Importance Of Positive Reinforcement

The thrill of winning a trophy for the first time is always memorable, however, it brings up the question: Is receiving an award for participating just as exciting? Participation awards are a topic highly debated among those of all ages, with none agreeing on a single answer. Individuals who are under the impression that they are essential believe they boost a child’s confidence and self-esteem. This may be true in some cases, but these trophies could be doing more harm than good. Although in the moment they may appear to be wholesome, they have a lasting effect on children as they grow older. Many children put loads of effort into winning awards, which is belittled by participation trophies that are not only unhelpful and unrewarding, but don’t teach them the important values learned by losing.

Participation trophies are changing kids ideas of winning around the globe in many ways. First off, it gives children the wrong impression on working or putting an effort towards something. Trophies are something you should have to earn. Life doesn’t give you a participation medal, you have to earn it (Website #2). Kids just need to learn that

One reason kids should not get trophies is because some kids. Some times dont play on the field. “If kids keep getting trophies then the trophies can lose their meaning.” Only the kids that actually work for trophies should receive them. “Trophies are not an effective way to motivate players.” this explains that kids need a place on the field. This shows that kids should have a place on the field and not get trophies for nothing.

While many writers claim that participation trophies are beneficial, writer Ashley Merryman agrees with the idea that participation trophies are more destructive than beneficial regarding the learning process of a child. The general argument made by Merryman in her work, “Forget Trophies, Let Kids Know It’s O.K. to Lose,” is that providing

Our society has shifted its beliefs in how we should treat competition in young people. The concept that "everyone receives a trophy" has taken the place of only rewarding those who achieve excellence within that activity. Rewarding all participants in youth activities and sports has become standard practice in American culture. "Should kids get a trophy for participation?" or should only the achievers receive a trophy? In the following essay it will explore the idea that everyone should win from participating and get an achievement for being there.

The topic of whether children should receive participation trophies has sparked national debate. According to a recent

In the article “Dangers of an ‘everyone gets a trophy’ culture?” Ashley Merryman interviews thirty seven children to see what they think about participation trophies. One kid, Levey Friedman, said to Ashley Merryman “Well, I kind of purposely played in this esiar one because I knew I would win and now I don’t really count that as a real victory because I went in and I knew it was below my level.” In other words Levey Friedman only played on the lower level sports team to win. One year when I played soccer we only won one out of thirteen games. At the end of the year we got our trophies and awards and now every time I see the soccer trophy it just reminds me of how bad our team was and how bad we did that season. Kids know when a sport is below their level so it's dangerous to think that everyone's a

I agree with the fact of all kids should be given trophies. I say this because if all kids are given 1 trophy that is exactly the same with everybody on the team, this way they wouldn’t feel hurt if they weren’t given a trophy. Kids that worked hard could more rewarded individually, thus showing kids that if they want a special reward they have to work hard for it so they can be successful. I think this will help kids prepare for the future and will spare any unnecessary tears.

     First, I do not think kids should get a trophy for just participating because it can send a misunderstood message. For example, the article "Should Everyone Get A Trophy?" States,"

Roxanne Jones created an article called, “Listen kids, not everyone is a winner”. In this editorial, Jones began the topic of children getting trophies for doing well and participating in activities. She discussed that she does not support the idea of a child receiving awards for participation. Throughout the article, she made valid points toward her argument against giving children awards, in turn that made me agree with her. There are many reasons as to why children should not be given trophies for participation.

Children should be given trophies based on their hard work and dedication. When a child starts something, knowing in the end that he or she will just receive a trophy no matter the outcome, then he or she feels they do not have to work as hard as if they were to have to work for that award. Not receiving a trophy could motivate a child to work hard and stay committed in that activity to achieve the best that he or she can be. “I don't care about improvement. I don't care that you're learning from your mistakes. All we expect is that you're always a winner”(Ross). This quote can offer a lot of insight. Although, it may say “I don’t care that you’re learning from your mistakes,” it only encourages learning from mistakes. If winning is the ultimate goal, children will learn from experience on what works and what does not work to help them win. Awards should be used as incentives for children to work hard. Like winning a state championship or individual wise like being a Most Valuable Player (MVP). That would show them that they out work everyone else and this is what they are rewarded

Kids who don't try, participate, and play in sports are given awards. They call them participation trophies, and they should not be allowed to hand them off to kids. To begin, kids in sports should not get trophies in participating because those who don't try are given an award anyway and some kids may think that they will always get one for everything they do. Although some parents may think that everyone should get a trophy, once they grow up they wouldn't be ready for how it is playing sports professionally. When you play professionally, you don't get a participation trophy every time you play a game. If kids at a young age learn now and don't get a trophy every week, their hearts won't be broken later in life. Next, some parents believe

There are many reasons to prove that we should not give kids trophies. There are so many trophies that kids get that for not doing anything and we need to start giving trophy to kids that are doing stuff and put effort on the things that they

Dr. Jonathan Fader is a sports psychologist whose focus of study is working on what motivates people. Fader asserts that " instead of dealing with defeat by telling our kids that “everyone’s a winner at heart,” we should praise them for how hard they hustled, what they did right and how they improved." Praising effort as effort is given is a great way for an individual to feel pride in their work. Intrinsic motivation, that is the motivation that comes from within makes people who love sports instead of just playing them. If a child is intrinsically motivated to help the team to win, then the trophy is of little consequence to that child. Knowing which sport to enroll a child in can be a time consuming, trial and error operation. However when a child finds the activity that motivates them intrinsically the motivation to get better will comes easier than the child that was enrolled in a sport without any knowledge of it. This is also true with adult, as a kid one may be asked to figure out what person loves to do and make that a career choice; the only reason is because the work is more enjoyable and the joy of doing the work will lead to a happier work

For example, Brene Brown once said, “ Sometimes the bravest and most important thing a child can do is just show up.” Not giving children a trophy after a long exhausting season teaches them that there is no value in trying. As Woody Allen once said, “ Eighty percent of life is showing up.” Sports can be a reflection of life, and teaching children that life is bigger than winning or losing is important. When children receive trophies, they get the message that being accountable, showing up, and working hard means something. Most children will not be a Michael Jordan or have the opportunity to be on winning teams, but that does not mean they are not embodying winning values