Parents sometimes mistakenly assume their children automatically will have the same interests as themselves. Even if you loved hockey as a kid, your own child may lack the motivation to excel in such a skilled and all-encompassing sport. Still, hockey is excellent physical activity, and as long as your child enjoys playing hockey and is open to the idea of a team, you can do your best to help him stay motivated and even learn to love the game.
Step 1
Register your child for the right level of hockey. Most children's leagues have three levels that separate children according to their experience and ability. What seems like a lack of motivation could be boredom from being in a level that is too easy or from intimidation from being in a level that is too tough for her skills.
Step 2
Become an involved parent and become an advocate with the coach. Without being too aggressive, talk to your child's coach about the appropriate position for your child or how to help him practice at home. Then, volunteering to help out with the team by bringing snacks and driving carpool shows your child that you are invested in his interest in playing hockey. Knowing that you're coming to games may help him want to play harder.
Step 3
Offer encouragement and advice as needed, remembering that it's the coach's job to train your child, not yours. Avoid being negative about your child's performance on the ice. Instead, offer positive feedback on her skills. Even if she doesn't show much natural talent, you can still compliment her on her hard work and practice to help keep her morale and motivation levels high.
Step 4
Allow your child to have fun at hockey games by encouraging time with teammates on and off the ice. The moment that hockey becomes a duty, your child will lose interest. Even if he chooses to not continue with hockey, he'll understand the enjoyment of physical activity, which can help him create a lifetime of positive fitness habits.
Step 5
Set achievable goals for your child to meet during hockey games and practices and offer incentives. For instance, set the goal that your child will complete three passes during a game. If she completes fulfills the goal, take her out to dinner after the game or go to a movie. Setting goals can help her hone her skills while giving her something other than victory to work toward.
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