Prevent your child from being a sore loser

Quitting smoking because your son is behind watching, yelling because he did not win, getting angry with your son for having lost or for having won … these are problems. While many children struggle to stay positive while losing their games, some may be more frustrated and have a very bad losing .

Being a sore loser is not likely to do your child any favors now or in the future. After all, no one wants to play with the kid who cheats because he’s losing or the one who makes excuses about why he didn’t win. If your child tends to be a sore loser, you will need to take steps to teach him better sportsmanship. Here are some ways to help you stop being a sore loser for good.

PRAISE THEIR EFFORTS

If you praise your child for doing well in a game or getting the best grades, your words will boost his competitive nature. You should congratulate your child on their hard work and effort , regardless of the end result.

Instead of saying, “You’re the fastest runner on the team,” say, “I like the way you cheered on the other kids today.” It signals good sportsmanship and emphasizes the importance of treating others with respect.

GOOD ROLE MODEL

If you are yelling at the referees from the stands at your child’s soccer game, or if you participate in a big victory dance every time you beat your competition, your child is likely to pick up your habits . It is important to follow a good example of sportsmanship and show your child how to treat other people with kindness, regardless of the end result.

EMPATHY

Your child needs to understand about feelings, and so do you. When children can identify feelings such as sadness, anger, disappointment, and frustration, they are less likely to act negatively. Teach your child about feelings and help him develop healthy coping strategies to understand his own emotions and those of others.

ANGER MANAGEMENT SKILLS

Losers feel emotional pain and often throw board game pieces or say mean things to other people in a fit of anger. It is imperative that if this happens to your child, you help him recognize that these types of behaviors are not acceptable.

It teaches that feeling angry is okay, but hurting people or breaking things is not okay. Spend time and energy teaching your child specific anger management skills that will help him cope with loss and have better results now and in the future.

DON’T LET YOUR CHILD ALWAYS WIN

It can be tempting to purposely lose the game so your child doesn’t get upset. Although preventing a breakdown can help you in the short term, it won’t do your child any favors in the long run. While you don’t need to be brutally competitive, purposely avoid losing to avoid your child’s negative feelings, as it will only reinforce his idea that he always needs to win.

IGNORE BEHAVIORAL TANTRUMS

If your child starts crying or having a tantrum over losing, ignore that behavior. Ignoring tantrums at first makes the situation worse, but your child will get bored with these behaviors if they don’t have an audience to watch them. Avoid comforting or talking to him when he’s misbehaving. As soon as he’s calm, then give him positive attention.

BE A GOOD EXAMPLE OF A WINNER

Just as you have to be a good loser, you also have to be a good winner. There are those who when they win, they like to rejoice in it and boast of victory. It is important to teach children to be kind to others, shaking hands with the opponent and saying things like: ‘It was a good game’ or ‘Thank you for playing with me’. Your child should focus on the fun and not on winning or losing.