No one likes a sore loser. Unfortunately, many parents are raising kids that are destined to be just that. Do you really want your son to grow up that way? If you’re tired of all the awards for participation and want a child that can roll with the good and the bad, follow these tips on how to teach kids good sportsmanship.
How to Teach Kids Good Sportsmanship
Stop Letting Him Win
You need to stop letting your child win. Sure, it builds self-esteem, but it also creates a false sense of being better than he really is. That doesn’t mean you should completely obliterate your kid when playing basketball or an Xbox game. Win the game but do so in a way that your kid isn’t discouraged. He’ll work harder next time, and next time you’ll beat him by a bit less. Each time you win, praise your child for playing a good game.
Set an Example
Never let your kid see you being a bad sport. It doesn’t matter if you’re playing poker with the boys or playing a game on the Xbox. You don’t want your son to see your throw an adult temper tantrum because you got your butt handed to you in PUBG.
Praise Him for Handling a Loss
Whenever your son loses, praise him for doing a good job at handling the loss. We tell our son that as long as he tries his hardest, we’re proud. That’s true whether his team wins or loses.
Don’t Put Too Much Emphasis on Winning
Of course, you want your son to win, but your son needs to know that winning isn’t everything. You’re not going to love him any less if he loses. Too many parents get too involved in the game and give their kids the wrong impression.
Celebrate a Good Game Regardless
If your child plays sports, win or lose, go out to celebrate a good game played. This will help show your child that good sportsmanship is what matters. Every game played is a chance to practice and learn. The important thing is that your child did his best.
Good sportsmanship isn’t something that can be learned by giving awards to every child or by being too intense when watching your child’s game. You need to learn how to teach kids good sportsmanship in a way that encourages him to learn that winning isn’t everything as long as you try your hardest.
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