10 reasons why competition can be good for your kids

10 ways kids can benefit from healthy competition

Parents and experts have varying views on how competition affects kids. Some will argue that competition causes self-esteem issues and stress, while there are those who see competition as a necessary part of life, and something that children have to learn to deal with and get used to.

It is natural for parents to want to nurture and protect their children at all times, but exposing your little ones to a little bit of healthy competition does have its benefits. Here are 10 ways competition can be good for your kids.

1. Competition tests their limits

You don’t know how much you are really capable of until you are put to the test. The same goes for your children.

When faced with healthy competition, you may be able to see how your children manage under pressure, and how much of it they can actually handle.

From there, you can better understand how to help them deal with challenging situations, and provide the necessary guidance .

2. It makes them strive to do better

Friendly competition inside the classroom and in sports can be a driving force for children to do better.

When they see what their friends can achieve, they are compelled to learn faster and strive to keep up or even do better than their peers.

When paired with a sense of camaraderie, as in sports teams or clubs, the stress that many parents worry about is buffered.

3. Kids learn the importance of practice and hard work

Through competition in sports and in school, children can be made to see that hard work, practice, and perseverance pay off.

Success in this case does not only mean winning, but also doing better than they did before or achieving personal goals and targets that they set for themselves.

4. It helps them understand the value of teamwork

One of the life lessons that competition teaches kids is teamwork. When they work together and combine their talents with those of their peers, there is a greater chance of them succeeding than if they take on the task by themselves.

5. It teaches them about fair play

Competition is essential in teaching children how to play fair. When they don’t play by the rules, they may be made to forfeit whatever progress or success they achieve, putting their efforts to waste.

6. It gives you an opportunity to teach them about failure

There are lessons to be learned from failure, from having courage and taking risks to remaining optimistic despite the situation.

Your children may not always succeed when faced with competition, but being on the losing end can give you the opportunity to impart these bits of wisdom to them.

7. They learn how to bounce back

One of the best things children can get from not succeeding in competition is the opportunity to bounce back. This teaches them to not give up and to continue doing their best in order to do better next time.

8. It encourages creativity and resourcefulness

In their quest to do better, children tap into their creativity and resourcefulness, finding ways to succeed in the face of competition.

They learn how to think fast, find alternative ways to do things, and hone their skills and talents in the process.

9. Winning helps boost their confidence

Children who do well when faced with competition gain an instant confidence boost.

When they know that they can achieve a particular thing, they can then aim for the next goal, moving forward with certainty and self-assurance that they gain from their accomplishments.

10. It gives them a glimpse into what it is like in the real world

Competition is something that everyone will have to face at one point or another in their lives.

When you allow your children to be exposed to this instead of shielding them, you give them an idea of how things are in the real world. Being prepared gives them a better chance of succeeding in the future.

10 ways kids benefit from competition

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Patricia de Castro-Cuyugan

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Written by

Patricia de Castro-Cuyugan

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