"Participation Trophies" A huge scam against American families!!

This is an example of a good idea run amuck. No one wants their child to have low self-esteem, but this kind of pandering isn't the answer. Does anyone really think the kids who came in last are fooled by this? What we're telling them is that it doesn't matter what results you get, you still deserve the same as anyone else. And you know what? Everyone CAN be a winner...just not at everything, or at the same things as their friends. If your kid is terrible at baseball, try another sport or activity, and another, and another. Everyone has talents. Maybe your child will turn out to be great at learning languages, and be the only 14 year old he knows who can speak 3 of them fluently. Maybe he'll be great at cooking and end up as a master chef making over 100,000 a year! If we encourage children to discover and develop their own talents, rather than rewarding them for being "bottom of the barrel" in the field where other kids are talented, then everyone CAN feel like a "winner" and develop genuine high self-esteem...not this arrogance that comes from telling all children that they are fantastic at everything (no matter what the reality is.)

I'm cleaning out my closets in my preparation to move and I asked my kids if they want me to keep their old trophies. Both said no. They know that these participation trophies don't mean anything. The exception was the trophy my eldest won in the Pinewood Derby the year his car won, he's proud of that one. Neither of them ever put much stock in those trophies because everyone got one and they weren't anything special. Many of the kids that got trophies like that are having trouble in the job market, can't understand why special effort is needed to be recognized by their bosses. We really did a disservice to our children in allowing this to happen. I didn't know you could sell trophies, I'll have to look into that.

When my son was playing hockey instead of a trophy one of the fathers took an action shot of each player during the season. These photos were then put in a frame and given at the end of the year awards dinner. When he graduated and we went to the parties I was amazed at how many of those photos were on display. Giving a player something for participating is important but it should not be seen the same as an award for being the best in a competition. If you want ot give every child something be creative and keep it separate from winning.

I know what you mean. I was helping with Vacation Bible School and the kids were playing musical chairs. The teacher wanted to have the same number of chairs as there were students because she didn't want any feelings to get hurt. I asked the teacher "Isn't the point of the game to teach kids how to react to winning and losing?" She agreed. I think it's a great opportunity to teach children that they can be happy when they win, and they can be happy for someone else who wins. And when they 'lose' it's not a bad thing. It's a game, enjoy it while your playing. Also, the more they play a game, the better they will get at it. My oldest boy had just become a boy scout and my youngest was still in cub scouts. The oldest had entered the derby race. They had 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners. He won 3rd place and was sooo happy! Then, the boy scout leader told the winners that they now should do a good deed and give their trophies to a cub scout. I didn't like that idea and I told the leader. It didn't make sense. What does that teach the cub scouts, that they don't have to do the work to earn something?