You don’t need to practice losing
It often turns out that losing is the hardest thing for parents. It’s easier to let the child win than to endure the pain of losing.
«When parents deliberately lose, they believe they are protecting the child. In reality, they may be protecting themselves,» says Janna Rantala.
«A child’s disappointment is an uncomfortable feeling that an adult will do almost anything to avoid.»
Losing always feels bad, and no amount of practice can make it comfortable.
«A five-year-old can honestly believe he’s a faster runner than his father.»
So losing doesn’t need to be practised. But you can learn to tolerate the feeling of disappointment that comes with it.
«It is very common for a child to have unrealistic ideas about his or her abilities. A five-year-old may honestly believe he is a faster runner than his father and be shocked when he is not,» says Rantala.
«When a child loses a running race, it’s worth being honest about the disappointment. The adult doesn’t need to rush to clean up the embarrassing feeling, but to show that this too can be overcome.»
