What Parents Really Want From a Competition

Parents play a crucial role in supporting their children’s participation in competitions, whether educational, artistic, or religious. While the children are usually the active participants, parents contribute significantly through preparation, emotional encouragement, and logistical support. As such, organisers should consider not only the participants’ needs but also the expectations and priorities of parents. Understanding what parents genuinely seek from a competition allows the event to be more inclusive, better structured, and ultimately more successful for everyone involved.

1. Clear and Transparent Communication

One of the most common concerns expressed by parents is the lack of clear communication. From registration procedures to detailed schedules, effective communication is essential to helping parents prepare their children adequately and manage their own time.

• Comprehensive guidelines: Parents appreciate clear instructions regarding eligibility criteria, registration deadlines, judging criteria, and how to address queries or disputes.
• Timely updates: Delays in sharing schedules, result announcements, or changes to event timings can cause confusion and stress. Parents value regular and prompt updates through email, SMS, or official websites.
• Accessible information: Easily navigable platforms and multilingual support (where necessary) help cater to a wider demographic and promote inclusivity.

For parents juggling multiple responsibilities, structured and punctual communication is not just helpful — it’s essential.

2. Fair and Transparent Judging

A recurring theme among parents is the desire for fair and transparent judging. While they understand that subjectivity may sometimes influence outcomes, they expect a judging system that is as unbiased and consistent as possible.

• Qualified judges: Parents want assurance that judges have the relevant knowledge, experience, and impartiality to assess performances fairly.
• Standardised criteria: Clearly defined scoring rubrics help parents understand how performances are being evaluated. This clarity builds trust in the process and encourages better preparation.
• Constructive feedback: Rather than just scores or rankings, many parents value written or verbal feedback that can help their children improve in the future.

Transparency in judging doesn’t just build parental trust; it sets the tone for a culture of integrity and learning within the competition.

3. A Positive and Supportive Environment

Competitions, especially those involving children and young people, are more than just contests — they are learning experiences. A nurturing environment helps reduce anxiety and promotes confidence, participation, and personal growth.

• Respectful organisation: Parents appreciate organisers who treat all participants and families with professionalism and courtesy.
• Encouraging atmosphere: Celebrating effort and improvement rather than focusing solely on winning can cultivate resilience and encourage participation across a wider demographic.
• Support for first-timers: First-time participants (and their parents) can feel overwhelmed. Clear explanations, volunteer guides, and question-and-answer sessions can be helpful.

Creating a positive environment not only enhances the overall reputation of the competition but also fosters greater long-term engagement from families.

4. Logistical Efficiency and Accessibility

Many parents must plan their day carefully around the competition, especially if they have multiple children, jobs, or other commitments. Thoughtful logistical planning greatly impacts the experience for families.

• Reasonable time commitments: Parents favour well-paced scheduling that avoids long waiting times. Punctuality and a realistic competition flow are especially appreciated.
• Accessible venues: Considerations such as parking availability, public transport access, facilities for young children, and wheelchair access can significantly affect a parent’s decision to attend.
• Clear signage and directions: On-site navigation should be intuitive. Parents value clear schedules and location maps, either in print or digital formats.

Well-considered logistics demonstrate organisational professionalism and respect for families’ time and effort.

5. Recognition for All Participants

One of the key concerns for parents is how their children’s efforts will be acknowledged. While not every participant will win, parents highly value mechanisms that ensure everyone walks away with a sense of accomplishment.

• Participation certificates: Simple certificates go a long way toward making children (and their parents) feel seen and appreciated.
• Multiple award categories: Offering awards for areas like effort, improvement, or creativity allows more children to be recognised and motivated.
• Celebration of values: Recognising attributes such as good sportsmanship, teamwork, or perseverance can help broaden the definition of success.

Rewarding participation helps reinforce positive behaviour and encourages continued involvement with healthy expectations.

6. Educational Value and Development Opportunities

Parents increasingly view competitions as educational experiences rather than simply events for winning recognition. They seek opportunities for their children to grow, accumulate knowledge, and develop soft skills.

• Learning-focused formats: Competitions that promote critical thinking, memorisation skills, creativity, or subject-specific mastery (e.g., Quran recitation) appeal to parents who are invested in their child’s long-term development.
• Workshops or briefing sessions: Pre-event or post-event workshops offer additional learning and skill-building value.
• Feedback mechanisms: Access to judge comments or performance evaluations can help guide parents in coaching their children better for the future.

Educational value is particularly important in academic or religious competitions where personal development is often the primary goal.

7. Inclusivity and Fair Access

Parents want to be confident that competitions are run fairly and are accessible to a wide range of families, regardless of backgrounds or experience levels.

• Affordable or subsidised entry: High competition fees can discourage wider participation. Sliding scales, family discounts, or sponsorships can improve accessibility.
• Culturally sensitive planning: In religious or community-based competitions, parents appreciate when organisers are sensitive to diverse cultural norms, language preferences, and modesty requirements.
• Equal opportunity: Clear anti-bias policies and conscious efforts to ensure all children have equal chances to participate and succeed are essential to parental confidence in the competition’s fairness.

Inclusive competitions not only reflect better ethics but also broaden the talent pool and community impact.

8. Parent Involvement and Communication Channels

Many parents appreciate being part of the process in various constructive ways. When organisers actively engage parents, the result is often a smoother, more positive experience for all parties involved.

• Volunteer opportunities: Allowing parents to volunteer creates a sense of ownership and builds a community-oriented atmosphere.
• Open communication lines: Clear contact channels for queries, complaints, or suggestions enable parents to feel heard and respected.
• Feedback collection: Post-event surveys or focus group discussions can offer valuable insights into how to improve future events.

Opening dialogue with parents transforms them from passive observers into engaged stakeholders — a move that can strengthen support for future editions of the competition.

9. Emotional Support and Child Wellbeing

Finally, parents are highly attuned to their children’s emotional wellbeing. They seek reassurance that their child will be treated with care and respect throughout the competition.

• Trained staff and volunteers: Staff members who interact with children should be prepared to address nervousness, confusion, or special needs with empathy and patience.
• Break areas and quiet spaces: Having space for children to relax before or after their performance can help manage stress and avoid overstimulation.
• Balanced messaging: Emphasising effort and growth rather than only rankings helps parents model positive reinforcement and resilience for their children.

When competitions support emotional wellbeing, parents are more likely to encourage their children’s continued involvement, viewing the event as a healthy developmental opportunity.

Conclusion

Understanding what parents truly want from a competition requires a holistic approach. At its core, their expectations revolve around clarity, fairness, support, accessibility, and recognition — not just for their child’s achievement, but for the journey that gets them there. Organisers who prioritise these aspects not only foster trust and satisfaction among parents but also create more meaningful and impactful experiences for the children involved. When parents feel that their time, effort, and aspirations are respected, they’re more likely to support and recommend the event in the future.

If you need help with your Quran competition platform or marking tools, email info@qurancompetitions.tech.