Pro-football player, James Harrison, took to social media to say his kids will not keep participation trophies. His bold statement has started a conversation among parents about whether kids should receive trophies, medals, certificates, etc. for just participating in a sport.
This isn’t a new viewpoint, Adam Carolla spoke out in 2011 about the “Participation Trophy Generation.”
“We’ve created a bunch of [verbing] self-entitled monsters,” Carolla exclaims. “ ‘I want my Most Valuable Player trophy.’ ‘Well, you’re the slowest, fattest guy on the team.’ ‘Why should he get one and I don’t?’ ‘Because he busts his [patoot] and he runs a 4.4 40. That’s why he gets one.’ ‘Well, this is [excrement].’ And then everyone gets involved and everyone gives everyone a participation trophy and then everyone feels good about themselves but it’s not based on anything. You should feel good about yourself because of your accomplishments. Not because someone yelled at you to feel good about yourself and you got a fake [engaging in intimate acts] piece of plastic that was sprayed gold and had your name on a plaque at the bottom.”
Carolla went so far as to say the “Occupy Wall Street” protesters are a product of the trophy entitled generation. The believe they deserve a job and more money just because they showed up.
They have a point, we don’t get money we don’t earn, we don’t deserve awards we haven’t worked for. However, we seem to be raising kids in a difficult era. They have instant entertainment on their tablets and they can’t help but see people famous on YouTube for just being stupid. The next “big” star could be a few clicks away and most of the kids I know think that is how they can earn fame and fortune.
I grew up at the beginning of the “participation trophy generation.” When I play soccer at 10-years-old I got a medal at the end of the season. However, I did see the team that won earned large trophies and the right to be the best team in the league. My parents made me get a job at 15-years-old because I had to pay for my pager (yes, I had a pager and it was clear!). When I was 16-years-old I had a job because I needed gas money and insurance on my car. My parents bought me a car, but it was used and super basic. I didn’t get to galavant around in it, I was expected to help take my sisters to and from school and practices. I learned early that you don’t get something for nothing.
I hope that I’m teaching my kids the same thing. Yes, they have phones and tablets, but they also walk the dog , fold their own clothes, and cut the grass. Their main job is to do well in school so when they are older they can earn a scholarship to pay their way through college. It might not matter to a 10-year-old, but mom is definitely thinking ahead.
The bottom line is you don’t get something for nothing. Trophies are not for everybody. Kids need to learn to earn and that is the real prize for participating.
