A healthy sense of competition – supporting children who always want to be first

1. Acknowledge Their Drive: Recognize and appreciate your child's competitive spirit. Let them know that it's okay to want to do well and be first sometimes. 

2. Emphasize Personal Growth: Encourage your child to focus on their own self-improvement rather than comparing themselves to others. Teach them that competition is about becoming the best version of themselves, not just about beating those around them.

3. Teach Good Sportsmanship: Emphasise the importance of fair play, respect for others, and handling both victory and defeat gracefully. Model these behaviours for them, and praise them when they exhibit good sportsmanship.

4. Promote Teamwork: Balance individual competition with opportunities for teamwork. Engaging in team activities teaches your child to collaborate, communicate, and work with others to achieve a common goal.

5. Set Realistic Expectations: Help your child to understand that it's not always possible to be first, and that's okay. Life is full of ups and downs, and sometimes we don't win. Encourage them to learn from their setbacks.

6. Celebrate Effort and Improvement: While it's natural to celebrate wins, avoid placing too much emphasis on winning as the sole measure of success. Encourage children to enjoy the process. Shift the focus to the effort and progress your child makes. Praise their hard work and determination, even if they don't come first.

7. Offer Diverse Experiences: Encourage participation in various activities, competitive and non-competitive. Exposure to different pursuits can help your child develop a more well-rounded view of competition.

8. Encourage Empathy: Foster empathy by helping your child understand how their actions and words can affect others. Encourage them to support and congratulate their peers, even when they're not the ones winning.

By taking the emphasis off winning and placing it on participation, having fun and learning important skills your child will learn the true nature of competition. 

For more information about Leweston Prep contact Amanda Wilson, Registrar, at admissions@leweston.dorset.sch.uk