Anyone took a toddler or preschooler ice skating?

[nappyaddict]

Have seen videos on you tube and thought about taking DS who is 4 but has probably got the physical ability of an 18-24 month old (can't hop or jump, runs very awkwardly still)

Did you use a helmet, elbow or knee pads?

Did you use single blade skates or those double blade ones that go over shoes?

Right. I have worked at a rink and can offer some practical advice. will be back after making a coffee.

But in order to answer you question i need to know if ds is at school yet? Because it will depend on how to approach the situation.

Right.

If ds is pre school age. I would recommend you contact your local rink about toddler seasons. The name is misleading as they are generally open to anyone too young to attend school. These often have toys and a trained supervisor. Most rinks do recommend helmets, elbow and knee pads but it varies greatly from rink to rink.

If ds is already at school I would ask the rink if they could recommend a quieter season to take him.

With regards to boots vs doubles I would recommend double blades as they are far easier for balancing. Also if you dont go to a toddler specific i would hire a pengiun which will help him to balance.

As a parent I have recenty taken my ds (nearly 6) to skate. I started him in doubles blades with a pengiun. It has taken him a couple of sessions to gain enough confidence and balance in the double to move onto the single bladed boots. he has gone back to needing a pengiun.

Beware that if ds has any sensory issues the building can echo badly. Bit like a swimming pool. This can be off putting in a noisey general session. Plus busy seasons can be terrifying for the first attempt. But it depends on the child. We stick to the quietest sessions atm because ds cant cope with all the people and noise of a busy general session.

If you are concerned talk to the rink because ime you can get some really good advice. Although you might need to speak to a manager. I would make sure you explain the development vs age issue to assist them to give you the best aadvice. I think some rinks do special seasons for kids with additional requirements. Our has made special arrangements to help ds with his sound adversion.

Good luck. i hope this helps.

Hmmmm stupid error at beginning. most rinks DON'T recommend helmets and knee pads But ask your rink.

He is in reception at school so can't take him to the tots on ice sessions - we can only really go sundays and school holidays which obviously tend to be the busiest.

He does have sensory issues (he's autistic) and although hated busy swimming pools when he was about 2 is fine with them now.

What is a penguin? Do all rinks have them? And do the double bladed skates go over any sort of shoe or is there any types I should avoid?

Actually we go sunday mornings which are surprisingly quiet. And if you do go school holidays my advice is to go early. the first part of morning sessions is often much quieter then the afternoon and mid morning.

<a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=www.thehandbook.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/somerset-ice.jpg&imgrefurl=www.thehandbook.co.uk/blog/index.php/archive/ice-dance-at-somerset-house/&usg=__RiqMusj2f8L4Zv5AajNtX0vDLjE=&h=593&w=450&sz=73&hl=en&start=24&zoom=1&tbnid=yxpEAxCYUtzMXM:&tbnh=113&tbnw=93&prev=/images%3Fq%3Diceskating%2Bpengiuns%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1024%26bih%3D392%26tbs%3Disch:10%2C604&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=125&vpy=51&dur=568&hovh=245&hovw=186&tx=72&ty=246&ei=5iDKTPPkIsfKjAe25Kn0Dw&oei=3yDKTPbmNcacOq6EjYcB&esq=2&page=3&ndsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:24&biw=1024&bih=392" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this is one of the types of pengiun but they are all similar

Shoes need to be firmly attached to feet. trainers work well. They will get a bit wet so nothing that will get ruined by damp. Dont recommend wellies.

Still suggest that you speak to the rink as they were fab re ds' sound adversion. Really useful advice too. eg the training session he wants to do (very basic ice hockey skills) is actually quieter then the sunday session. We are taking him to customise to the sound issues and for him to see what they do and how the class is organised before he starts. etc.

Stewards at my local rink are really good at helping for a bit if you ask.

<a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=cache1.asset-cache.net/xc/82140774.jpg%3Fv%3D1%26c%3DIWSAsset%26k%3D2%26d%3D6C4008C0FD9EB5A519795696C88FEF4320858EE8FDE7148AD08F2E9F276C89BCE30A760B0D811297&imgrefurl=www.punchstock.com/asset_images/82140774&usg=__J3TwdchtU4lzFS6x52gbYXZp_V0=&h=335&w=510&sz=41&hl=en&start=164&zoom=0&tbnid=Xae4GUU9hFklyM:&tbnh=86&tbnw=131&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dice%2Bskating%2Bpenguins%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26biw%3D1024%26bih%3D392%26tbs%3Disch:10%2C3991&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=684&vpy=223&dur=103&hovh=86&hovw=131&tx=83&ty=104&ei=iCLKTIiXGYyOjAf_ncDJDw&oei=MyLKTIr8OMqBOt-vvYMB&esq=15&page=15&ndsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:10,s:164&biw=1024&bih=392" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">better picture of a pengiun

Thinking about it there is a couple of severely development delayed adults who skate sometimes when I am training. Some of them do wear helmets. I think re helmet etc it would be advisable to speak to the rink and see what they suggested based on the off ice (normal) coordination and balance ability of your son.

Even a coach would be very helpful in this situation. But be aware there is the odd coach who focuses on their students only and cba with anything else.

Punter here, not expert. I took my preschooler for the first time knowing nothing. I was saved by a lovely elderly Austrian lady who took the other hand of my DC so we whizzed round as a 3 for ages. No overbalancing, getting wet and bruised, just zipping round learning how to use your feet. very quickly, DC was solo. Can you get another hand to give 30mins undivided going round and round? We got so lucky that day.

Cat - a lot of rinks here will not let you skate around as a 3 due to safety reasons. Also a child with bad balance can end up swinging forward/backward out of balance. I have seen heads being bumped as a direct result of this.

OP - it might be what the stewards suggest but would recommend if you try in a three that the other person is an accomplished skater.

Yes, the lady must have been skating for 99% of her life! We weren't stopped as the rink was pretty empty and we were v slow in realty. Honestly it was a big lucky break, and if OP has a decent skater up her sleeve as a helper plus a quiet rink, I think it would help a lot.

Agreed. But the problem is going to be the sessions op is able to attend. Stewards will often help like this though.

I guess it depends where the op is in the world. but suspect we'll get no answer as it is nearly 4am in the uk and op is probably asleep My big yipee today - new blades for my skates

So you're a closet Canadian?

nah a lost 2nd gen scandinavian used to skate 20hrs per week between training and working. these days its far less :(

would happily skate everyday if I could.

I've never heard of toddler sessions-do they do them in the uk? Any midlands rinks offer them? Id love to take my ds (2.5) his dad used to play ice hockey and he's always asking to go!

Solihull do a parent and toddler course. the infor is limited and hidden right at the bottom of this page beware the website likes to play music at you.

this page will give you a list of the rinks in the midlands

In fact that page will let you find a rink anywhere in the uk.

Cannock does one.

this search has a lot of options for parent and toddler courses

Thanks for that. Going to try to persuade dp to take him-they should both love it! Solihull is only about 30mins from us

Sorry only just got back to this. We went to the 10:30 to 12:45session which was quite busy but not rammed.

Went with my cousin and we did skate as a 3 although neither of us are very good skaters. (I've only been 3 times before) I tried doing it with DS in front on me and me behind but it killed my back, I wasn't steady, we went flying with me landing on top of him. Him skating behind me holding on to my jeans also worked for a bit but he kept almost pulling them down!!

If we go again what is the best way to hold on to him if not as a 3?

They didn't have double bladed skates to fit over shoes - just the normal single bladed skates, nor did I see any penguins. I saw on the Guilford site they are 2 quid for just 15 minutes hire though. Would be expensive for a 2 and a quarter hour session which is how long we were there for.

They are 2.50 for 30 mins at Cannock so not as bad but still a tenner for the session.

Roo We go to Telford or Cannock usually but there is one in Solihull too.

Isn't it a bit cruel to use penguins to help children learn to skate. I'd much prefer to see them in the wild than at my local ice rink. [hgrin]

Took my 2 and a half year old DD every week for a while. She tried toddler class but was too shy. Her childminder has also taken several of this age group.

The rink we went to the coaches do private lessons at around £6 half an hour, cheaper than Penguin hire, sounds like.

Sounds like your DS got on quite well if he managed holding onto your jeans, so you are off to a good start. For comparison, most under 3s can't make sense of the ice at all and spend their first session hanging by their hands, incapable of supporting their weight on their legs.

I mostly held DD's hands and skated backwards so I didn't fall on her. This is like being a human penguin! This is absolutely the best way to provide support for a beginner, so long as you are confident skating backwards.

The first thing I taught DD was how to get up again if you fall down. And to hunker down, knees bent, hands touching the ice, and move along like that.

We used thick gloves, and double layers of clothing. No helmet and I made damned sure that she didn't ever fall onto her head.

Take lots of breaks, just do 15 mins at a time, when you are tired, that's when you fall. And eat well - take plenty of high energy snacks.

HTH