If your kids are older, when did you get rid of the "particpation trophies?"

[Anonymous]

I throw them away as soon as we get home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid just turned 14 and still plays the sport. I just asked if he wanted the old participation awards and the answer was nope. Into the trash they went. (Before somebody bugs me about giving them to charity, nobody wants dumb plastic trophies.)

Years ago Special Olympics would take them, pull off the old plaques and repurpose them.

I doubt they do that anymore.

[Anonymous]

At this point I probably have more sentimental attachment to them than he does.

[Anonymous]

Wow. I’m shocked at all of the throwing away and not accepting them responses. My mom still has my dance participation trophies from 1984-1989. I loved them so much. It’s one of the very last things I still have at my parents house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. I’m shocked at all of the throwing away and not accepting them responses. My mom still has my dance participation trophies from 1984-1989. I loved them so much. It’s one of the very last things I still have at my parents house.

I was a dancer and gymnast (didn't compete) and never got trophies. I am perfectly satisfied with the memories I have. I don't need trophies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. I’m shocked at all of the throwing away and not accepting them responses. My mom still has my dance participation trophies from 1984-1989. I loved them so much. It’s one of the very last things I still have at my parents house.

I was a dancer and gymnast (didn't compete) and never got trophies. I am perfectly satisfied with the memories I have. I don't need trophies.

Okay?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i didn't allow my kids to accept them.

Mostly true for us as well. If the adults were insistent, she accepted it, but gave them away. She still resists the hoopla over just showing up.

So rude, do you encourage her to give back other gifts she doesn’t like?

NP. It's not rude at all; after all, it's not meant to be a gift. It's a "reward" for just showing up.

My kids don't accept these either, and they are happy to tell the coach or teacher why.

[Anonymous]

Guess what, life is 95% about showing up prepared, not winning.

Some of you are cruel to your kids and you think you’re doing them a favor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid was a HS and college swimmer. No participation trophies in either. As for those trophies from years gone by...garbage dump.

Our summer swim gives participation trophies. They are small. We keep the latest one out and put the rest in a bin. Have a binder for all the awards, ribbons, metals, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid was a HS and college swimmer. No participation trophies in either. As for those trophies from years gone by...garbage dump.

The participant ribbon is basically the "participation trophy" for swimming. Everyone gets a ribbon so no one feels bad. I'm not sure at what age these stop. My kids haven't hit high school yet.

[Anonymous]

My son has a ton of championship trophies as well as participation trophies.

He kept about 15 of them because they have good memories attached.

As if winning is more important than building relationships.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Guess what, life is 95% about showing up prepared, not winning.

Some of you are cruel to your kids and you think you’re doing them a favor.

Thete’s A lot of ground between showing up prepared and winning.

My children would have happily accepted awards for hard work, good sportsmanship, or team spirit. But simply showing up in uniform? They realized themselves that wasn’t something they needed an incentive or reward for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i didn't allow my kids to accept them.

Mostly true for us as well. If the adults were insistent, she accepted it, but gave them away. She still resists the hoopla over just showing up.

So rude, do you encourage her to give back other gifts she doesn’t like?

NP. It's not rude at all; after all, it's not meant to be a gift. It's a "reward" for just showing up.

My kids don't accept these either, and they are happy to tell the coach or teacher why.

Showing up is 80 percent of life. No "just" about it.

[Anonymous]

I consider them more of a memento, but at any rate they belong to my kids so they decide. So far, they enjoy them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i didn't allow my kids to accept them.

Mostly true for us as well. If the adults were insistent, she accepted it, but gave them away. She still resists the hoopla over just showing up.

So rude, do you encourage her to give back other gifts she doesn’t like?

NP. It's not rude at all; after all, it's not meant to be a gift. It's a "reward" for just showing up.

My kids don't accept these either, and they are happy to tell the coach or teacher why.

Showing up is 80 percent of life. No "just" about it.

Right. But you don’t get- or shouldn’t expect- a trophy for it. It’s the minimum standard.