back from sports day for reception age - very upset

[Spatz]

Just been to our first sports day for about 25 years! Shocked by the treatment of small children - I thought the world had moved on. DDs reception class had to do egg and spoon, obstacle and sprint races then some throwing and jumping. The events were all won by the same few biggest children (all boys).

As far as it went that's okay because they had fun in the events, but the prizegiving at the end went on for about 15 mins while each of six races had three certificates and a medal for the winner - some lads had 5 or 6 prizes by the end and most children ended up with nothing. They became sadder and sadder as they realised they wouldn't get a certificate and many ended up in tears. At the end the head of the junior school said they should all go to their class teacher to make sure they got a little 'I'm a good sport' thing to pin on.

How are other sports days run? Is this normal?

[cupcakes]

our sports day last year (reception) was non-competitive so they just played lot so of the games that they do in PE. No prizes.
The y1 day os tomorrow so we'll see what that is like.
For all the parents who complain about how so many get upset there are a similar amount of parents who complain when it is non-competitive and they take away any award for doing well.

[moondog]

Life is competitive fgs!
My child is not remotely competitive or sporty but I'm not complaining about the dearth of medala and certificates.
If she wants one,she'll just have to try a bit harder next time.

[ZinedineZidane]

We have Houses at our school, so every child in the race gets at least one House Point. This is a very good selling point to non sporty children as they feel their contribution, however small, is important. Worked in our house anyway

[Greensleeves]

Tis a bit mean for 3 and 4 year olds though

[sparkler1wantsaconservatory]

What a shame. . DD1's school give each child a sticker that took part in each race. !st, 2nd and 3rd winners got a sticker to show the position that they came in and the others that took part got a sticker with I'm a sports star on it. No presentation afterwards. Just a day of lots of fun.

[Marina]

That sounds excessive Spatz.
Our sports day has races and winners (stickers plonked on as they cross the line, no "ceremony") and a mix of events where some require care and dexterity.
It was a nice day with few tears, and a big emphasis on teamwork and taking part.

[SoupDragon]

Infant sportsday is non-competitive at DSs school.

[Miaou]

Ditto sparkler - seems a nicer way to do it when they are so little

[SKYTVADICT]

Our school have non competitive sports days in reception and year 1 but then it gets competitive after that.

I think non-competitive is boring but the kids seemed to love it and all got a certificate and that is as it should be when they are 4/5 and 6.

Whereas my DD1 (age 10 - Yr 5) came last in both her races and got nothing but was fine with this, there were some others - 1 girl in particular aged 10! - who threw a strop coz she wasn't winning!! Her mum was dead embarrassed and I should think so too.

[Poshpaws]

Ours was a bit like ZZ's.

They had teams (Blue, Green, Yellow, Red) and it crossed years Reception, 1 and 2.

The team colour that one was awarded a cup, but individuals were not singled out.

[Bink]

Ours don't do individual events till year 3. Until then everything is done in teams, with the teams being carefully mixed. There is a certificate prize for the team which wins, but everyone on whatever team gets an "I participated" medal and an ice lolly. I am very happy with this (I have one speedy-sporty girl and one non-sporty boy).

[Poshpaws]

Oops, won, not one.

Oh, and they all got an ice pop at the end.

[ssd]

my ds won 2 races last year was really chuffed. this year he was against faster boys and won nothing. that's life I'm afraid. mind you he's 8 so should be able to handle it, 3 and 4 year olds are too young to be able to cope well with this, maybe a fun day would be more appropriate and keep the competition till they're older.

[wordgirl]

At our school KS1 sports day the children are divided into four teams and they then complete a circuit of activities - the usual things, egg and spoon, beanbag on head etc. There is a winning team and the other three come joint second.
To be honest it's dull as ditchwater (although watching the boys skipping is always a highlight).
For KS2 it's the more traditional races etc. and there are winners and losers.
I think this is probably a pretty good compromise really.

[Ladymuck]

Our sports day was competitive but all the races were done so that 4 boys at a time were racing - This resulted in a lot of "Winners" and there was no ultimate selection of the fastest boy in recpetion etc. Everyone got a sticker prior to the presentation of awards starting. So at least a quatrer of the boys got an award, but still at least half or so didn't.

One of the lessons of life is that you won't always win at everything.

[Polgara2]

We have 'non-competitive' sports days, but having said that all the children divided into 16 teams under 4 colours. The colour with the most total points is deemed the winner and gets to parade around the sports field at the end, with lots of cheesy grins .

[Spatz]

Doing things in teams or stickers at the end of each race seems much more age-appropriate to me.

I'm not sure why this not-winning is seen as such an important thing to ram home. There are no lengthy prize ceremonies for other aspects of education at this age - reading, writing etc. And, frankly, being too competitive is the cause of much strife in the world - cooperating with others seems much more important!

[Ladymuck]

Spatz - depends on the school I think. Ds has a 2 hour Prize giving ceremony next week (also known as a clapathon). There will be prizes for reading, even in reception.

[wanderingstar]

At dd's school I think it's the best of both worlds. Girls and boys run, hop or whatever separately. Top 3 given appropriate badges actually at the finishing line. The others get a "Well done" sticker. No big line up for bigger prizes at the end, but winners are acknowledged without it being rubbed in the faces of the slower children.

[singersgirl]

Similar to others here - have just returned from a very long sports day. The first part is circuits in house teams, and a winner for those is announced for KS1 and KS2. The second part is competitive races, but heats have already been run, and it goes on for ages if (as in my case) your children never get through the heats.

The overall winning house are all given medals. All children get those 1st, 2nd, 3rd, I'm a sports star stickers too.

I don't really mind that my children don't win, but it is such a long day if they are only in the first part. The older ones really get into cheering on their team mates in the same house, so seem to have a good time.

[Enid]

dd2 got a badge that said 'I ran in a race'

fgs

[poisson]

my boys whooped asses - but shcool plays it down very appropriately imo

brag

[Alan]

I missed the start whistle for the mothers day race, which was fun

[Enid]

dd1 kicks butt

the school dont brag but we do

[poisson]

WE DONT HAVE PARENTS RACES
YAYAYAYAYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA