All too often in our society, children identify with personal success. The performance of another person becomes more important than their own improvement. Research shows that grade school children can become so preoccupied with winning that they are willing to sacrifice their own personal gain to ensure failure by others. We can help children realize that learning and personal growth should never be sacrificed for winning and that competition can be used as a challenge to improve rather than as a opportunity to defeat someone else.
- Prepare your Special Letter:
Talk about competition, possibly as it relates to sports or exhibiting at fairs. Tell how you felt competing. Talk about good and bad competition and good and bad winners and losers. Talk about competition and how it can be sued as a challenge to improve. Anything you think is important!
- For your grandchild's scrapbook:
Enlarge the illustration of the first place ribbon on a piece of construction paper. Cut it out, making a number 1 or 1st Place in the center. Or gather a length of ribbon and cover a button with ribbon, making a number 1 in the center. Attach the gathered ribbon to the button to make a rosette. Attach streamers at the bottom with glue. Attach the ribbon to a piece of paper for the scrapbook. On this paper write the reasons why you think your grandchild is number 1 for you.
- In your journal (After completing letter 8)
How do you feel about competition? What was your experience with competition and cooperation as a child? Can you remember and describe any childhood incidents that made an impression on you? (After receiving your grandchild's special letter): Are there any ideas about winning and losing you would like to convey? How did your grandchild respond to this issue?
- Optional Activities (Choose as many as you want to do):
- Compare Collages. Cut small angular pieces from assorted colors of tissue paper. Glue an overlapping collage design on paper or cardboard. Frame it. On the back of the picture offer suggestions to your grandchild to improve and create his or her own collage to send to you. Explain how the collages can be different, emphasizing that each will be special in its own way. Also, each will show the abilities and interests of the person who made it.
- Competition Improvement. Make a list of activities that you compete in. After each item write a brief explanation of ways you can improve in this activity.
- Mail what you have created directly to your grandchild. Ask your grandchild to respond with letter 8 on his or her instruction sheet.