And a child shall lead them…

Posted by YzermanZetterberg on 02/06/09 at 03:16 PM ET

Powerful...that magic helmet could be a hockey helmet, football helmet, baseball batting helmet, or, hell, even a set of shin pads on a soccer player. 

EVERY parent should see this and think deeply about the games their kids play.

Posted by GZ Expat on 02/06/09 at 06:39 PM ET

Much applause.

Unfortunately, it isn’t just sports - it’s everything with some parents.  Their self-worth is tied into being such a good parent that their kids are absolutely perfect and incredibly accomplished, otherwise their parenting time is wasted and they are shirking in their parental duties.  “I paid good money for those music lessons.” “You’re going to science camp, and you are going to like it.” “I expect you to have better grades than that.  Do you know how that makes me look when you don’t study as hard as the other kids?”

It makes me want to smack the whole lot of them right across the face for thinking of their own children as some kind of high-maintenance fashion accessory instead of a little kid trying to learn how to be a good person.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 02/06/09 at 07:45 PM ET

gees....How smart is this lad?

When anyone buys a “magic helmet” they should be given a free roll of gaffa tape for the parents mouths.

Top respect to him...Mature head on young shoulders.

Posted by steve-uk from Paisley, Scotland UK on 02/07/09 at 12:51 PM ET

I’m glad you guys all enjoyed the video as much as I did.  The kid nailed it.

I remember the same thing as a kid… I mean, watching those games at the rink. Catching minor league hockey games is what we did for weekend entertainment, and it wasn’t even just parents, but older kids and various other ‘fans’ acting like they were watching an NHL game, instead of children.

And some of their crap, I wouldn’t even consider yelling at adult players, much less children.

Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 02/07/09 at 01:46 PM ET

It reminds me of a kids soccer league, somewhere in the southern US (maybe Florida? but it doesn’t matter) that had a policy of “Silent Saturdays.” By vote of the kids themselves, on Saturdays their parents and family members were permitted to watch, but they couldn’t yell anything.  Not even cheers.  Nothing was permitted above a normal conversational level, because they got sick and tired of being yelled at when they were trying to play a game that was supposed to be fun.  The entire league voted for it by a wide majority, so the parents had to stay quiet or they were asked to leave if they couldn’t keep their mouths shut. 

It’s nice to see such smart kids, but sad to see adults regress to such a pathetic level of immaturity that their own children have to rein them in.

I read about this a couple years ago, so I don’t know if the policy is still in effect or if the parents came to their senses and realized it was more fun to watch their children play a game if they behaved themselves and could cheer for them.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 02/07/09 at 09:36 PM ET

[stands up and applauds loudly]

Bravo, Miller!

Thanks for a terrific posting, Alanah.  I think this should be required viewing for every sporting parent living vicariously through their own kid(s).

Posted by SYF from Las Vegas, NV on 02/10/09 at 07:40 PM ET