The important thing is that at age five, losing is not devastating to a child’s self-esteem. It is when children reach seven and eight years old that they start to realise that there are other people in this competition, and the concept of comparison kicks in. Some psychologists call it the ‘totem pole effect’ whereby, in kids’ minds, they start to place the smart kids on top, along with the good-looking kids and the fast kids. It is at this age that kids start to understand that with every winner there is a loser.
The important thing is that at age five, losing is not devastating to a child’s self-esteem. It is when children reach seven and eight years old that they start to realise that there are other people in this competition, and the concept of comparison kicks in. Some psychologists call it the ‘totem pole effect’ whereby, in kids’ minds, they start to place the smart kids on top, along with the good-looking kids and the fast kids. It is at this age that kids start to understand that with every winner there is a loser.