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Importance Of Positive Reinforcement

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Children are often encouraged to try their best and work hard for their achievements when doing things like playing sports. Every parent wants their child to be the best and be recognized for doing a good job, especially if they are the best at it. But is giving out trophies to everyone essential in encouragement or should only the winners receive the gold? These two authors discuss when it is appropriate to give children trophies and when it is not. Author number ones’ position on the matter of rewarding children with a trophy if they have not earned it is that if you hand a child something that they have not earned they will expect things and not appreciate the value of them later. “Perhaps if we offered the gold, silver and bronze …show more content…

Children should not take things for granted and earning what they have is essential to taking care of themselves later in life when they are adults. This author believes that children who win and earn things should be recognized and not just seen as equal with the other children “For me, the problem isn't the profusion of positive reinforcement kids get nowadays, but rather the failure to distinguish the accomplishments that deserve it, from those that don't (Diller Pg. 2).” Author number two thinks that it is important to encourage kids to be a part of activities like sports and give them self-confidence. A part of doing this is giving children trophies even if it’s not for just winning but being an active part of the team. “We want kids to participate in sports, to learn to improve their skills, to help others, to work hard and contribute to the team (Heffernan Pg2).”
Author number one thinks that the only way to get a trophy is to earn it and author two thinks that trophies can be encouraging and help kids get confidence and get better. Author one doesn’t want kids to be rewarded for what they don’t earn. Author two doesn’t think that kids should have to be winners to be rewarded. Just because a child does not win does not mean they did not do a good job and you don’t want them to be discouraged from continuing in their goals and playing

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