Participation Backwards In Childhood

While many writers claim that participation trophies are beneficial, writer Ashley Merryman agrees with the idea that participation trophies are more destructive than beneficial regarding the learning process of a child. The general argument made by Merryman in her work, “Forget Trophies, Let Kids Know It’s O.K. to Lose,” is that providing

In an age where everyone is expected to be recognized, there must be an understanding that the world does not progress by congratulating the “average.” I believe that giving participation trophies makes people stop competing; especially if the trophies are given at a very early age. For example, a team of small children have a terrible baseball season, but it’s okay! Because the coach gives out trophies to everyone. This in turn only teaches the child that no matter how bad life gets, they will always be rewarded. Participation trophies create future generations of entitled adults as seen by today’s generation. We need to reward kids that work hard for what they do for the sake of risk and reward. That is simply how progress is made in society. Yet I agree with one point made by the opposing side. I believe that participation should be recognized sometimes. Participation can teach kids that teamwork matters in every little aspect of society. Participation trophies should be eliminated but participation should still merely just be recognized with a pat on the back as said by Betty Berdan, a high school junior from Connecticut. Participation trophies overall hinder the growing and learning process of kids; whether it is through sports, or any other competitive involvement.

A new trend across America has risen in sports. Event officials are doling out participation trophies in massive numbers. The question is, are these participation trophies negatively changing the basic American values we treasure in these children? Yes, participation trophies are shaping a new cultural norm of entitlement and it promotes a new attitude of doing nothing, yet still being rewarded for it. This trend must be put to a halt and reversed. Participation trophies are not the answer to making kids feel better about themselves.

Elementary students who participate in group sports often receive participation awards at the end of the sports season. James Harrison posted on twitter that he felt participation trophies were wrong, because the child did not actually achieve anything. This post has caused a major controversy across the United States. Some parents agree with Harrison and say that participation trophies create a false sense of achievement, which stops their child from trying hard later on. I, however, disagree. Participation awards help kids feel like they had a part in an activity, reward children from their effort, and can help them strive for success.

Participation trophies are a highly debated topic among childrens sports. Many people beleive it is unessarcary, while others beleive it boosts self-esteem to non-confident young athletes. Participation Trophies should not be handed out because kids will learn that if the just give a little effort towards accomplishing something they will get rewarded.

Participation trophies should not be handed out to teach children the purpose of working hard to achieve your

Participation trophies are a widely spread topic, some people argue that children do not learn valuable life lessons by receiving participation awards. Contrarily, people argue that children need participation trophies to help fuel children’s want to do better to win first or second prize. Ashley Merryman, Betty Berdan and Parker Abate wrote three separate articles discussing participation trophies. Participation Trophies need to be done away with because of all the negative consequences that children learn from receiving these trophies.

Participation trophies aren't good for kids, and even kids health, for multiple reasons. First of all Sports aren't for trophies. Sports are for fun! Sports Psychology, Jonathan Fader says, “the science suggests that we need to be praising our kids on the process, not result” (Website 1). Another thing that might change people's perception about participation trophies is that it isn't fair for kids that actually won. If you try your hardest you will most likely win, and

In the last couple years, society has debated if participation trophies are important in a child’s growth and development, or are they a complete waste of time. In today’s society, many children are given a participation trophy for just showing up whether they win or lose or even play. The problem in doing this is, we are giving children the idea that it doesn’t matter if you try or not, you’ll leave with a trophy at the end of the day. Giving kids the idea that they will always get something creates the idea that they will never fail. In the real world they will fail and why not prepare the kids for this experience gradually while they are growing up? Kids need to know that in order to better themselves in work, school, or sports; they need to work hard, try harder, and never give up. There will always be someone better than them, but you want to always strive to do better, to do your best. This topic has become a very fascinating argument in many parent groups. What people need to understand is that it isn’t necessarily the child getting the participation trophy that is the issue. It is the message we give them when we give it to them. Participation trophies have a negative effect on children and handing them out should be stopped. Children can become successful in life with or without the participation trophies being handed out.

When children receive participation trophies they are praised for their efforts rather than the work towards their mistakes. Children will not be fully prepared for the future by allowing them to receive trophies, the children begin to think that all they have to do for a reward is to show up and not put any effort. For example, “In college, those who’ve grown up receiving endless awards do the requisite work, but don’t see the need to do it well” (NY Times). These college kids have many trophies and they received them mainly for being in the activity or club that they participated in. The effect of all the trophies given were that the college students do not complete their assignment and job to the fullest. They stay at a level where it is

To conclude, participation isn’t always the best logical idea when it comes time to give trophies. The reason why this is said is because it could mess with self-esteem, it’s not beneficial, and it could be a motivational killer. Children should not get trophies for participation. Children should get trophies for working hard and giving it their complete best. Participation trophies should not be handed

Children pay attention to winning and earning a trophy for doing good. Earning a trophy is a special moment for kids because they get to feel the feeling of they've accomplished something. Participation trophies don’t benefit children as much as learning what it's like to lose.

trophies can make kids grow up to be narcissistic,irresponsible,lazy,and unmotivated. A debate has been going on between parents a while now over kids receiving participation trophies in activities like sports. I beleive that kids should not receive participant trophies.

There has been a debate on whether you should give your children participation trophies or not. In my opinion I believe that kids need to be told that they did well but not necessarily giving them trophies to represent they did a good job. The focus on giving out trophies every time someone does well will start to become meaningless after a while and then soon they will realize that they didn’t really earn it, it was just an item to make them feel good about participating. When I first started in sports it wasn’t ever about winning, it was about exercising and having fun. I asked my mom if I ever asked about getting any awards or if I got any. She did not remember a time but she did say I was happy just running around and having fun. I’ve seen this in other children to when I refereed them around the age of 4-6 years old playing soccer. Trophies became more of an issue when those children decide to join clubs at ages 6-8. At that point those children wanted to know they did something good to build their confidence and self-esteem. James Harrison (Pittsburg Stealers) a five time pro bowl player says this when he saw the debate on giving out participation trophies, “While I am very proud of my boys for everything they do and will encourage them till the day I die, these trophies will be given back until they EARN a real trophy. I’m sorry I’m not sorry for believing that everything in life should be earned and I’m not about to raise two boys to be men by making them

According to the website, http://www.merriam-webster.com, “a trophy is an object (such as a large cup or sculpture) that is given as a prize for winning a competition.” By definition, a trophy should be given to an individual who is triumphant in a match. However, in today’s culture, children are receiving awards for simply participating in a sport or activity. By allowing this to happen, it raises the question if it is good or bad for children to receive trophies for not succeeding. Through different articles and analyses on this issue, I will explain how giving trophies for participation can impact issues of self-esteem, self-efficacy and foreshadow children’s outcomes.