September 2, 2013
In this impressive study, sociologist Friedman explores the American trend of middle-class elementary-school-age children participating in competitive activities. She identifies “Competitive Kid Capital”—“(1) internalizing the importance of winning, (2) bouncing back from a loss to win in the future, (3) learning how to perform within time limits, (4) learning how to succeed in stressful situations, and (5) being able to perform under the gaze of others”—as an advantage that parents hope will carry their children to elite colleges and successful lives. Here, tournament chess, competitive dance, and travel soccer serve as examples that show how parents, children, coaches, and others create a tightly scheduled subculture in which extrinsic rewards matter and the carving up of honor is balanced against a savvy awareness among children that “participation” awards don’t confer real status. Although parents want to raise well-rounded children, Friedman also sees, among parents, grooming for normative gender and social roles, with parents sharing definitions of boys as jocks, nerds, or “fags” and girls as graceful, aggressive, or “pink warriors.” By interviewing both parents and children, Friedman provides great insight about each group. This study is vital reading for parents and educators interested in how the American idea of winners and losers is trickling down to the next generation.
October 1, 2013
What is the allure of competitive extra-curricular activities for young children? Given the significant family investment of time and money, what are the net benefits for participants? For her first book, sociologist Friedman (Malcolm Wiener Ctr. for Social Policy; John F. Kennedy Sch. of Government, Harvard Univ.) performed an in-depth qualitative study of representative soccer teams, chess clubs, and dance studios; interviewed dozens of children, parents, and coaches; and observed competitions and practices over 16 months of fieldwork. She found that at the elementary level, children's participation is largely parent driven in quest of what she calls "Competitive Kid Capital." This capital consists of children's acquisition of strategic skills and attitudes, including the importance of winning, recovery from loss, and the ability to perform within time limits, under stress, and while being observed and evaluated. VERDICT Given the considerable competitive pressure on even young children to prepare for elite colleges and lucrative careers, this study is timely and provocative. It is, however, targeted more toward scholars of childhood and family than to parents and other lay readers. Purchase accordingly. Nonspecialists who have read both Amy Chua's Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother and Lenore Skenazy's Free-Range Kids: How To Raise Safe, Self-Reliant Children (Without Going Nuts with Worry) may find it of interest.--Janet Ingraham Dwyer, State Lib. of Ohio, Columbus
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