Kids Know It's O. K. To Lose Analysis

It’s that time of the year when students start participating in sports. There are many different reasons that kids join sports teams. Some join because they are talented young athletes that are interested in a future of doing well in sports. Others may join because it looks fun, or their friends are doing it. At the end of every sports season the athletes and their coaches get together for their end of the season party. During these parties the athletes are recognized for their participation and their accomplishments. This brings up the question, “should every young athlete receive a trophy?” Many people have different opinions about this question. Three talented authors, Ashley Merryman, Parker Abate, and Betty Berdan each wrote an article
to lose”. In her article she talks about how always receiving a trophy’s can teach kids losing is a terrible thing and we can never let that happen. She believes that failures and mistakes make people stronger. She wants to teach kids that they can learn the most from their failures and mistakes. Ashley merrryman says that we must focus on process and progress, not results and rewards. There is a claim that says “constant awards improve children’s self-esteem, and, once kids have high self-esteem, they will achieve more” but scientists have tested this claim and found it to be false. Research has shown that the best way to improve kid’s self-esteem is to help them develop their abilities. Once a child masters a skill, they feel a sense of accomplishment, which is worth much more than a trophy. Trophies can easily be forgotten as they sit on a shelf and collect dust. But the moment that a child masters a skill, will be a moment that they remember forever. Sometimes letting kids lose or not take home a trophy can be a good thing. It’s not about trying to embarrass them, but rather teaching them that it can take a long time to get good at something, and letting them know that’s
In her article she talks about how her, like many other kids these days received trophies after trophies or medal after medal for every sports season, science fair, and spelling bee that she participated in. She states that today, all of those trophies sit in the corner of her bedroom collecting dust. Betty Berdan says that those trophies never meant very much to her because she knew that other identical trophies sit in other kids bedrooms. She strongly believes that trophies should be given out to first, second, and third place; and participation should be recognized, but celebrated with words and a pat on the back rather than a trophy. She says that now day’s trophies are reminders of an experience rather than a token of true achievement. Trophies for all send a dangerous message, that everyone is a winner and that everyone deserves a trophy. This causes a problem, people will expect to be rewarded for little things rather than be prepared for reality. Betty states that sports as well as in life there is only room for a select few on the winners