Your young twirler has been going to practice for a while now, and then their coach asks if you want to enter some baton twirling competitions. You’re not sure. You worry it could put pressure on your child and cause stress or lowered self-esteem if they do not win, Before you decide, you should know the benefits of healthy competition for young children. Healthy competition in predetermined doses can positively assist in your child’s overall development and self-esteem. Take a look at what our Star Line professionals have compiled.

Sportsmanship: Win, lose, or draw it’s beneficial for your child to learn how to accept the results gracefully and to know that winning a trophy isn’t the only marker of success.

Socializing: Baton twirling can be a solitary activity by nature, but going to competitions allows your twirler to interact with other children their age who share the same interest. They will also be able to run into them at future events since the circuits are relatively localized, which can help create lasting, and mutually beneficial relationships

Learning from Others: Your twirler will learn a lot through practice, but they can also broaden their talent while watching others twirl at a larger scale. At a competition, baton twirlers are exposed to all levels of twirling and competition; this exposure can get their excited to excel and turn their basic strut into an X.

Benchmarks: By going to competitions your twirler will see how they rank. While that action may make you cringe inside, getting scored at those events gives twirlers a way to measure their improvement. Judges also provide helpful commentary full of constructive criticism and praise that your daughter can use to improve and perfect their talent.

Self-esteem: No matter where your twirler may rank in the end, they can always appreciate hard work and dedication. Your twirler will learn to take pride in their routine and know that no matter how the scores turn out, they did their best and put themselves out there.

Participation trophies may seem like an easy way to protect your twirler from criticism, but by introducing criticism and competition in a healthy environment, it will help prepare them for life as a teen and an adult when the arena is less friendly. The lessons they learn early at competitions will strengthen them as a person. The professionals in baton twirling at Star Line encourage you not to shy away from some healthy competition because it builds character.

Posted: 5/31/2017