This is somewhat related to the baby question, however thought it deserved its own thread.
How old do you think a kid should be before you would take him to a night game and assume he would enjoy it?
Back story, it happens that the Leafs are playing the Pens on the Sat night. I have a buddy on the Pens, so was planning on going to the game with my wife and enduring the horrible Leaf fans. But now my wife's nephew is coming for his first visit to TO (from the country), and I was thinking of bringing him along.
- He is in grade 1. Watches hockey when he is with his Dad, but not normally.
- My mother-in-law (who is bringing said kid) thinks he would be too young to enjoy the game.
- He's a great kid when hes good, but not great when in a foul mood.
- I figure worst case, if he goes off the wall, my wife can take him out of there. But that is not an ideal solution for either of us.
So I don't need to take him. But thought it could be an AWESOME time for him.
Thoughts?
I loved hockey in grade one. My old babysitters son used to explain what all the hockey phrases meant like "one timer" etc. If it wasn't for him and Fleury I don't think I would be watching hockey at all because I was really into soccer only. I think its a great age to build some memories that will last a lifetime.
My earliest Flames memory is from around that time, my dad took me to a BOA game at the 'Dome. I remember him pointing out: there's Lanny, there's Gretzky, there's Vernon, there's Messier, etc
I'd give my left and/or right nut to attend that game again. But the point being that the memory has stuck in my craw. Just watch out that the kid doesn't turn into a Leafs fan.
I think it all depends on the parents. For me, I didn't get into hockey till I was about grade 5 and 6, my dad wasn't much of a hockey fan even through he loves to watch it, he's more of a Football( soccer) kind of guy.
I was only 5 when the Flames won the cup in 88-89.
I was probably about 5 or 6 when my dad took me to my first Flames game. I wasn't really into hockey when I was younger but I remember having a blast and that was one of the best moments I had with my dad.
My son must be more of a rarity than I realized. He's six, in grade one and loves nothing more than going to Flames games (I share season tix with several buddies and have a 1/2 seat). He loves cheering, including starting his own Go Flames Go chants and joining in with the "Iggy, Iggy, Iggy" and "Kipper, Kipper, Kipper" chants in 218. He even loves the "Red" and "C" in the US anthem.
I've been taking him regularly since he was about 4 and he literally hasn't complained once about being at a game. He's probably been to at least a dozen games in his life. Was at the recent Phx late comeback with me and absolutely loved it, jumping into my arms when we tied and won it late. He watches every game (that he knows is on) even when I'm not home and will often even watch full games from my top 10 flames playoff game DVD collection by himself without prompting. He especially likes the 2006 San Jose comeback game from 3-0 for some reason.
He has a 3 year old brother who's been to a few games too and while not into it nearly as much yet, he generally enjoys the games too. He also started playing hockey this year and while not the greatest skater yet, loves nothing more than going to the rink.
Anyways, I would have thought that 6 was a no brainer to bring your kid, but maybe that's not the norm. But then we took our daughter when she was 4 weeks old too...
My big question is what age is too young to take your kid to a Flames/Canucks game. I've got two tix to this Sunday's 6pm game (which works better than 7pm for him) but don't know if I trust the generally jackass Canuck fans not to be jerks (or me to deal with their antics properly to be honest).
Depends on the kid. I was taking my niece to games when she was 4, and she immediately took to it and had a great understanding of it. She'll be 16 in April and still comes with me now and again. I took my nephew when he was 4 and he did okay, but even now at 11 doesn't have a great understanding but likes hanging out with his uncle. My son is 5 and my daughter is 3 and they have been to 3 games this year. Their excitement is there and they learn more each game. They enjoy the time with just daddy probably more than the game at this point, but they understand that when we go to games, we pay attention and stay until the end. (My wife runs a home daycare so that's why they like the time with just daddy, they're with mommy all the time. My wife likes the break as well)
As soon as a child is able to sit up straight on a couch, hockey shall immediately be applied to the television for them to watch. The younger, the better.
Even if they don't truely understand the game, when they see you cheering when your team scores is enough to get them involved.
My daughter is 7 and loves it..the whole game, 6 loved it for 55 mins, 5 40 mins...the issue is bedtime IMO. The Phoenix game on Sunday was the earliest one this season and she made it through that but a 7:30 game...well, you have to deal with the consequences lol.
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My nephews favorite word is hockey. He loves it. He loves watching it on TV, he loves going to Smokies games with his rattler thing and tiny Smokies hoodie-jersey my sister made for him. He is two years old, just turned.
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I was 5 when I remember really enjoying hockey, running around the living room hoisting a pillow over my head imitating the Flames players as they skated around the rink with the Cup. Was a glorious year.
The last Flames game I was at there was a Mom with her three kids in front of me, I think the two littlest couldn't have been over 7 or 8 years old. The boy seemed to be really, really into it. The girl on the other hand was easily distracted. At one point they were rushing towards the net and just about scored, missing the net and hitting the back boards, then the boy yelled "OH WE HIT THE BOARDS!" And his sister goes "WE SCORED?!?!" And jumps up to cheer, fists raised above her head in triumph. Then her brother goes "NO, IT HIT THE BOARDS!!" Then she goes ''OH NO!" and slumps back into her chair.
It was one of the cutest and funniest things I have ever seen. Whether she was fully paying attention or not she seemed to be really enjoying her self. I think even just theatmosphere alone is a fun experience for the little ones. I went to a lot of Blades games as a kid, as young as I can remember, and it was always a fun time.
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My guess is that most kids are only good for a period here and there and the past years of Flames games has decreased that even more to some degree. Not entirely different from years ago when we would break out the mini sticks or street hockey while the "real game" was being played. Some of the most epic street hockey games would happen each spring and each crescent would have its own Stanley Cup playoffs that would coincide with the NHL games. If Calgary was in we would typically drop back to only playing during the intermissions but for the most part we couldn't sit still long enough to watch the entire games. With 10X the commercials today kids are better off PVRing the games and playing outside. Kids know the score....who wants to watch when you can play.
I think to sit in section 105 you should meet a few requirements
1)Have held season tickets in the second level for at least three years prior, preferably the nosebleeds, that might be a bit much to ask
2) Be a genuine hockey fan, not even a Flames fan, just know what is happening on the ice, and understand how lucky you are too be sitting this close to the action
3) please be above 25 years old, have played hockey at some sort of competitive level or at least gambled on it to the point of nearly going bankrupt
4)Be able to say you have drank at least two beer a period for a number of years while attending games in the second level in your younger days
5) ACT LIKE YOU FRIGGIN CARE!!!!!!!!!! Don’t just be happy to be there for a night out....If you’re going to the dome, you’re sitting in the c of red, and you’re sitting in amazing seats be involved.
It makes me absolutely sick to my stomach to sit with the people in my section, so many of them don’t have the first clue about hockey, have never played, could care less about the outcome and worst of all, bring their frigging kids to game, let them run up and down the aisles, don’t drink beer and take WAY TO MANY PICTURES.
I took my oldest to his first Flames game when he was 6 years old. It was last year against Edmonton on a Saturday night. It almost backfired.
From an early age he hated loud and/or sudden noises. We would take him to Lethbridge Hurricane's games, and while he loved to be there, he hated it when they scored because of the eruption of noise from the fans. It just scared him.
He was in awe of being at the Saddledome, but the buzz in the building started to get to him. A Battle of Alberta had more energy in the stands than other games. Halfway through the 1st period he wanted to go home... crap! He made it through the 1st period, I bought him some treats for the 2nd period, and that was enough to distract him. He was fine for the rest of the game. He had to be because there was no way we were paying that much to drive from Lethbridge to go to a Flames game and leave during or after the 1st because he was scared of the noise.
I took him to two more games last year and there wasn't a single concern about the noise. We were on hand to see Iginla get his 500th goal. It was a quiet game up until his goal and the noise didn't bother my son. We went to another game this year and all was well.
So once you get the 1st game out of the way and your kid knows what to expect, it is all smooth sailing. If your kid doesn't like the 1st game, don't give up so soon. Try another game.
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My son turns six tomorrow and this season is the first time he has shown real interest. Playing his first season of minor hockey has made a big difference in that regard I believe. I have taken him to two games so far this season. The sunday game against PHX he was really into it. Late in the third he was cheering "Go! Flames! Go!" all by himself and kept telling me "I'm not bored at all Dad!". It is probably a good idea to bring some snacks and a juice box or two to help keep them occupied. The Dome for instance doesn't have to many kid friendly drinks. Ice cream usually keeps them happy for a half a period or so.
How old for a kid to enjoy hockey game?
