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Original poster

back from sports day for reception age - very upset

299 replies

Spatz · 06/07/2006 15:59

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?

OP posts:

Alan · 06/07/2006 16:48

well i run as fast as possible as wine is the prize

LIZS · 06/07/2006 16:49

Lots of stickers given out at ours so something for everyone , but there were competitive 75 m flat and obstacle races. dd is tiny and August born and ran against a boy almost a year older and considerably bigger than her ! The year3 and 4 sports day had a mixture of team events in houses and competitive running races over 200m, 100m and relays.

PrettyCandles · 06/07/2006 16:49

Sports day should be competitive IMO. But at the same time, especially for the tinies, there should be a way that the prizes are more evenly distributed and that children don't get so upset. At that age I'm sure that many of the children really didn't quite understand why some children were getting everything, but they were getting nothing.

I have very bitter memories of sprots day at my primary. I was totally unathletic and I remember being forced to compete in teh 100y dash, begging not to compete, and coming last. Ditto the skipping race - FGS I couldn't even skip so why enter me?! The one thing I could do well was balance - yet all the events were track-based, there was nothing for anyone who couldn't run. I was not the only upset child either, not by a logn shot.

Original poster

Spatz · 06/07/2006 16:51

It is fine to be competitive, but the competitions all favoured the biggest - accuracy or balance or other physical skills were not rewarded.

OP posts:

Ladymuck · 06/07/2006 16:52

I was also taken aback that at (my first) sports day there were races for toddler siblings, and there was a mums race and a dads race for each class. Not sure what I was expecting, but probably just one parents race for the very keen.

foxinsocks · 06/07/2006 16:52

lol Alan

best race of the day is the parents' race

love watching the competitive mums and dads go for the line (and we have no prizes at ours!)

I have no worries because dd is totally non athletic and cannot see the point of 'winning' but ds is ultra competitive and thank goodness, the nursery is not included in the sports day (phew!)

Alan · 06/07/2006 16:54

gosd all the parents turn up in their tracksuits and trainers

i was wearing a skirt and fgs I was in the paper, trailing behind as me and this other were talking and missed the whistle

crunchie · 06/07/2006 16:57

Our infant sports are kept quite simple. A couple of heats for straight forward running - girls and boys separated, then a final for each age group. I think the winners get something at the end. It is competitive but not too bad.

Then there is a fun bean bag type race, which is not just speed based, heats and finals, boys and girls separate.

Lastly there is a team 'fun' race where they dress up and dribble a football or something daft in teams. Again a chance for less sporty ones to join in.

The last races are a mums one (thank god the 'good' runner is now in juniors!), a pre-school toddle, and a dads race. Usually the dads race is a funny one too.

Infants and Junior sports days are separated so it is not too bum numbing.

I like a semi-competitive day, but not too much IYKWIM. The only race where there are 'winners' is the running one really

foxinsocks · 06/07/2006 16:57

how brilliant - turning up in trainers!!

I shall look out at ours and see if anyone does that!

NotAnOtter · 06/07/2006 17:07

sometimes they have to run three (of each gender) parents races at our school and sheesh there is some testosterone pumping - in both camps. i abstain...

NotAnOtter · 06/07/2006 17:08

I see its ok to brag about sporting achievements but academic ones are scorned in g & t

Original poster

Spatz · 06/07/2006 17:09

I thought the parents' race was supposed to be fun - I joined in so DD would think it was fun to take part, but was surprised by how competitive they were - lots of us slows, too....

OP posts:

SenoraPostrophe · 06/07/2006 17:11

moondog - when were you last in a competetive life event where there was one winner and 20 (or however many losers)? life may be competetive, but it's not competetive in the same way because the vast majority of people "win" something in real life. they don't on sports day.

LIZS · 06/07/2006 17:12

Me too Spatz , came last never again ! dd gave me one of her stickers as she was so proud though so that rather made up for it ! I felt very old and lardy

Alan · 06/07/2006 17:13

ds tyold dh I came last and was really slow, i was SO not last

Original poster

Spatz · 06/07/2006 17:40

I was also not last, not that it matters

OP posts:

Greensleeves · 06/07/2006 17:44

I don't agree with the "life is competitive" axiom

It's all a bit glib and simplistic, isn't it?

My life isn't competitive, any more. I don't want to waste my time competing in articial pointless races with other people. And I don't see why my 3yo should have to either. Of course he will have to pass exams and apply for jobs etc when he's older - but whether or not he sees those things as "competitive" is a question of attitude IMO.

jamsambam · 06/07/2006 17:45

im going to admit my worst parenting issue now...ive never made it to my ds in sports day!!
the first time i didnt have a clue, no letters, no mums told me ( ihad been in the area about a week) so i was confused at 3pm when the school was empty! ds1 had braken arm second year, stayed at home, third year i pretended i had seen it all even though i had only arrived 30 seconds before!
this year is the full on family thing, picnic an dthe works on the school field, the whole village truns out for it, even the vicar races!
im guessing my ds2 will get the most prizes as he is a rugby prop forward in the making....

please dont shout!! i know im bad!!

Anchovy · 06/07/2006 17:51

Dh and I had to do a chuffing three-legged race at DD's one yesterday.

beckybrastraps · 06/07/2006 17:52

It's not about competition IMO. It's about recognition for being good at something. If your child does well academically, or works hard, I'm sure you would want it recognised. My ds will come last in sports day. Absolutely guaranteed. But he does get recognition for the things he IS good at, so we will deal with the tears and remind him that he is fab at other things.

Original poster

Spatz · 06/07/2006 17:54

I think the children dealt fairly well with coming last it was the lengthy ceremony rubbing their noses in it that upset them. If they'd been given stickers after each race I think they'd have been much happier at the end of the day.

OP posts:

phillip · 06/07/2006 17:56

it sounds rubbish spatz. dd1's sports day consisted of lots of different "events" (skipping, low hurdles, squeezing spongeful of water into a bucket) and each team (all in the same house colour) was awarded a potential 15 points - 5 for skill, 5 for politness and 5 for cheering your team on. this was put onto a clipboard that went round with them - each team moved on one event when the klaxon sounded. at the end one team (not dd's ) did win, but it sounds much more fun than yours

SenoraPostrophe · 06/07/2006 17:58

becky - I admit my kids are too young for this yet, but i've always thought academic prize days are a waste of time too. I like the team events and stickers idea. recognition doesn't have to be for the individual (though some of it should be) and certainly doesn't have to be in front of the whole school

Naughtynoonoo · 06/07/2006 18:01

In my dds school they have houses. KS1 have theirs separately from the rest of the school, and everybody has such fun. There are four houses and at the prize giving each team captain gets up and are placed forth, third, second and 1st. A few little ones in Reception (dd included) got a bit teary during the games - i this they were very nervous and overwhelmed about what to expect, but the elder children were very comforting and supportive of the little ones even if their house came last.

Greensleeves · 06/07/2006 18:02

I agree with SenoraPostrophe

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