Hi moms! I'm hoping you could give some insight on a 'discussion' my husband are currently having:
Background: My stepfather is very excited about making an ice rink for our son to go skating on this winter - he's planning it right now before things freeze over. (very cute: he's getting a hose ready by the lake so the rink can be smooth etc. etc.)
I grew up on a lake and started skating at 5 (thats the age I was when my family moved to the lake and I had the opportunity). My husband doesn't hold the same love for water as I do (frozen or not).
The dilemma: I am all for it - but I am always for new experiences for our son. My husband, the more cautious one of us, is worried our son is going to slip crack open his skull. I'm not planning to go crazy about it (meaning I am not going to strap some blades on him, push him on to the ice and tell him to have a go), I plan on skating with him and holding him up. However, I have to concede that an accident could happen.
My son will be 3 next week. He's adventurous, he's outgoing and he would rather do something physical than sit and watch TV or color. Another point my husband made; our boy isn't an expert runner, maybe skating is too much to ask. Not that he is necessarily uncoordinated, he just likes to run a lot and let's just say he's pretty acquainted with the laws of gravity.
My questions are: Is 3 too young to start ice skating? And if not, what are some tips?
Thanks moms! You're the best! Much to my husband's chagrin, we (well, probably I) will be skating with my son this winter!!! I think the helmet sold him and possibly lessons.
I think 3 is a perfect age to start. As with anything, SAFETY FIRST...use a bike helmet until he can maintain his balance. Also, teach him to slightly hunch forward, and put his hands on his knees when he loses balance or on the verge of falling.
My son started at almost 4, I signed him up for hockey tots and he did great. He's a bit of a safety monger and didn't skate that fast, which was fine with me!
My older daughter started ice skating lessons at 3 and loved it. At the rink they made all the kids wear a bicycle helmet. Probably a good idea. My younger daughter tried it at that age and hated it. Her ankles didn't seem to want to hold her up. As she got older she tried again and liked it a bit more. But not much. I think you should let him try it. Just have him wear a helmet.
My son has been on the ice since he was 18 months old. Make sure he always wears a helmet, gloves, and if possible elbow pads and knee pads. You could always bring a chair on the ice and have him hold on to it for balance as he pushes it across the ice. Teach him that if he falls, to push himself back up with his fists and not with his hands flat on the ice with his fingers exposed. Have him "walk or march" on the ice instead of using glides or strokes. Teach him to always keep his knees slightly bent. If possible, have him walk around (off ice) wearing skates (with guards) so that he can get used to them. And if he falls on the ice, DO NOT make a big deal about it. You don't want to scare him. More than likely, he will get frustrated with it. Just encourage him and make it clear that he's doing a great job. Do not show fear! Fear of skating is learned...that's why it's so much easier for children to learn how to skate as opposed to adults. My son (now 8yrs old) can skate circles around me with his eyes closed. I'm so clumsy...I'd be the one falling all the time.
my daughter started ice skating lessons when she was 3 years old. I don't think 3 is too young, but I would be nervous about doing it over a lake. We went to an indoor rink.
I would think a bicycle helmet and some elbow/knee/hand pads would be plenty. I bought a pair of roller blades for my granddaughter at 3 or 4 and they cam with the whole set of stuff. The hand pads were like finger-less gloves and very thick on the palms. I remember the first time I went Ice Skating, I fell face forward onto the ice and my skin was so messed up on the palms of my hands.
I think you have a lot more experience in this area than hubby so I would defer to you. I would think that would be an awesome way to spend some warmer winter days, you know, the ones above 15 below....tell him to have fun for us!
I live in Minnesota, no age is too young for ice skating! That's why they make double-runner skates...and helmets if that will make your husband feel better. He may or may not like skating at this age, but you won't know until you try. My daughter didn't really take to skating until abuut 5 or 6, but many kids I know started much earlier.
Is there a place to take your son to rent skates and try it out? Before your stepfather goes to all the trouble?
And you can try having him push a chair around on the ice to help him learn.
My dad made ice rinks in our backyard every winter and it was so fun!
Put a helmet on him! He's not too young. He may find a balance and stability on ice skates that he doesn't even have on land yet.
A friend of mine grew up figure skating and now teaches figure skating and coaches competitive teams, and they will take kids as young as 3 for lessons. They do spend a lot of time picking them up off the ice but they do start to get the hang of it. They are usually more likely to fall down and land on their bottoms than their head, but you can always put a helmet on him if it makes your husband feel better.
We took our daughter roller skating for the first time last year at 3...they had things on wheels that they could hold onto to help give them some stability...maybe you could get something like that, or just walk in front of him, going backwards while he holds onto your hands.
My daughter started at 5 and I see kids who can barely stand up on the ice. They first get used to standing and walking on the ice.
What I see the coaches do is give them something to hold on to, then bring out the toys. They toss them on the ice and ask if they want the toys. They then tell them they can pick them up and the kids will usually do so with one hand while they hold on. Then as they take more interest in the toys and let go of their bars, they move the bars away from them until they are just standing there with the toy in their hand. Eventually they blow purple bubbles and ask the kids to pop the bubbles with their skate. Then the lessons begin.
put a helmet on him and give him a large bucket and go for it!
he may love it, he may hate it.....
We took my son outdoor ice skating last winter (once while still 2 years old, once while 3 years old - he's a december birthday) and he loved it! Of course, he could not skate on his own but could sort of wobbly stand for a few moments. No double blades at the rink we went to.
My husband and I both needed to hold him one on each side or one of us had to skate behind him holding both hands up or his waist. It was quite a workout for us! I'm looking forward to when he can reach the side of the wall to help steady himself but I don't think that will be this year. However, he is already starting to talk about when the rink opens again. We'll be going soon!
I've heard of kids as young as 2 or 3 who begin skating. I've never seen kids ice skating with a helmet, but it certainly makes sense, as we teach our children to wear helmets will all other sports.
Can you take him to lessons? I highly recommend this - they teach them how to skate correctly, how to fall down, proper skating etiquette, etc. then it might be safer for your child to skate on the lake.
Dawn
I was always told "if they can walk, they can skate (or ski, for that matter)". My girls first got on the ice at 3. The smaller they are, the shorter distance they have to fall (which they will at first). Make sure he's got his helmet and gloves, then go ahead and get him skating!
3 is not too young. Help your hubby feel better by having your son wear a helmet (he should anyway) and using something like a milk crate or similar to help him on the ice at first. He'll fall, then he'll get up... kids are much better at new things like this than us adults :-)
I think 3 is fine for ice skating. If your husband is worried about an accident and cracking his skull open - get a bike helmet - that should sooth some of his fears...
How cool that your SF wants to do this!! that would just be AWESOME!!!
What's your husband's fear of the water? Is he passing that on to your son as well? I hope not!!
Have fun!!
DH took our DD last year. She was 5. She had a very hard time w/ it.
Does not want to go back. Lol.
I am going to have to steal that...familiar w/ the laws of gravity. ;)
That is definitely my son too.
With supervision and assistance, I think it could be fun. Why not assuage your husband's fears by using a bike helmet to protect the noggin?
Make sure he has on a helmet. He will be bundled up in a winter jacket, snow pants and mittens. Those will be cushioning for when he falls. I've seen young kids gliding across the ice holding onto a chair or something that they can hang on to to keep them steady.
I used to skate competitively (once I got too tall for gymnastics!) and one of my brothers did hockey. Like you I started "late". Many of my friends started at age 1. Once they had the bone strength to stand, their parents put skates on them and brought them out.
For wee ones, you just hold on. Your son is WELL old enough to be skating on his own (and will be inside of a week). Just get him a little hockey helmet. He'll be fine.
Definitely not too young! My youngest son first got on skates at age 2. Put a helmet on him and use milk crates at first but other than that, 3 is the perfect age to start. There are 4 year olds who play hockey in full equipment - a 3-year-old can definitely handle just skates and a helmet. Have fun!
