Parents always explain to children the importance of winning in life. They always teach them how important it is to win or become a topper, but in reality they need to make children understand that there are both wins and losses in life and both should be accepted positively.
Experts say that it is a good thing to encourage children to win, to encourage them, but along with that it is more important to teach them the art of accepting defeat and learning from it. Often, when parents or elders play with their children, they intentionally lose to make them happy. It is good to do this, but sometimes children should also be allowed to lose, so that it becomes a little easier for them to accept defeat or failure. Ryan Snellgrove, professor of sports and recreation management at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, explains that losing in sports is the only way for children to learn from their mistakes and think about strategies to improve.
Better performance and life skills from sports
When children work on their skills and win the next match, their performance in sports and games improves. Experts believe that sports is not limited to fitness, but it also develops important skills like teamwork and discipline.
Learning experience from winning and losing
The experience of winning and losing in children’s lives prepares them to face failures and challenges in adult life. Dr. Billy Garvey, a specialist in developmental and behavioral pediatrics and author of “Ten Things I Wish You Knew About Your Child’s Mental Health”, says, “The experience of winning and losing is extremely important for children aged 5-12 years. It teaches them about the ups and downs of life and helps in increasing self-esteem and resilience.”
Getting children out of the disappointment of defeat
Parents should adopt the right method to get children out of the disappointment after defeat. Dr. Garve shares his personal experience and says, “When my three-year-old daughter loses, I tell her, look how happy your younger brother is after winning. This method calms her frustration and anger.”
Accepting defeat: An important lesson for life
Teaching children to accept defeat from childhood can increase their chances of success. A research has found that if children are assigned some work daily, they develop a sense of responsibility.
