James Harrison Returns Sons' Participation Trophies

#131
#131
ajvol01 said:
Why am I not surprised.

Kids shouldn't be conditioned to receive praise for doing the minimum.

Where do you think the millenials' sense of entitlement comes from?
Click to expand...

From their parents, not their trophies.
 
#132
#132
Many NFL players (maybe all) get roster bonuses just for making the team. I wonder if Harrison returns that participation money to the team.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#133
#133
ajvol01 said:
Why am I not surprised.

Kids shouldn't be conditioned to receive praise for doing the minimum.

Where do you think the millenials' sense of entitlement comes from?
Click to expand...

Probably from their parents conditioning them to receive praise for doing the minimum.
 
#134
#134
volfanngatorland said:
Probably from their parents conditioning them to receive praise for doing the minimum.
Click to expand...

"Doing the minimum". So many people keep throwing this phrase around.

You should reinforce all positive behavior. And yes, being active and participating in competitive sports is a positive behavior.

No one is saying you should throw the kid a parade for being 3rd string on a losing team. But you can still provide positive reinforcement for the act itself, while encouraging improvement.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#135
#135
I think you all deserve a participation trophy for this thread!
 
#136
#136
Vol8188 said:
"Doing the minimum". So many people keep throwing this phrase around.

You should reinforce all positive behavior. And yes, being active and participating in competitive sports is a positive behavior.

No one is saying you should throw the kid a parade for being 3rd string on a losing team. But you can still provide positive reinforcement for the act itself, while encouraging improvement.
Click to expand...

So what does an exceptional player get?

What is the distinction between participating and excelling?
 
#139
#139
Biopsyman said:
In the real life success is measured and rewarded. The last ranked employee is usually called a former employee
Click to expand...

And giving a participation trophy to a five year old takes away from that?

IMO this is a total non-issue. A few participation trophies that a kid couldn't give two flips about isn't going to move the needle at all on the entitlement meter. That's pretty much 100% on how parents treat and interact with their kids on a day to day basis. If a parent raises their kids to have a good with ethic, then the kid will be able to differentiate on their own which trophies are meaningful.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#140
#140
jjay2518 said:
And giving a participation trophy to a five year old takes away from that?

IMO this is a total non-issue. A few participation trophies that a kid couldn't give two flips about isn't going to move the needle at all on the entitlement meter. That's pretty much 100% on how parents treat and interact with their kids on a day to day basis. If a parent raises their kids to have a good with ethic, then the kid will be able to differentiate on their own which trophies are meaningful.
Click to expand...

Kids know who are the better players and team.. Giving out trophies to a horrible team because you tried in terrible. It happens well into middle school
 
#141
#141
Biopsyman said:
Kids know who are the better players and team.. Giving out trophies to a horrible team because you tried in terrible. It happens well into middle school
Click to expand...

OK, and you actually believe that has a noticeable affect on your previous post?

I could more easily get behind it being demeaning to give trophies to everyone in older age groups (middle school like you stated), but there are so many other things that would have a much larger affect on entitlement. I just don't see this making a difference at all in that regard.
 
Last edited:
#142
#142
Vol8188 said:
The nomenclature is irrelevant. Call it what you want, but you are in someway upset about this.

So back to the question: do you really believe the size of the trophy is relevant? Bigger trophies lead to more entitled kids.
Click to expand...

I'll answer. Yes, because when I was a kid bigger was always better.
 
#143
#143
jjay2518 said:
And giving a participation trophy to a five year old takes away from that?

IMO this is a total non-issue. A few participation trophies that a kid couldn't give two flips about isn't going to move the needle at all on the entitlement meter. That's pretty much 100% on how parents treat and interact with their kids on a day to day basis. If a parent raises their kids to have a good with ethic, then the kid will be able to differentiate on their own which trophies are meaningful.
Click to expand...

+1
 
#144
#144
MphsBlues said:
Being an old fart, I grew up participating in sports in the 60s, 70s and 80s. I never once got a participation trophy, and I didn't feel ripped off at all. We got a nice banquet at the end of the year and I wasn't too sure we even deserved that. One year, when I was very young, coach said 'If you win a trophy at the end of the year for first, second or third in the league, I will buy every one of you a steak dinner.' Screw the trophy was my thought, I wanted that steak dinner, but didn't get it. Oh well :)
Click to expand...

No participation trophy? Well now I know what is wrong with you. :)
 
#145
#145
Biopsyman said:
Kids know who are the better players and team.. Giving out trophies to a horrible team because you tried in terrible. It happens well into middle school
Click to expand...

Is it a different/smaller trophy?

Have you ever run a 5k or half marathon and gotten a medal for finishing despite not placing in top 3 of the race or even in your age group? Did you feel like your medal was equivalent to the first place cash prize?

Seriously, when it gets to the stage where kids know the difference between winning and losing a small momento of the years experience has no impact on whether or not they grow up with a sense of entitlement. Absolutely zero.

The first place team will always get the accolades and kids realize that. Acting as if this some huge problem with society is, as someone else said, asinine.
 
#147
#147
burntorangeVOLffle said:
Is it a different/smaller trophy?

Have you ever run a 5k or half marathon and gotten a medal for finishing despite not placing in top 3 of the race or even in your age group? Did you feel like your medal was equivalent to the first place cash prize?

Seriously, when it gets to the stage where kids know the difference between winning and losing a small momento of the years experience has no impact on whether or not they grow up with a sense of entitlement. Absolutely zero.

The first place team will always get the accolades and kids realize that. Acting as if this some huge problem with society is, as someone else said, asinine.
Click to expand...
The problem is with these trophies it isn't like the old days where first place got the big trophy and third got the smallest. No. Nowadays everyone gets the same exact trophy.

HBO has a documentary on participation trophy culture and its sickening to watch these parents AND the people organizing the events.
 
#148
#148
jjay2518 said:
And giving a participation trophy to a five year old takes away from that?

IMO this is a total non-issue. A few participation trophies that a kid couldn't give two flips about isn't going to move the needle at all on the entitlement meter. That's pretty much 100% on how parents treat and interact with their kids on a day to day basis. If a parent raises their kids to have a good with ethic, then the kid will be able to differentiate on their own which trophies are meaningful.
Click to expand...

Yes. During the younger years trophies don't matter and that is why they shouldn't get them at all. They are just out playing. The problem is when you start giving trophies out to everyone at such a young age the kids eventually expect it regardless of how they perform and that eventually makes it into their psyche. You don't teach kids good habits after they get older you reinforce that during their development. So what happens when these kids at their most vulnerable developmental stage start to put two and two together?



I feel the participation trophy movement was started by someone who never won a trophy growing up in a time when you actually had to earn the trophy.
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top