| We all love the thrill of a hockey game. As children our | | | | Have you ever worked hard on something and are |
| drive to play a game such as hockey is derived from | | | | happy what you have accomplished only to have |
| the desire to do something that is fun. When we get | | | | someone criticize and belittle what you have done? It |
| older however, we still consider hockey fun, but | | | | doesn't feel good does it? If your child has a good time |
| another dimension is added which takes our passion | | | | playing hockey and is met with negative and |
| for the game to another level; competitiveness. As a | | | | detrimental comments afterwards, how do you think |
| hockey parent, you want your kids to have fun, but | | | | that will make him/her feel? Receiving healthy, positive |
| some parents drive their kids to win or to be the best | | | | and constructive feedback on performance is |
| which greatly diminishes the fun factor. We know that | | | | important for you and your children. In order for your |
| the game is played for fun, and we know that | | | | children to grow, positive reinforcement is needed in all |
| competitively we want to win, but there has to be a | | | | aspects. |
| balance so that children can grow competitively and | | | | 4. Winning isn't everything |
| still enjoy the game. This article describes ways | | | | Sure, it's the finals of the big hockey tournament and |
| parents can achieve this. | | | | your child coughed up the puck to the other team who |
| 1. Always be there | | | | went and scored the game winner. We've all been a |
| Starting at a young age, a child is influenced by many | | | | part of a situation like that and it does not feel good no |
| factors, but the thing that influences them the most is | | | | matter what age you are. Remember, the most |
| the opinion of the parents. If you are not there every | | | | important thing for your child is to have fun. Winning is |
| time to watch, cheer, and offer advice to your little | | | | not everything and you need to ensure that your child |
| hockey player, then someone else might steer him/her | | | | knows this and can accept the loss and look forward |
| in the wrong direction. Do your best to be there for | | | | to the next time he/she gets a chance to win. Don't let |
| your children and protect them from the negative | | | | a situation like this define how your children feel about |
| influences around them that take away from the fun. | | | | playing their favourite game. Be positive and |
| 2. Its just a game | | | | encouraging. |
| Children are there to play. The keyword here is "play". | | | | Hockey is a game your children should have fun with. |
| In order to grow a healthy competitiveness, children | | | | They should enjoy being active and spending time with |
| need to understand that no matter what happens in a | | | | their friends. Remember that the fun your children |
| game, it is just that. We're not always on our game, | | | | have will always be remembered and you should take |
| even as adults. Throwing negative criticism at your | | | | the opportunity to share this with them. Don't lose site |
| child based on performance in a game will all but | | | | on the happiness the game brings and be there every |
| eliminate any fun he/she feels when playing. This adds | | | | day to help cheer them on. It will help them grow a |
| pressure on a child to perform that should not be | | | | healthy competitiveness with age. It will also mean the |
| necessary. Remember, it's just a game. | | | | world to them. |
| 3. Always be positive | | | | |