Do You Make These Mistakes During The Ride Home?
The youngsters are a captive audience in the back seat on the way home, but they deserve to ride in peace without being unwilling victims of their parents’ “station wagon syndrome.”
The Ride Home
- Never reward what you perceive as success.
- Never punish what you perceive as failure.
- Don’t evaluate your child’s performance, he or she is playing to have fun, not to earn a grade! If your child had fun, the day was a success.
- Meet your child’s needs by remembering the questions you asked and the answers you got as to why your child is playing hockey.
Good Questions for the Ride Home
Parents need to understand that the period following practice and competition is a crucial time for a young athlete. It’s important your child be given the freedom to process the game on their own. - Dr. Caroline Silby from “Games Girls Play”, 2000
- Did you have fun today?
- What did you think you did well today?
- Did you learn any new moves?
If you are greeted with the sound of silence, give off the gentle sounds of approval and be sure your child knows you are there for him.
“If parents receive one-word answers or silence, they can be sure that their child feels trapped with no way out.” - Silby, 2000
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