The gentle growth award is hidden within the lightweight and soothing PVC medal.

We always think that medals are the exclusive possession of the competition venue and the champions. They must be made of gold or silver, heavy and cold, with a metallic luster, and only then can they be worthy of the word “honor”.

But in reality, there aren’t that many glorious moments in life. More often, it’s the child’s joyous excitement after spending half an hour squatting on the ground and completing a whole 100-piece puzzle for the first time; it’s the classmate who always stays behind to clean up the mess after the club activity; it’s the big brother who finished last in the fun sports event but gritted his teeth and didn’t give up. These small, less spectacular efforts – aren’t they worthy of a medal?

After touching the PVC soft-gel medal, I realized that honor could be so light, so soft, and so full of warmth. Unlike metal, which repels people from a distance, it is more like a gentle old friend, quietly staying on your chest.

Before, I bought a miniature metal medal for my son. It looked quite exquisite. But as soon as he put it around his neck and walked just a few steps, he started complaining about the discomfort. He took it off and threw it carelessly into the crevice of the sofa. After that, I never saw him wear it voluntarily again. That thing was not only heavy, but also had sharp edges. When it touched the skin in winter, it gave off an extremely cold sensation.

Later, the kindergarten held a parent-child sports event. The teacher gave each child a colorful PVC medal. Oh my, that thing was so light that it felt as if it wasn’t even being held! It weighed almost nothing when held in the hand. The key point was its texture. It was soft and bouncy, with extremely smooth edges. When pressed against the skin, it was warm, not cold at all. After the event, all the other children took off their medals, but he kept wearing his all the way home. Even for his nap, he wore it. Before taking a bath at night, he specially took off the medal and carefully placed it on the bedside table, saying to me, “Mom, I’ll wear it again tomorrow.” At that moment, I suddenly understood that the significance of the medal was not in its weight, but in whether the child was willing to treat it as a precious treasure.

Let’s talk about the colors. Metal medals may be formal, but the colors are just a few – gold or silver. Seeing them too often can easily lead to aesthetic fatigue. PVC, on the other hand, has a much larger range of possibilities. It can be made into a soft marquise base color, paired with silly cartoon illustrations, or handwritten phrases like “You did great” or “Keep going”. The overall feeling is very relaxed, not at all serious, and completely devoid of that oppressive sense of “I’m the first”. Instead, it exudes a sense of “I participated, I’m happy” that is very warm and friendly.

Last time the community held a summer party, the prizes given to the children were PVC medals with ice cream patterns on them. The colors were a gradient from blue to pink, and the shape was like a cone. There was even a phrase “Summer Little Warrior” written on it. A little girl held it in her hands and looked at it over and over again, even happier than when she got new school supplies. This kind of vitality that traditional medals simply can’t offer is something unique. It not only tells the children “You won”, but also says “You had a great time today”.

As a parent, I also attach great importance to the durability of this item. The paper certificates would become soft after a while and were easily torn by the children; the plastic ones would become brittle and yellow over time, and would break when squeezed. The PVC soft rubber is much more stable. It is waterproof and dirt-resistant. Even if the child puts it in a messy pile of toys or drops it on the ground and gets stepped on, you can just pick it up and wipe it clean and it will be as good as new. I have several of these made a few years ago in my cabinet, and the colors are still the same as new, and the edges haven’t wrinkled or hardened. Every time I take them out during a thorough cleaning and see them, I can instantly recall the happy scene of the whole family that day. This tangible sense of preservation is the most important significance of souvenirs.

The most important thing is that it is not restricted by occasions. Unlike metal medals which make people sit up straight, PVC medals exude a relaxed feeling of “the essence lies in participation”. It can be used at the graduation ceremony of kindergartens, in the small competitions for community garbage classification, in the appreciation sessions of public welfare activities, and even in the small games for company team-building. I have seen some parents， in order to encourage their children to recognize one more character today or to actively greet their neighbors,specially present a custom-made PVC small medal and hang it around their children’s necks. That sense of being recognized and feeling secure is much more substantial than scores and rankings.

Customization is actually very simple. You don’t need to be a big brand or an organization. Even if you just want to give your own child an exclusive small reward, the process is very smooth. Choose the size you like, send the design pattern or the words you want to say to your child. The designer will help you adjust the color and layout, and only after confirming the effect picture will they start the mold production. The hanging rope can also be provided together. There are even those with cartoon patterns that children especially love.

The highlight moments in life don’t necessarily require grand displays. A small, soft medal hanging quietly on the chest can make a child reluctant to take it off before going to sleep, and can bring a smile to an adult’s face when sorting out old things. Honors are not classified as big or small; every effort, whether it leads to a championship or not, is worthy of being gently received in this way. After all, what we are recording is not this warm and lively life itself, is it?