This thread is so spot on, and my wife and I have really enjoyed the knowledge this community posts (as a lurker the last couple of years). My son is 7 and we're going to USKG Worlds for the first time this year (and he's essentially qualified for next year due to scores and PS). He is so excited to experience what he's watched hundreds of times on The Short Game since we stumbled on it when he was 2.5 and was obsessed ever since.
Before each tournament, we ask him three questions:
1. Does it matter what we shoot? (no)
2. Are we going to have fun? (yes)
3. Is it okay if we have bad shots? (yes)
The crazy thing is - going this year, even though he's done extremely well in his local tour - his expectations are super reasonable. "I'd like to finish top 60, but if I don't that's okay." I really think it's a result of all the reading and tactics we've tried to take from learning from this board.
So thank you to all the older members who've been through the ringer, and really allowed some younger families to learn from your experience (and likely mistakes). The most important thing - the only thing that matters in all of this is the fun they get out of it.