How Does Competition Benefit Kids?
5 Lessons Children Learn Through Healthy Competition
As parents, we may ask ourselves if competition is good for our kids. Over the many years working with children, I have seen that healthy competition can benefit a child’s growth and development. With proper guidance and support from an adult, children can learn a variety of important life lessons. These lessons can be carried with them into adulthood, and they can have a lasting impact on their future! Here are five valuable lessons children can learn through healthy competition.
Learn How to Deal With a Loss
The first time that a child loses in a competition, it can seem like the end of the world. It’s the parents’ job to help guide the child through the hurt, the frustration – all of the feelings that can come with loss. The loss they experienced can teach them where they went wrong and how to improve. Over time children will develop the attitude that hard work can help you improve and that each loss teaches you how to get better. When the child reaches adulthood, they will already have experienced failure and know how to bounce back.
Learn How to Win With Grace
Just like every child needs to learn how to lose, they also need to learn how to win. Through competitions, they will learn how to win gracefully. They will learn to respect their opponents and enjoy their win with the right spirit. The competition also reminds children that a win today could be a loss tomorrow and hence one must always have the right attitude.
Learn How to Cope With Stress
Adult life is filled with stress. Competition in one’s childhood helps to understand this stress at a very basic level. It teaches the child to deal with pressure. Once they reach adulthood, they will have ample coping techniques under their belt.
Learn How to Take Risks
Competition teaches children the importance of taking a healthy risk instead of only doing activities that they are comfortable with. It teaches kids to step out of their comfort zone. Taking risks such as participating in a new race or enrolling yourself in new activities also helps build the self-confidence of a child. This confidence will go a long way in helping them as adults navigating a fiercely competitive adult world.
Learn How to Problem Solve
Through participating in competitions, children can learn how to be problem solvers. Every great athlete relishes the challenge of playing against another great athlete. They like the challenge it brings. They are good problem solvers who like solving difficult situations! Winning or losing is simply a measure of whether or not they have solved the problem. Children will carry those same problem solving skills into the rest of their lives.
Want to Read More About Dance?
Take a look at some of our other articles about dance.
Is Competition Good For Kids?
Five Ways Your Child Will Grow Through Dance
So why Nan’s school of dance?
We offer instruction in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Acro, and Pre-Dance, at all levels. We love having new members in our dance classes. We will help get your child acclimated to our dance school and make them feel right at home. When your child attends Nan’s School of Dance, they will become a part of our dance family and share in our love for dance!
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