| Ice Skating Lessons |
By: Vered de Leeuw, Parenting Products Columnist
On 12/24/05
Last winter, at the ripe age of 33, I took my first ice skating lesson. I will never forget the first time I stepped on the ice: thin steel blades trying to balance on slippery ice. Around me, people took spins and turns and some even jumped.
| "Just like ski boots, it is advantageous for a person to own his/her own well-fitting pair of ice skates." |
I felt like an elephant in a china store – ungraceful, clumsy and awkward. And then I tripped and fell down.
I’ve come a long way since that first lesson. I feel much more confident on the ice now, and I can actually glide forward with some grace. It took me ten private lessons to get to this point, but I decided to stop taking lessons and focus on practicing the skills I had acquired.
Today I took my daughters to their first private ice-skating lesson. I promised myself that I would make sure they learn to skate at a young age. They did great, moving fast from holding onto the rail to hesitantly walking on the ice to finally doing some basic gliding motions. They fell, of course, but the instructor taught them how to fall safely and how to get up with ease.
So… what are the steps to providing your child with a fun, successful ice-skating experience?
Find a local Ice Rink
Search your local yellow pages, ask around, or try a Google search with your city’s name and “ice-skating.” There are many websites that list ice rinks for specific locations, such as Norcalyouthhockey.com for Northern California, Arenamaps.com for New York and Findthefun.com for Texas.
Find a teacher
Many parents are able to teach their children how to ice skate. If you prefer professional instruction, you have two choices: you can either do a private lesson or a group lesson. Group lessons are less expensive (around $150 for a 13-week session at my local ice rink in Northern California), and usually include admission and skate rentals, but your child won’t get that one-on-one attention. Private lessons are expensive (around $40 for a 30-minute lesson at my local ice rink) and in most rinks you will have to pay separately for admission to the skating rink (around $7 at my local rink) and for skate rentals (around $4).
Skates: Rent or buy?
Just like ski boots, it is advantageous for a person to own his/her own well-fitting pair of ice skates. However, since kids’ feet grow so fast, many parents feel that rental skates for kids makes more sense then buying a new pair of ice skates each year (Cost is approximately $20 for the most basic models at Skatebuys.com). As long as your child skates just for fun, rental skates are adequate. Other than skates, your child will need a warm jacket, waterproof gloves and possibly a warm hat.
At what age can my child start skating?
Most ice arenas offer group lessons starting at age 4 and parent-and-me type lessons for even younger ages. Private lessons can be taken at any age, although, before the age of 3, most children probably lack the balance, stamina and ability to follow directions that are required for successful ice-skating.
Safety
The National Safety Council offers these tips to help you and your family enjoy safe skating:
- Wear skates that fit comfortably and provide enough ankle support to keep you on your feet.
- If you own a pair of skates, have the blades professionally sharpened at the beginning of each season.
- Skate only on specially prepared skating areas where you are sure the ice is strong enough to withstand your weight.
- Learn basic skating skills, such as how to stop and fall safely.
- Wear warm clothing and rest when you become tired or cold.
Ice skating is not just a fun winter activity. It is also a great exercise. Much like skiing, it is something the entire family can do together and it can help you and your child overcome the winter blues and experience winter as a wonderful season, filled with warm family memories.
To learn more about ice-skating, visit the web sites of The International Skating Institute and the United States Figure Skating Association.
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