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Girls Just Want to Have Fun (Winning Is a Bonus)
What’s better than being the best? A lot, according to this generation. In a new report from Girl Scouts of the USA, a whopping 83 percent of school-age girls said that when it comes to playing sports, having fun is more important than winning.
Some may lament the decline of competitiveness, but prioritizing togetherness, play, and pure joy means everyone gets to feel good about a game or match, regardless of the outcome. In that way, this shift away from focusing on the scoreboard is refreshing and could help relieve some of the pressure girls feel in a world where their mental health has taken a real hit in recent years.
So how should you talk to your girl about her big game now that you know the final score is not such a big deal to her? Follow these tips to make sure she feels seen and celebrated every step of the way.
Ask What She Liked Best
Avoid assuming what aspects of being athletic she likes best and just go to the source! Give her a chance to explain the super cool assist she made or to tell you how much courage it took to play with more experienced kids.
Chart Her Progress with Care
Whether or not she’s the star player, she’s likely way more skilled than she was a year ago, and that kind of personal growth matters. Show her you’re proud of her progress and hard work while being careful not to compare her to other kids. Heartbreaking but true? More than one in three 8–10-year-old girls say they’ve wanted to quit a sport because an adult made them feel like they weren’t good enough—even if the adult didn’t mean to. Oof.
Go Big on Bonding
Beyond emphasizing physical activity, teamwork, and personal progress, playing a sport can enhance your girl’s life through the friendships she makes among her teammates. These relationships can boost her confidence, help her be more resilient in tough times, and help make her a happier person in the long run. Ask about her friends and make time for fun off the field whenever you can. Making sure she has good friends around her is one of the most valuable gifts you can give her.
Read the full report on girls’ attitudes toward sports from Girl Scouts of the USA.
