As a devoted parent, I cherish my children and believe they are the most remarkable beings to ever grace this world. However, I draw the line at awarding them trophies simply for showing up to soccer practice or for the mere act of being their age. Why do we feel the need to give out medals for every little accomplishment? For instance, here’s a ribbon for turning five or a certificate for participating in the school orchestra—activities that they should be doing naturally. And let’s not forget the certificate my son received for being nice to a friend, which was based on one isolated incident. Is this really the standard we’re promoting? No wonder he gives me the side-eye when I ask him to tidy up—after all, he’s been recognized for his “kindness.”
Setting such lofty expectations for our kids isn’t helping them prepare for real life. In adulthood, awards are few and far between. I’d much rather receive cash rewards than accolades. A shiny plaque is nice, but how about a hundred bucks or a Target gift card instead? I certainly don’t get recognized for every mundane task like cleaning the toilet or surviving a grocery run with two kids, but perhaps I deserve a little appreciation for the dinner hustle, right? Instead, I’m left with nothing but tears of frustration and a lack of trophies.
Moreover, I find it excessive that we feel the need to hold graduation ceremonies for every tiny milestone. I certainly don’t remember graduating from preschool or kindergarten, yet we seem to do this for every grade level now. Do we really need an excuse to gather for cookies and chit-chat about how wonderful our kids are? I’d prefer to skip the lengthy ceremonies and simply enjoy some quality time with friends, all while hoping my daughter doesn’t pick her nose in front of an audience.
These days, my children expect stickers at every store, awards at every event, and constant praise for normal interactions. This mindset has been reinforced by the culture we’ve created. Stickers often end up stuck to unexpected places, and all those medals and trophies? They’re tossed in the toy bin, collecting dust and becoming more of an annoyance than anything meaningful. Over time, these awards lose their significance. They become just another shiny distraction that clutters our home, leaving my kids unsure about why they even received them.
Of course, I recognize that kids have unique talents and that some awards are well-deserved, reflecting hard work and dedication. However, I believe we’ve gone overboard. In our attempts to make every child feel special, we’ve diluted the true value of recognition.
Let’s focus on instilling genuine kindness in our kids without the expectation of rewards for simply doing what they’re supposed to do. True motivation should come from within, not from external validation. We should be encouraging them to engage in activities because they find joy in them or because being a decent human being is rewarding in itself.
So, let’s save the awards for truly significant achievements—like the Nobel Prize, which at least comes with a substantial monetary reward!
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In summary, the trend of handing out awards for minimal achievements needs to be reconsidered. Rather than fostering a culture of entitlement, we should encourage our children to appreciate their efforts and accomplishments without expecting recognition for simply participating.