The Tricycle Race
About This Story
This story shows that friendly competition is about sharing in the fun.
Have you ever raced with a friend just for fun?
In this story, two friends find that they both win when they play together for the fun of it.
The Tricycle Race
At age 5, Lyn and Mona, are best friends. Today, their parents take their trikes to the park near their neighborhood. The girls feel excited to play.
“We are here before anyone else. Let’s go race!” Lyn calls out to Mona.
The girls line up their tricycles at the park's starting line. "Ready, set, go!" they shout together. Both Lyn and Mona pedal as fast as they can.
Their legs push hard, and the wheels spin. Mona pulls ahead, but then Lyn catches up. They are side by side, smiling and giggling.
As they neared the finish line, Mona has an idea. "Let's cross the finish line together!" she yelled over to Lyn.
Lyn nods, and they both slow down just enough to finish at the same time. "It's a tie!" they exclaim, as they give each other high-fives.
"Racing is fun, but playing with you is the best part," Lyn says. After the race, they share a snack and scurry off to the swings.
On the way home, Mona’s mom says, "You both win when you have fun together."
The End
Let’s talk about the story.
What does it feel like when you play with a friend who doesn’t care who wins?
What does it feel like to play with someone that gets angry when they do not win?
While winning feels exciting, losing can feel disappointing. It can take effort to learn to handle disappointment. How did Mona and Lyn decide to handle their tricycle race?
If someone isn’t ready for friendly competition, what is a cooperative game you can suggest they play instead?
I hope you enjoyed our story, come visit again.
Goodbye.
