My daughter was inviter to a skating party on saterday. She is very excited to go. The problem isshe dosn'tknow how to skate. Has tried in the past and falls. There are going to be like 30 kids there and a few adults. I don't know if I should maybe go with her and stay to help her to skate should i give her a crash corse in the garage? I am an overprotective mom who worries a lot. What if she falls and hits her head, what is she gets ran over on the floorby another, I know there are going to be adults there but they won't be able to watch her all the time. What if, what if, what if...what should i do?
My daughter had a skate party for her 6th bday and about 90% of the parents stayed. It wasn't a problem at all! Lots of them even rented skates and got on the floor with their kids and had a blast! I'd say well over half of the 28 kids didnt' know how to skate at all, but had a blast!!! Just go with her and you two will have a blast going out on the floor, hand in hand, falling all over eachother! =0)
I would go with her. At least until you and her were comfortable enough to leave her there. You'll probably have a ton of fun yourself and want to stay the whole time! Memories! :)
The same thing happen to my daughter when she was in kindergarten. I was able to get her 5 private lessons prior to the party and she learned to skate. Also, I would stay at the rink and at least watch your daughter skate if not skate with her. The party is probably during public skate and you just don't know who will be there.
I would go, here the parties are during regular skate hours and other kids will be flying by her.
You need to stay - 7 is way too young to leave alone at a public skating rink. She can wear a bike helmet. My kids wore them when taking ice skating lessons. My daughter went to a skating party when she was six and all the parents stayed and helped the kids skate. Your daugher probably would not know her skate size or be able to lace the skates up tight enough so there so no way you can leave her there alone.
I'd do both. Put her in a pair of jeans (so falling won't hurt as much) and take her out in the garage in the afternoons before the party and let her get comfortable. Then stay with her at the party and skate with her until she feels more confident. She will fall and it will hurt...but at least you'd be there to dry the tears. I'm sure there will be more parents that stay than you think. My daughter had an ice skating party for her 6th birthday and most parents stayed...some skated too. Have fun :)
Don't know if this will help ease your worries, but if it's a half decent skate rink, the manager/owner person or someone working there should be able to tighten the wheels on the skates so that she doesn't go flying around the rink at top speeds! I have done skating parties for my oldest now 3 yrs in a row (she is going to be 9 soon) and although most of the kids don't skate well, they get the hang of it by the end of the session as long as the wheels are tightened enough to move but not roll quickly. And definately go and stay if you are more comfy that way. I have many parents that stay and watch/help with their kids. It's easier on the parents throwing the party!
You might want to check if the skating rink has adjustable roller skates. My 4 yr old has gone roller skating at a local rink... they just tighten up the wheels of the skates so that they aren't so free wheeling. They can be kept this way until the kids get used to balancing on the wheels. Otherwise I would probably tend to be the mom that stays and goes skating with the kids :) Good luck!
I went with my son when he was 6 and he didn't know how to skate. I just told him how much fun it was going to be. The parents got skates for me and I skated a little with him. We ran into each other and both fell down and laughed for hours! Take a bike helmet for her to wear. Most of all, try to relax. You don't want your daughter to pick up on your stress.
My oldest son had a skating party for his 7th birthday and every parent stayed. I didn' ask them to, it was just obvious that everyone was responsible for helping their own child to skate. The rink we went to had a few pairs of beginer skates that were much easier to use (wouldn't let the wheels roll backwards). I would also consider taking a helmet for her. We didn't think of it, but several kids did bring their own and it saved on the tears from bumping their head when they fell.
I'm sure she'll have fun - and your back will be killing you:) (use ice on your back after the party - it wll really help!)
Let her go. Can you imagine how many others can't skate either? It'll be fine. Most will end up just running around anyway. That's what happened to my oldest son and he was 10 or 11. If you want to help her out in the garage that couldn't hurt. Teach her the best way to fall and get up. Remind her to watch her hands down on the floor, without scaring her, lol. Have her wear pants that are appropriate, nothing thin or fancy or light colored to show the dirt. Jeans and a cute top. Laugh off any falls as fun and remind her that most her age can't skate and it's all in fun.
K. B
mom to 5 including triplets
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Most skating rinks will tighten the wheels on the skates if she tells them she has never skated before to keep her from having an accident. Just remind her when she steps onto the rink floor it will be slippery unlike the carpet she will start off on so take it slow. If she has a friend there I am sure they would love to help her. It is scarey and accidents do happen but let her go in no time she will be a pro even showing up mom.. I too am an over protective mom it never gets any easier trust me.. Just think of the positive...
I think you can go with her, and stay until you feel confident that she is doing okay. Sometimes, with skating, it just takes a little warming up and then you do fine. Ask the host of the party if it's okay if you stay, because your daughter is not an experienced skater... or you can ask another parent who is chaperoning to watch her, too.
