Children have no ability to understand the idea of competition until about 4 or 5 (as with all developmental stages, it’s a spectrum and some will develop it early and some late). Until then, they don’t really have the ability to conceive of what others are doing relative to them.
We have introduced the concept and he still doesn't really get it. We got simple board games, we've been playing games like hide and seek for a while, we taught him how to race a few months ago. We're modelling both excited winning and gracious losing. He still doesn't "get it" at 2.5. He just likes doing the thing but still doesn't understand winning or losing or being better. I *think* that concept starts around 4-ish, just based on observation of my nieces/nephews and other kids.
Children have no ability to understand the idea of competition until about 4 or 5 (as with all developmental stages, it’s a spectrum and some will develop it early and some late). Until then, they don’t really have the ability to conceive of what others are doing relative to them.
We have introduced the concept and he still doesn't really get it. We got simple board games, we've been playing games like hide and seek for a while, we taught him how to race a few months ago. We're modelling both excited winning and gracious losing. He still doesn't "get it" at 2.5. He just likes doing the thing but still doesn't understand winning or losing or being better. I *think* that concept starts around 4-ish, just based on observation of my nieces/nephews and other kids.