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One area that has been very controversial over some decades now is that of competitive sports for younger children.

The controversy arises over the links between sport and the ideas of ‘winning’ and ‘losing’. Some educational psychologists argue that young children should never find themselves in either position, as both may bring issues and challenges for a child’s development.

Family values

There is no right or wrong answer here.
Ultimately, everything will depend upon your values and those of the daycare centre, preschool facility and primary school you select for your child.

Sport is critically important

All sport involves at least one and often several of the following attributes normally regarded as being highly important in a child’s cognitive and physical development:
exercise;

• defining an objective and the need to develop strategies and tactics to reach it;
• self-discipline;
• cooperation with others;
• the development of patience and a better understanding of cause and effect;
• recognising and handling the feelings associated with the achievement of, or a failure to achieve your objectives.

Even those who criticise competitive sports will usually agree that the above points are beneficial.

Competitive sports and related concerns

However, some psychologists argue that competitive sports bring with them the risks of developing negative concepts in the minds of children. Those may include:
the benefits of beating, as opposed to cooperating with, ‘others’;

• self-aggrandisement and triumphalism;
• a “win at all costs” mindset;
• the idea of ‘losers’ and an elitist association of lower personal value with that concept;
• aggression;
• self-doubt and self-deprecation relating to worth in those children not associated with being a winner or high-performer in the sports involved.

Discussion

There is little hard experimental and conclusive evidence to support one view or another in terms of the overall benefits or problems associated with competitive sports.

There are though a few points that are not disputed to keep in mind:

• not all sporting activity needs to involve direct competition, other than perhaps a child testing their abilities. Simple swimming, with no race, is one such example;
• whatever adults may wish, children will naturally compare themselves to each other. Whether that is who has the most picture cards, who can hold their breath for the longest or who is the tallest – they and many others like them are examples of instinctive competitiveness that one will find in most children;
• as they grow up, children will assimilate the values and realities of the world around them. Although there may be some cultural variations, in general terms, they will see a world that is a mixture of cooperation and competition. Sport did not invent competition.

Today’s synthesis

Most modern schools and pre-schools today stress the essential importance of exercise for children and the need to participate in sports (or games) in recognition of the many benefits that accrue from doing so.

However, they will typically be keen to help children to understand the dangers of adopting the negative attitudes that can sometimes be associated with winning, succeeding or failing in a given sport.

Many pre-schools (and schools in the early years of a child’s education) now:

• encourage cooperative play and sports at younger ages, rather than competitive sports;
• will not insist that children participate in sports when there are clear indications that a child is not equipped physically or emotionally to perform to reasonable levels;
• discourage the development of elitism in those children who might be naturally gifted in a sport. Equally, the criticism or mockery of those who are not gifted in sports is prohibited.

Summary

All children must take physical exercise. That can be achieved in many different ways and competitive sport is only one such avenue.

Some children seem remarkably uninterested in sports and at times, that can spill over into a reluctance to take any form of exercise. Most modern schooling institutions though will strongly encourage or even insist that all pupils take exercise. That may well be a mandatory part of their curriculum and the only exemptions granted may be those supported by a medical certification.

Some though may be happy to provide alternatives to competitive sports.

It’s worth discussing the subject of sport and exercise in advance with your selected daycare centre, preschool institution or final primary school.