Every parent wants their child to be the best, win the award, and get all of the attention. Really, parents are selfish in this aspect. They want the attention for themselves, not their children. When their child succeeds, it makes them look and feel better. In the pursuit of making people "feel better" about themselves, we have created the idea that everyone is a winner. While I agree that everyone has a skill where they are the winner, you can't be the best at everything you do. Defeat builds character. Losses inspire work ethic and dedication. Victories that were truly earned are so much more special. These "honors" tell children that any amount of effort will be rewarded with an award. Participation awards breed a generation of individuals who think life will be handed to them.
While the intent of these awards was most likely genuine, it has turned today's youth into under-achievers. They know that they don't have to exert much effort to be recognized. Think about it from another perspective. Athletics get more intense in middle school. Playing time is rationed out, and feelings get hurt because every child thought they would be playing the same amount of time. Those athletes who spend extra time training outside of practice should be getting well-deserved playing time, but because everything needs to be equal, they spend time on the bench watching kids who barely break a sweat playing. The more participation rewards we hand out, the more children think they are entitled to everything with no work.
You have to work for success. First place and last place did not require the same level of dedication and perseverance, so why, as a society, do we recognize them as equals? Equal and fair are two very different mindsets. Equal is everyone getting the same thing with absolutely no exceptions. Fair is giving everyone the same opportunity, and they choose how to use it to better themselves. Our country has developed the idea that every child should be treated equally. I could not disagree more. Every child should be treated fairly. Some children will never have access to proper equipment or facilities, simply due to poor financial or parental situations. If we treat everyone equally, those children are the ones getting hurt, not the kids who can take life for granted.
Who cares if your kid isn't the best? Teach them to be a great person. My most memorable teammates have been the ones who didn't see much playing time. They rode the bench most days, but they were the most dependable teammates I had. They were there to have fun, and they completely understood they wouldn't see much playing time or recognition They showed up to practice every day with a smile across their faces and a positive attitude. They are on the team because of their love for the game and their team, not a participation trophy. As a parent, you should want your kid to be a good person more than a winner. If you don't, that says more about you than your child. Everyone shouldn't get a trophy because it disguises the most important people.
