9. Game Face
Good sportsmanship can be a tall order. It’s often tremendously difficult for young children to put on a happy face when they get knocked back to start while playing Candyland, or come in last at the bowling alley. Still, they need to be taught to work through their disappointment and overcome their inclination to indulge in poor sportsmanship. Similarly, it’s just as important to be a good winner. The child who taunts his or her siblings or classmates when she wins will be just as unpopular when it comes to playing games as the sorest of losers. Encouraging empathy comes in handy when teaching good sportsmanship; try asking your child, “How would you feel if you lost and your playmate yelled, ‘Ha ha!’ at you?” or explaining, “When you throw a fit because you didn’t win at Monopoly, it spoils the game for everyone.” Having this discussion ahead of time will help (as in before the trip to the bowling alley on family bowling night), as it can be nearly impossible to console a child in the throes of a gutter ball-induced meltdown.
