If you are going to teach your child one thing it's to be able to lose sometimes and be ok with it.  Why? Because your child is going to have to deal with defeat.  We all do.  And the important thing about losing is that it's o.k., you just need to bounce back up and keep on going. Remember when you learned how to ride a bike, and fell over at first? Or how about President Abraham Lincoln's list of defeats? It seemed like every few years he had to deal with some sort of loss, but he never quit, and kids should learn that they shouldn't quit either.  Nobody likes a sore loser.  Life is about doing your best and giving it your best shot, and with that comes mistakes and losses. 

So, how do you teach kids to get back up and brush off the dust?  For one thing, focusing on the positive is a great start.  Also, it's a good idea to cheer on everyone that is playing.  In other words, if your child is in a race with some other kids, make sure to cheer on all the places-1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc.  Show your child that everyone did a great job, especially if they tried their best.

Learning how to win or lose gracefully takes a lot of practice.  It's important to let kids know that failure isn't the end of the world.  It's a chance to get back up again and try again. It's also a great time to learn from our mistakes.  Talk to your kids about how they feel and what they could do differently (or the same) when they win or lose.  Talk about how others feel.

And remember to be a good role model.  Kids are always watching how their parents react to all situations.  Make sure to have a positive outlook on life, even when things don't turn out the way they should.  Focus on getting up, brushing off the dust and moving forward-proudly.  How you handle situations in life sends a huge message to kids.

"Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail"- Ralph Waldo Emerson