KATHRYN CATES MOORE / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Thursday, September 7, 2006 7:00 pm
When Caden Zimmer was 18 months old, he could sing loud and clear — although maybe slightly off-key — “There Is No Place Like Nebraska.” Even at that age, he knew all of the words to the Husker fight song, said his mom, Michelle Zimmer. Now, at 2½ years, Caden has added players’ names to his vocabulary and is a regular at Cornhusker games, along with his 7-year-old brother, Logan.
Since their dad, Keith, is an academic coordinator for athletes at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the family is slightly more tuned in to Husker sports than the casual fan. “We are naturally immersed in sports and Cornhuskers,” Michelle said.
The Zimmers may have more than the normal family’s exposure to sports, but high-chair Huskers aren’t that uncommon in the land of Big Red.
Just check out the assortment of Husker sweatshirts, baby bottles and stuffed toys aimed at the toddler set.
So how do parents, who might be Husker fanatics themselves, keep sports fever under control at home?
Balance, balance, balance.
Becoming attached to a specific sports team is “part of that identity thing,” said Peter Allman, Lincoln psychologist. “That’s healthy, if it’s kept in perspective.”
“It fosters a sense of belonging,” Allman said.
For children, belonging might include wearing a team’s jersey or hat and taking an interest when the team plays. It’s easy and accessible and there is an instant common bond.
Balance keeps it from becoming too lopsided. All sports all the time isn’t good for the kids or the family.
If an entire night is spent watching football on television, Allman suggests a family game night later in the week or some other family activity.
Michelle Zimmer, who teaches at the First- Plymouth Early Education program, agrees. Even though she grew up in Nebraska, she never went to a UNL football game when she was growing up.
Now her life revolves around sports. But as a pre-school teacher, she knows there is life outside the stadium.
She’s committed to exposing her children to all kinds of sports alternatives. Music and theater top the list. “We go to all of the kid-friendly performances at the Lied Center,” she said.
“We try to diversify the interests of our kids,” agreed Keith Zimmer.
That includes looking beyond what’s happening on the field, he said. “There are teachable moments there.”
He likes to talk about the positives when watching a game with his sons. Sportsmanship, teamwork and building character are all topics he works into a conversation about the Huskers, he said.
“You have to look beyond the game,” Keith said. “I am able to see what goes on off the field.”
Because of that, he is able to tell his children about the positive role models he sees, their academic achievements and the volunteer work many players — from all of the UNL teams — do out of the spotlight.
Not everyone is a Husker fan, even in Nebraska, and kids sometimes choose a different team to cheer for, putting themselves on the opposite side of a family favorite.
“It takes a lot of inner strength to get behind the ‘other’ team,” said Allman. “It is outside the comfort zone.”
Parents need to have fun with that opposition, Allman said, not take it personally.
“In a way, a child is saying, ‘I’m my own person,’” he said. Everyone needs to keep the rivalry in perspective, he added.
Watching sports on television, regardless of who you root for, can be a tricky family activity.
Keith Zimmer thinks television sports events are some of the worst kid offenders.
It’s not the games he’s worried about. It’s the commercials he finds inappropriate. “Sometimes, we just turn the TV off during those,” he said.
What’s a good way to explain a game like football to a small child? Without knowledge of the rules, a toddler might just see two groups in different-colored uniforms brawling over a small, oddly shaped ball.
“I guess it could be frightening,” said Michelle Zimmer. “You can’t be a passive parent.”
The Zimmers watch sports with their kids and try to explain what’s going on.
They have lots of picture books about all kinds of sports. Those are great tools for small children that can’t read, Michelle said.
And at the end of the day, parents need to explain to their children that just because their team may have lost, it isn’t the end of the world.
Sometimes, when you are 2½, just knowing the words to the fight song is enough.
Reach Kathryn Cates Moore at 473-7214 or kmoore@journalstar.com.
Even kids can show team spirit
Speak softly and carry a big football.
It’s Sesame Street meets the Huskers on the “Baby Cornhuskers” DVD, which is aimed at infants and young children.
The images are gentle — teddy bears and toddlers dressed in UNL garb — and so is the tone.
The voices count to 10 quietly, showing numbers on the backs of soccer, basketball and baseball jerseys. The finale: nine different balls in a row and one helmet, which a Big Red-clad lad picks up, puts on and then runs off screen.
Lil’ Red has a prominent role. So does Herbie Husker. And a plush UNL football puppet.
The DVD’s featured colors: red, white and black. Theme song: “There Is No Place Like Nebraska.”
This DVD is aimed at little Husker fans, but the company — Team Baby Entertainment — has similar products aimed at different teams.
Each one sells for about $20. A list of teams available can be found at www.teambabyentertainment.com.
— Kathryn Cates Moore