Praise To Those Who Don't Try

Kids now a days will listen to anything you say and take it to heart. Sadly, this is the world we live in. Their just gullible mini-me's. In reality, kids are given things they haven't earned and it's all about effort now. I get it, you can't sit there and call a little boy stupid to his face because he colored outside the lines. I would never do that in the first place but, I'm iffy on the whole praising a child for effort. In the article, it gives the example about how soccer coaches stopped counting goals and gave everyone a trophy. In my eyes, this is great, equality for everyone but giving something to a child that didn't earn it is giving them even more false hope. 

When I look back at my childhood, never was I praised for getting a bad grade on a math test and was told "great effort". No I had to work for my grades and achievements. I always had a strong thing for art and drawing. I was never really good but for some odd reason I stuck with it throughout high school. I knew I wasn't the best in the class but my work never showed that. I didn't need the teachers approval and praise in what I did. She would hang up random art works in the back of the classroom from other classes and classmates to give inspiration. More than a few times my work was up on the board and no one gave me praise, yet again no one knew it was mine until my artwork was showcased in the art show. I wanted to be the best and strived to be the best. 

Same concept I had when I was playing soccer. I wasn't the natural born talent one. I had to work to be where I am today. Still my skills aren't the best but I can improve that. The example of the soccer coach counting the goals. I believe in that all the way. I don't want to be handed a trophy when I as a player, didn't improve during that season. It makes me think "alright, cool now next year I don't have to try as hard" when in reality I did. I remember kicking myself junior year for not training harder for my spot on varsity, I was so close and I never got it. I wasn't given that spot because of my effort during tryouts and the off season. I had to work for my spot senior year. I had to work for my spot to wear that #19. I worked my butt off, alongside my teammates, for our shot in the playoffs and that's exactly what we did. But  I was praised for my efforts during the award ceremony which didn't make me feel too good for I put everything out on that field and I wanted to earn my varsity letter, not just have it handed to me.

 I'm not gonna sit here and say praising kids for their efforts is a horrible thing but it's not so bad when you look at the overall picture. Getting kids to see their efforts getting noticed makes them want to try harder for whatever is next and become better. But I don't think they need to be praised for everything. I get having your kid graduate high school is a big thing, but passing a math class shouldn't require an award such as money or a new car. It's ridiculous! What I'm really trying to say is set the example of not giving up easily and work hard and show your little mini-me what mommy or daddy can really do and what they can do in the future. Don't tear them down, build them up and give them options. If one doesn't work out then they have some other option to turn to. I can't wait to use this on my kids in the future.