My DD8, who just started 4th grade, is participating in our school's Math Olympiad. This pull out program will give her more rigor than the math she'll get in her regular classroom. She was initially excited to participate, but now tells us that she doesn't like competitions. She said she doesn't like it when people get mad at her for winning, and also that she doesn't like it when other people who win gloat (her word).
She is that child who maneuvers things in her favor in order to win, even when playing simple games with us and her brother., and gets mad if she doesn't win and often claims the other party cheated and it's not fair. She stopped playing chess a few years back, after initially loving it, but then participating in a tournament and not doing well. She has also declared that she will never participate in team sports.
We think what's going on with her is two-fold. Her perfectionism and need to win are being exacerbated by her over-sensitivities regarding people who lose (crying for them), upsetting other people when she wins, and having other people gloat in front of her when they win.
Anyone else dealt with this distaste for competition? Any words of wisdom about how to get her past this? We think the Math Olympiad is a wonderful academic opportunity for her and will provide rigor (she loves math). Plus I've been trying to teach about the benefits of healthy competition and that win or lose, there are always lessons to be learned. Advice???
