Pushy parents have admitted to training their children in preparation for school sports day and even encouraging them to cheat, it has emerged.
A third of parents would not stop their child from cheating, while more than one in 10 confess to actively encouraging their offspring to win by dishonest means.
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Children are being told to poke feet holes in sacks, trip other competitors up or distract them during races. One in five parents have helped their child to stick eggs to spoons while 25% offer bribes to their children in a bid to encourage them to win - with one mother even offering a trip to EuroDisney as an incentive.
A further one in five parents owned up to cheating themselves in the parents' race.
One mother admitted going for runs every night during the run up to the parents' sprint race, while another confessed to using chewing gum to stick the egg to the spoon during the egg and spoon race.
And "disappointed, upset, angry and let down" parents are now laying the blame on schools if their child loses at sports day, with 36% saying schools don't encourage pupils to be competitive enough.
The study, conducted by the Early Learning Centre, questioned more than 2,000 parents.
An ELC spokesperson said it is important to teach children it's the taking part that counts.
"Encouraging children to do well and practicing a few different sports in the garden is one thing but encouraging children to cheat is taking things too far."