5 Healthy Challenges For A Competitive Kid

As resident millennials and representatives of the so-called participation trophy generation, our pedigree as competitive kids was always questioned. We grew up in a world that (supposedly!) rewarded everyone, and when everyone wins (so goes the logic), competition is cheapened.

Each soccer season ended with a trophy.

Each school year ended with an award.

Each 5K ends with a medallion.

Now that we’re parents, we’re seeing our own competitive kids grow up before our eyes, and it’s causing us to rethink the debate.

What’s competition good for? Should we be raising competitive kids? And for those of us who might be worried that our kids are a little too into competition, what can we do about it?

As the creators of the IRLA: In Real Life Achievement Packs, we’re no strangers to rewarding achievement, and often that comes from challenging ourselves. Today, we wanted to take a look at some ways of encouraging healthy competition among kids, along with five of our favorite challenges to do so.

While we’re far from experts on this whole parenting topic (though we’re learning a bit more everyday, including all of the ways to get chocolate stains out of different household fabrics), we think there are certainly some common areas we can all agree on.

So, what does healthy competition for kids look like?

In our experience, it’s about having them engage in activities that promote personal growth, skill-building, and teamwork. They’re working to better themselves and learn from their mistakes, rather than just focusing on winning at all costs.

It’s in these healthy competitive environments that our kids learn to respect and support their friends and teammates and opponents through concepts of fair play, honesty, and sportsmanship. 

It’s the combined effort from both sides that creates a healthy competitive environment. That then fosters a sense of community and belonging, as children work together towards a common goal.  

But what happens when kids are focused a bit more on their own success than that common goal?

The line between healthy competition and hyper-competitiveness can be difficult to define. 

(After all, we all want to win at Mario Kart! Who can blame your kids for throwing that red shell just before the finish line?)

When it becomes about winning at all costs, even if it means sacrificing other important values, iit could be time to step in.

After all, if they’re not considering their teammates or not playing by the rules of the game, it could lead toward some other negative behaviors such as cheating, aggression, and a lack of empathy.

So, how can we help them understand which competition is the healthy kind?

One way of encouraging a more healthy competitiveness is by shifting that competitive mindset and encouraging them to focus on their own progress and improvement, rather than constantly comparing themselves to others. 

A fun way to do that is with this Early Achievers Pack, a set filled with challenges that are each rewarded with a real-life medal, each of which can be displayed alongside their other trophies and achievements.

Through that quest for self-improvement, you can help guide them to use their competitive nature in a productive way. 

Going to the museum is a great challenge for a competitive kid because it encourages them to learn and explore new things.

If they’re already museum-visiting pros, you can up the ante to see who can learn the most interesting fact or exhibit, or who can create the most accurate and detailed sketch or painting of a museum exhibit.

Plus, if you need help making the museum visits fun for the whole family, we’ve got some ideas for you here.

Book-reading is not just a great challenge for a kid’s parents (hours of quiet reading time!), it helps competitive kids apply their energy in a healthy way. 

Modify this challenge to see who can read the books the fastest, or who can come up with the most creative book review. 

Already read through everything on the bookshelf? Here are a few ways to find new books for your kids to devour.

Adding a challenge element to necessary medical visits can also be a great way to overcome the blocks that some kids have against them. It can also encourage them to take care of their health and well-being. 

One way to upgrade this challenge would be to see if your kid can create a streak of positive appointments with good feedback from their dentist. 

To get started, here are five ways to make that next visit to the dentist a bit more fun.

Depending on your child, roller coasters can be a safe, constructive way to have them face their fears and push their boundaries.

If riding one roller coaster isn’t enough, you can challenge them to see how many rides they can fit in during a single day at the park.

Is your kid just tall enough to ride? We talk through four signs that they’re ready for their next rollercoaster ride.

Doing something kind for someone else is a great challenge for a competitive kid because it encourages them to focus on others instead of just themselves. 

This can help them develop empathy and improve their relationships with others. In addition to helping them unlock their Early Achievers IRLA Pack, it’ll also put them on the path for their Better Your Community IRLA Pack, too – and a whole new set of challenges!