It’s important to teach your child to be a good sport, but don’t limit it to athletics. Good sportsmanship is also important in life. And you play a key role in helping build this respectful behavior at home so your child can be successful in school.
To encourage sportsmanship on and off the field:
• Emphasize respect for others—family members at home and teachers, the principal and others at school.
• Model the behavior you want to see from your child, such as praising a younger sibling for completing a difficult project.
• Reinforce values such as integrity. Make it your “family policy.”
• Teach your child to treat classmates and friends with kindness.
• Remind your child to enjoy competitive activities—and that it’s not always important to win.