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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Is 3 years old too young to go ice skating?

23 replies

GillL · 15/01/2008 11:31

Dd has been watching Dancing on Ice and says she wants to go ice skating. She'll be 3 at the end of March so I thought maybe I'd take her for her birthday. Is there an age/size minimum? She's small for her age and only has size 5 feet. Do they have ice skates this small?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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Dynamicnanny · 15/01/2008 11:32

I lived in Gerany when I was little and used to go ice skating and loved it - I was about 3 when I started and I still have the ice-skates and they are soo cute!

Why not call the icerink and see but I don't see it being a problem.

Spagblog · 15/01/2008 11:33

DS (3.5) went ice skating at local festive rink. They had those twin blade skates that go over normal shoes, and once he had gone round a few times he decided he wanted "big boy" skates.
They had skates in his size, but he is a size 9.
He loved it!

nailpolish · 15/01/2008 11:34

i took my dds when they were 3 but i think they were a size 7....cant 100% remember....
phone the rink to check for sizes

its great fun, they will have a ball

Rantmum · 15/01/2008 11:36

I took ds ice skating over Christmas (he turns 3 next week). He wore the twin bladed skates that attach onto normal winter boots and the place had little child size balancers for the kids (but a child's chair would work fine too - that is what I used as a child). I grew up in Canada where ice-skating was a normal activity even for toddlers - every local park had a rink in the winter. The skates that you get for lo's look like

this

HuwEdwards · 15/01/2008 11:38

Oh blimey - I took DD when she was 3 and I had a bad back to ages after - she's 5 now and it's soooo much easier.

lazarou · 15/01/2008 11:46

I can't even let go of the side myself when i go so there's no way i would take the children.
If I do go, I will get a pair of those kiddie skates that rantmum linked to.

Original poster

GillL · 15/01/2008 12:21

Thanks. I'll phone the ice rink. I have a feeling they won't do anything in her size but I'll keep my fingers crossed cos I think she'll love it.

OP posts:

Original poster

GillL · 15/01/2008 12:24

BTW - thanks for the link Rantmum.

OP posts:

pagwatch · 15/01/2008 12:27

my DD had lessons when she was 3 nearly 4. You should also ask them if they have an age limit as my local rink do as they feels a child too small will not have the ankle strength to cope, regardless of whether the boot will fit.

kindersurprise · 15/01/2008 12:28

Our DD went with her Kindergarten from the age of 3yo. She loved it and was able to go on normal skates right from the start.

The ice rink where my Mum lives has special toddler time. They put some push along toys on the rink to help them balance. Good idea, as the rink is empty, so no 14yo boys showing off and bumping into the wee ones.

duchesse · 15/01/2008 12:35

God no. In Canada they go on the ice as soon as they can toddle, with a little Zimmer frame type thing. Also skiing. Easily old enough.

RubyRioja · 15/01/2008 12:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

eandh · 15/01/2008 12:39

dd1 went ice skating weekend before xmas, dh took her whilst I watched with dd2, she held dh hand for 5 minutes then she was off on her own, she was even jumping up and down she is 3 and 4 months, dh promised that they will go again soon

pagwatch · 15/01/2008 12:39

Just to clarify. I think they should be able to. I was just warning that some rinks may not be on the same page.

(Didn't want to come off as some fun-depriving toddler hater !)

( although I sit in the adults only area at the coffeee shop so maybe I am )

hifi · 15/01/2008 13:01

my dd saw some ice scaters on cbeebees and was mesmerised, shes 3.5 so i think i will take her.

annoyingdevil · 15/01/2008 13:10

BIL is an ice skating coach and they won't start them until their feet are a size 7. My dd (2.9) is desperate to go, but she's only size 6

Original poster

GillL · 15/01/2008 16:03

The rate dd grows it'll be at least a year before her feet get to size 7 Maybe I'll have get roller skates instead.

There are 3 ice rinks fairly close to us so I'll give them all a ring to check.

Thanks for all of your input.

OP posts:

shatteredmumsrus · 15/01/2008 16:07

I tuk my 3yo son but spent the whole time holding him and by the end of it my back was killing. I still think you should go hough. Yours may pick it up they are all different. He is a size 8 and they had his size.

LIZS · 15/01/2008 16:07

soem rinks do strap on double blades which go over shoes. tbh they tend to tire so quickly that it makes for an expensive and effortful trip.

LowFat · 15/01/2008 16:15

What a coincidence, DH has just asked if he thinks DD is too young at 4 - thanks to Dancing on Ice as well I might say!

I will watch this thread with interest to see all the different opinions.

lilmissmummy · 18/01/2008 16:22

I have just come across this link and have read with interest- It is my birthday next month and myself my dp are going ice skating at lunch time with our friends. I wanted to take the children dd (3) and ds (6) but dp says they are too young.

dd wears a size 7 and I was looking at the bauer bob skates- has anyone used them? does anyone know if the spectrum centre in guildford provides them for rent?

Also I love ice skating but always find the hire skates really blunt and wonder if it is worth buying skates rather than renting them?

belgo · 18/01/2008 16:24

dh took dd1 ice skating two months ago, she was three years and 8 months. She is a very strong and agile little girl with good balance - (she could hop at the age of 14 months for example), and she loved it. Dh however, came home exhausted. DD1 woke up in the night crying from painful calf muscles.

Milliways · 18/01/2008 16:28

an example of toddler skating

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