The festive air is shifting—lights are twinkling, calendars are filling with celebrations, and hearts are leaning toward rest. Yet for many families, the echoes of Speech and Prize Giving Day still linger. Whether your child walked away with a certificate, a trophy, or simply the memory of applause, the season offers parents a unique opportunity: to hold meaningful performance conversations at home.
Prize giving is beautiful, but it also carries tension. It’s the moment you realise how differently gifted each child is. One may be celebrated publicly, while another’s strengths remain quieter, waiting to be noticed. As parents, we stand in the middle—wanting to honour achievement while still affirming identity, reminding our children that their worth is never defined by awards.
Even weeks after the ceremonies, these lessons remain vital. Looking back at the past year’s deliverables and equipping our young ones for the future is part of the ongoing rhythm of parenting. Year after year, I’ve asked God for wisdom to navigate this delicate balance: celebrating achievement without sowing comparison, affirming identity without diminishing effort, and planting seeds of grace in all hearts.
Here are three ways to continue the conversation at home, long after the applause has faded:
1. Celebrate Uniqueness
Every child carries a gift. Some gifts are wrapped in certificates, others in character, creativity, or kindness. Keep speaking life into each child’s unique strengths, reminding them that their contribution matters.
2. Affirm identity
Tell the child without the award that they are enough. Their value is not tied to a prize or performance but to who they are becoming. This affirmation builds resilience and confidence for the future
3. Honour Achievement Without Comparison
Congratulate the child who excelled, but frame it as inspiration, not competition. Encourage all your children to keep growing, knowing that effort matters as much as outcome.
Parenting in these moments is less about balancing scales and more about planting seeds of love, confidence, and grace in young hearts. Prize Giving Day may be behind us, but the opportunity to nurture identity, celebrate uniqueness, and equip our children for tomorrow is always present.
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Cynthia Mabaso Chimanikire
This article was written by Cynthia Mabaso Chimanikire. Cynthia is the co-founder of New Gates and heads the organisation’s operations and learning strategies. Prior to joining New Gates full-time, Cynthia worked at the Central Bank of Eswatini as the Skills Development Consultant for the Bank’s Academy. Cynthia is married to Berven and together raises three leaders in their home Ethan, Zamar and Joseph. Cynthia’s is passionate about discipleship in families and organisations. Her mantra is “Raising Leaders for tomorrow”.
