Making the Grade
I t’s every parents dream to see their children excel at their chosen activity, whether it’s softball or the spelling bee. However when parents focus only on the outcome, kids learn that nothing but winning matters. And although winning is gratifying, kids are less likely to learn healthy sportsmanship skills in situations where winning is all that matters.
“Parents, coaches, teachers, and mentors tend to have a very strong influence on the development of good sportsmanship in children,” says Dr. Shefali Gandhi, a licensed psychologist in Scottsdale, Ariz. “Modeling how to be a good sport can have a lasting impact.”
Whether you have a pre-K, elementary, junior high, high school or college student, Dr. Gandhi offers an age-appropriate guide on how to teach and model good sportsmanship behaviors and principles to your child.
{DID YOU KNOW?} Sports provide a medium for physical activity, developing friendships, and learning developmental skills across all domains.
Good Sportsmanship in Pre-K
CHILD READING LIST
“Oh, The Places You’ll Go” by Dr. Seuss
“Sally Sore Loser: A Story About Winning and Losing” by Frank J. Sileo
PARENT READING LIST
“Your Successful Preschooler: Ten Skills Children Need to Become Confident and Socially Engaged” by Ann Densmore
“The Kids’ (and parents’, too!) Book of Good Sportsmanship: An Easy-to-Read Guide for Families” by Leslie Susskind
Good sportsmanship in preschoolers is about teaching them to play fair and helping them accept losing. Since preschoolers are black-and-white thinkers, it’s important to remember that losing feels horrible at this age. And a preschooler is likely to feel horrible if they lose. When a preschooler feels horrible, they may throw a temper tantrum, react with physical aggression, or storm off in a fit of anger.
The important thing for you to remember is to not engage or unintentionally reinforce this behavior. Let them
