Today I was at Rocket Fizz in Burbank, a fun store with hundreds of sodas to choose from, retro candies, a free pinball machine, etc. While chatting with the owner, I picked out some stuff to give out as prizes at tomorrow's Halloween Party. I ended up leaving with a yard of gum, a Pumpkin lollipop, 6 gummy worms/lizards, two tubs of cotton candy, a sour necklace, and a bouquet of lollipops.
Unfortunately, I didn't get the e-vites to tomorrow's party out in time so I'm not entirely sure how many kids will be there. I am fairly sure I have enough for everyone to get something, but if not, we'll also have grab boxes of regular fun-size candies. Still, I couldn't help but wonder what would happen if despite my best intentions there weren't enough "big" prizes to go around.
Question of the Day: What is it about our society that makes us try to shield young children from the reality that not everyone can win everything?
I think this just makes loss more heartbreaking later in life. Once you hit junior high or high school, after all, you're expected to understand that awards and accolades are special precisely because they are not given to everyone. That's why they're worth something when you win them!
Don't get me wrong... I never like to see a sad kid. In fact, for a lot of children, especially our Little Pandas (ages 3-5), the awards they win at our school are the first they've ever won, period. I'm also sure I'll feel differently when I have my own children. But for now, I'd like to think that teaching children about disappointment is just as important as teaching them about self-confidence and self-esteem. That way, they know that even if they don't come home with a medal or a prize, the most important thing is that they tried their hardest.
After all, if we (as parents and educators) make everything too easy to achieve, how will our children learn to really, really push themselves?
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