Curious Incidents of a Flailing Mermaid

Day Eleven: children Vs competition

Today’s blog prompt is actually very interesting and is definitely right up my street.
I’ve just sent a load of emails and was about to settle down to write this post. However, since I have a day off, I have decided to take myself off to the cinema to see a film. So, I will continue to organise my thoughts and return to this later ☺

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I am now wondering whether I should have written this bloke before I went to see a film. Not only do I generally feel pretty wiped out today, but also I saw a film that is not particularly conducive to sensible thought. I saw Despicable Me 2 by myself – I am not ashamed of my childishness! Therefore, I’m not sure how this is going to go anymore. I’ll just write and see what happens…

Prompt for day 11: Competition brings out the best and the worst in us. Should more activities or competitions be encouraged for children in schools? Or should they be discouraged?

As someone who is extremely competitive and has competed in sport at the high level, I’m all for competition. I’m going to mostly focus on sport in this blog, because that’s what I know. However, I am aware that there are other forms of competition.

Whilst children are participating in sports, and other competitive activities, they are provided with excellent opportunities to learn new skills that they may not get elsewhere. Sport has the ability to teach children good sportsmanship, self-discipline and how to be a team player. Not only this but sport can also increase a child’s confidence, self-esteem, life knowledge, planning skills and change their attitudes towards trying new things.

I, myself, have first hand experience of how sport and competition can significantly enhance a child’s life. I don’t just mean medals and winning; I genuinely mean its affect on my personal well being. Before finding sport I had absolutely no confidence at all, wouldn’t talk to anyone, terrible at school and no dreams for the future. I found competition and this all changed – two high class university degrees, public speaker and esteem levels that I’m completely satisfied with. I wouldn’t be in this position without sport – in my opinion.

Regrettably, competitive activities can sometimes take on new meanings; kids like to be recognised for their efforts and, often, winning is a great way to place them in the spotlight. Therefore, winning becomes more appealing. The unfortunate thing, however, is that kids who lose, constantly get discouraged and end up stopping the sport all together.

If children/teenagers feel they can't accomplish their goals or meet the expectations of teachers and parent they end up with very low self-esteem. Consequently, it is best to encourage them to continue participating in competitive activities, even if they only do so in the back garden with their friends.

I think encouragement something that we definitely need more of when it comes to our children. Encouragement is positive feedback that focuses primarily on effort and improvement rather than outcomes, such as winning. Encouragement is about recognising, accepting, and conveying faith in a child for the mere fact that they are trying; giving things a go. Thus, the child does not have to be “the best” to be able to take part.
With encouragement, a child feels worthwhile and appreciated regardless of the results they achieve. Encouragement assumes that children are intrinsically motivated and will cooperate and learn for the satisfaction that comes from it.

Therefore, I believe competition is important and should be encouraged. However, we are guilty on putting too much emphasis on final results and winning. There are ways of offering competition and not putting too much segregation between “the best” and “average” children. I think this should definitely be investigated.

I could write a 10,000 word essay on this subject, if I am honest. But I fear I may bore you to death if I keep going. So, this is where I leave you for today

“The students who need encouragement the most are often the least likely to receive it” (Timothy Evans, 2005)