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How do you play with your kids?

So I am going to see my cousin pretty soon and I’ve always wondered this. Why does it seem like everybody just let their kid win without giving them any sort of challenge? Like how do you play these activities with your kids? why do people just let their kids win?

When your child wants to race you at the playground on the kiddie rock wall, why is there this assumption that your child can’t actually race you? Children can climb a rock wall, why else are these on the playground? Instead it seems that grown-ups will just barely move, and act like the Kiddie wall is the hardest thing ever. Why not actually climb, and actually race your child like they are wanting you to do? The whole point of a rock wall races to see who can get to the top first.

It is the same thing when a child wants to arm wrestle with them the adult seemingly barely even does much of anything, and it is very obvious that they are just straight up letting their kid win. Why doesn’t the adult actually put in effort when they arm wrestle? Why not actually challenge your kid, the whole point of arm wrestling is to see who is stronger.

And again it’s the same thing with a relay race. Children know how to run because they have running tracks on playgrounds. So why do parents just do this really awkward walking thing where they are barely moving?

It’s just the same thing if you were going to play with your friend right? You would genuinely put an effort and play with your friend, so I’m not with your kid?
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Roadsterrider · 56-60, M
It depends on the kid. Sometimes they need to win, I can see it in their face. Sometimes they need to know even if they try their hardest, they are still going to lose and may need to try again. Sometimes it is a competition and sometimes it is just fun. As a parent and now a grandparent, it is up to me to decide if they need an ego boost or a reality check. It is the adult's responsibility to mentor their child, to promote growth. To teach them that even when they lose they need to be able to deal with that loss. And, when they win, they need to accept that graciously. When I was a child I took my report card to my Dad, I had a C in one subject and he asked me why I didn't have a B. I worked a little harder next grading period and got a B, he then asked why I didn't have an A, to 10 year old little Tommy, "there is no pleasing this guy". Many years later I realized he wasn't chastising me for low grades, he was teaching me to "work to my potential, not to get by." I am almost 60 now and that lesson has remained with me for all these years. My Dad succeeded in making me a better person. When my children were small, I was not their friend, I was their father. It wasn't my job to be a friend; the job was to help them prepare for what comes next.