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Teaching Children Good Sportsmanship

By Stanford Children's Health, 01/07/19, 12:00PM PST

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Good sportsmanship may seem hard to define, but its hallmarks include being able to win without gloating, respecting one's opponents and being able to lose gracefully.

Parents and kids alike love sports, and it's easy to get caught up in a game and become focused on winning. Yet there is much more to be gained from the sports experience than a winning record.

When children and teens are involved in sports, they are able to learn and put into practice values that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

Good sportsmanship is one of the life lessons that children can learn from sports. You can help your children understand and value good sportsmanship while making sure they have a safe and fun sports experience.