Parenting: there is an immense amount of methods and many claim to have found the best way to
raise a child. One of the most discussed topics is when does a child deserve a reward. In the
following paragraphs the question that will be answered is: ‘Do children benefit if everyone on the
team reserves a trophy?
Firstly, I believe that giving everyone on the team a trophy will discourage some children from trying
their best. Children train and practise to improve their skills at their sport or other activity. Seeing
the results and getting rewarded for them encourages this. Contrary to that, when everyone on the
team gets a trophy, not minding everyone’s individual effort and achievements, it will discourage the
child from practising. This change of mindset could be hindering later in life.
On the other hand, rewarding everyone on the team could benefit a child’s feeling about self-worth.
By rewarding everyone children will learn that achieving isn’t always the most important thing in life.
Someone’s achievements shouldn’t be determining their worth. Teaching children to always try their
best without always focussing on the results will boost their self esteem.
Nevertheless, giving everyone on the team a trophy might lead to disappointment later in life. When
you’re an adult not everyone is given equal opportunities and rewards. Sometimes someone is given
a promotion even though you seem to have done more to get it and that is just a part of life. Always
giving everyone a trophy will set unrealistic expectations for the future.
To summarise, giving everyone on the team a reward could improve child’s self-esteem, but it may
also lead to disappointment and it may discourage them from working hard. In my opinion it
depends on the age of the children on the team. For young children it is important to have a good
self-esteem and to teach them that they should always try their best. Whereas when you’re working
with older children or teens, the priority should be to prepare them for the future and to teach them
to work hard to achieve something.