03.07.10
Some thoughts about the pinewood derby.
The pinewood derby has come and gone, we had a nice time. Landon did well, his car came in fourth over all. This is in spite of his older brother’s help. Landon did much of the work. He didn’t get to touch the power cutting tools, but everything else was his. He even tapped on his own wheels and axles.
There are some families that take winning far too seriously. I believe that children learn how to handle disappointment, how to be good sports and even how to lose graciously from racing cars in the pinewood derby. However they can’t learn all those good and important skills unless their parents help them have experiences in which they will not be first place. I am not advocating that you should make sure that your children lose just so they can learn to be good sports. What I am saying is you should let them be in charge of their own pinewood derby car, from the design to the painting and be there to guide them, and protect them from getting hurt from the power tools. Getting hurt from not winning is something that you should expect. Not every child in every contest is going to feel like a winner. I would rather have my child be like the little boy who, after he lost a race, shook the hand of the boy who did win. Then there is the boy who has won for the last three years whose car was beautiful, who never had the chance to learn to be a good sport. Makes me wonder how much hands on experience in car building he had this time.
I think that learning to be a good sport is just as important as learning to be a winner. Learning to be a gracious second place winner is a skill that may be disappearing. I am happy that the little good sport was recognized for his act. I know he learned a great deal more than the boy who has won first place all 3 years of his cub scout career.