When children lose at something, they can take it very hard. Some children get very angry when they lose at something, this is why it’s so important for parents to teach their children about being a good sport. Nobody enjoys hearing and seeing a child get angry and start yelling because they lost a game. If your child partakes in a sport, even if they don’t, they’re still going to play a lot of games with many other children.. Good sportsmanship is something that will stick with a child all the way into adulthood. Here is how you can help your child become a good sport.
1. Get your child involved.
Your child won’t know how to be a good sport if they don’t play anything, so get your child involved in something they may enjoy such as soccer, baseball, or basketball. All these sports involve working together with other children. Be sure you ask your child what they want to do before you get them involved in anything.
2. Watch your child play with other children.
If you have more than one child, watch your children play together so you can see how your child acts when they lose or win a game. Remember, that getting very angry isn’t what they should do when they lose and bragging and rubbing it in others faces isn’t what they do when they win. You want your child to be a good winner, and you also want your child to be okay when they lose a game.
Encourage your child to play with the other children in the neighborhood, take all of the children to a nearby park and watch them play a sport. If your child is acting poorly when they lose or win, you need to correct them and tell them the right thing to do. If they lose, remind them to congratulate the winner and if they lose, remind them that they need to tell the losing team or person that they played well.
3. Play with your child.
It’s important to practice with your child and help them get better in their sport. You need to help teach your child how to be a good sport, they won’t just learn it on their own. Play with your children in their sport and in other things such as board games and other fun activities. Play together as a family so your child can see how others act when they win or lose.
Being a good sport is very important for your child’s self-esteem and it will greatly help them all throughout their lives.