids up to be successful ADULTS. Because that's what childhood is about- prepping them for #Adulting (post about that forthcoming)
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