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At the end of many sports events and competitions, all the contestants are honored for their effort. But in a world where not everyone can be a winner, does getting a consolation prize（安慰奖）actually improve a child’s self-esteem?

Participation awards have been around for at least 100 years, but lately they have come under fire for killing children’s sense of competition. Yet that is exactly the opposite of what these medals do for little ones, says psychologist and parenting coach Emily Pagone.

When preschoolers and kindergartners compete, they don’t know the expectations adults have for them, Pagone says. Offering them a trophy（奖杯）or medal can highlight the skills that the losers showed and encourage the sportsmanship of all the players.

But what really makes a participation award worthwhile is the conversation that comes with it. “When the caregivers around the children recognize their abilities, talents and strengths, children are placed in a position to learn about the expectations of the situation. And pointing out what kids do well can also build their self-confidence.” Pagone says.

Still, there is one problem with this system: students may rely too much on rewards from outside sources to motivate themselves. It’s valuable for them to play soccer not only because they want to earn something to decorate their rooms, but also because they enjoy the sport. They won’t always get prizes for doing their best, so it’s important to build an inner desire to push through challenging times.

For this reason, Pagone recommends discontinuing the use of participation awards around first grade. But not all experts agree that is best. Positive feedback can also benefit older kids and adults, keeping them coming back to their hobby even after a tough practice or season, says Kelly LaPorte, clinical director at a counseling center. That lesson of celebrating the effort and not just the result remains important throughout a person’s life.

Trophies and medals for preteens and teens should also be paired with conversations, particularly to prepare them to deal with loss. Sometimes this means letting them take a five-minute walk to calm down after a match. Other times it just requires allowing them to express their feelings. A “perfect world” would include participation awards for kids and postgame reflections with caregivers and coaches.

1．What do participation awards do to little children according to Pagone?

A．They kill their sense of competition.	B．They encourage sportsmanship of all players.
C．They meet kids’ expectations for the game.	D．They make players ignore the sports skills.

2．Which of the following statements about participation awards might Pagone agree?

A．They get in the way of helping children build self-confidence.

B．They might prevent kids from building an inner desire for the sport.

C．They benefit both little children, older kids and adults in learning.

D．Their value lies in that they celebrate the effort rather than the result.

3．What is the author’s attitude towards participation awards?

A．They are more beneficial than harmful.	B．They are more harmful than beneficial.
C．They can be effective but have limitations.	D．They should be replaced with conversations.

4．Which of the following is the best title for the passage?

A．Are Participation Awards Still Necessary?	B．How Do Participation Awards Impact Children?
C．What is the Myth about Participation Awards?	D．Why Should Participation Awards be Abandoned?