When Your Preschooler Has a Hard Time Losing

My family loves to play board games. They are my husband’s favorite hobby. It’s more his thing than mine, but I have to admit it’s a great thing for our family to do unplugged at home together.

Every time a new board game finds its way into our home, my husband is quick to tell me all of the benefits board gaming provides our family as well as the specific skills that it helps our children develop. Board games encourage social skills, turn taking, critical thinking, and being a good sport.

Most board games only allow for one winner. Anyone love to lose at things? It is hard to lose when you have followed the rules and tried your best!

One of our preschool members has a child who has a difficult time not winning and is looking for some tips. Below are some ideas we have. If you have something that has worked with your family to help a sore loser, please share in the comments!

Try these tips to encourage your child when he does not win:

Praise Efforts. Compliment your child on what you noticed he did great. Did he wait patiently? Did he practice all week? Did he do his best? Share specific details you notice that can encourage your child to recognize what he did that was fantastic!

Identify Feelings. Putting a name to the emotions a child is feeling is helpful to find an appropriate response for those feelings. “It looks like you are feeling mad. When some kids feel mad they choose to be alone in their room and yell into a pillow or stomp their feet as loud as they can on the grass outside.”

Role Model. Show how to be a graceful winner by complimenting your child on a great game when you win. Show how you can share disappointment at not winning if you lose with a calm, “I tried my best and was hoping to win, but I am glad you get a turn to win today!”

Keep Practicing! Play a game as a family once or twice a week while practicing good sportsmanship. Cheer on each small success you notice in your child learning to be a better loser and winner!

Do you need some ideas of new games to try? These are 5 of our favorite preschool board games.

Work together as a team to get to the picnic on the island before the pigs eat all the food! You must use your eyes to find the things you need. Skills it builds: teamwork, visual discrimination and persistence.    

Build your room and banish monsters! This is a simple game that even your toddler will enjoy. Skills it builds: turn taking, sharing (if played cooperatively), room vocabulary and helps get rid of fear of monsters.

Hurry and get your ice cream to match your customer’s order before your opponent in this fun game of speed. Skills it builds: fine motor skills and color/ pattern matching.

Will pig’s ever-growing belly pop on your turn as you feed him burgers? The anticipation grows as much as his belly! Skills it builds: turn taking, fine motor, color recognition, number recognition and counting.

Save the flock by catching the fox! In this fun game of suspense, each player tries to fill their chicken coop the fastest. Skills it builds: turn taking, counting and fine motor.

Remember that even if your child ends up upset because they have not won the game, your time spent playing the game has not been a failure. You have still spent time as a family and your little one has had an opportunity to grow. Enjoy your time as a family 🙂

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