How to win and lose graciously

Does your child throw a tantrum when they lose at their favorite game? It’s a struggle for kids to have a positive attitude when they lose, but here are a few ways we can help them accept defeat and deal with it better.

It will probably come as no surprise to you that for your child, winning is often everything. For four and five year olds, playing a game is only fun if they come first. Any hint that they may not finish as the champion in whichever pastime they’re engaged in is liable to open the floodgates to tears or induce bad behaviour and a reluctance to continue. While some preschoolers have no problem accepting defeat, others have concluded that being number one is the most important outcome for every situation. To them, losing—whether the competition is a board game, a running race, or even a game of pass the parcel at a children’s party —is likely to trigger tantrums and sulks.

Why children want to win

At the age of four and five years, many youngsters want to be the best or the fastest at everything they do. They have learned that winning is a form of accomplishment that results in praise and often reward. This attitude is one that has been reinforced from their earliest memories. When they took their first steps, it was to the delight and applause of their parents. From the day they were born, achievements have garnered them congratulations. With winning being an obvious achievement, it’s easy to see how losing can be interpreted as an indication of incompetence or failure.

A winning strategy

 Teaching your child how to lose graciously will help them to discover how the world works and improve their interpersonal skills and group-work abilities. You can foster this attitude through the following:

• Stress that it’s not the winning that is important, but doing the best one can. When playing competitive games, play down the result while at the same time congratulate them for their efforts throughout.
• Acknowledge that it’s acceptable for them to feel unhappy when they lose, but if they continue to sulk, emphasise that you don’t want to play any more games with them until they put away their unhappy face.
• Make sure that they lose at least sometimes. Always allowing your child to win will mean that they will develop unrealistic expectations about their abilities, which will come as a shock when they attend school and play with peers who won’t be so accommodating. Children need to experience what it’s like to both win and lose, not least because their victories will then mean more.
• Insist that your child follows the rules and doesn’t cheat, or brand other players cheaters when they are competing within the rules. Following rules is an important life-lesson and teaches that there are structures to follow.
• Applaud your child’s efforts, even if their losing. When they have played well and in the spirit of the game, let them know how pleased you are about this, telling them that fair play is more important than winning.
• Encourage them not to gloat when they have won a game. Instead, remind them how they can feel upset when they haven’t won and how you try and make them feel better in these situations. You can ask them to give the same support to others when others have lost a game and your child has come first.