Pros and cons of Heeleys

[EsmeCordelia]

Ds (7) has asked for Heeleys for Christmas. I had never seen them beforeven. Are they like roller skates? Are they dangerous? Apologies for sounding like ive been living in a cave!

[RebootYourEngine]

I have seen kids in the supermarket with them. They seem like a nightmare to wear. They look so uncomfortable. They are trainers with wheels built in to the sole so not quite like roller skates.

[nurseinwonderland]

We've got DS2 (7) some for Christmas. Not heelys brand; got the ones from sports direct which are cheaper

[Gobbolinothewitchscat]

Yes - my toddlers have been crashed into twice by older children wearing them in the supermarket. One time resulting in a nasty bumped head.

If you must get them, please explain to your DC that they are not shoes. They can ride a bike around the supermarket so same rules apply to these stupid shoes

[Gobbolinothewitchscat]

cant ride

[JennyOnAPlate]

My 2 daughters are after them too (age 6 and 8) I'm reluctant because I think they'll be a 10 minute wonder on xmas day and then never see the light of day again!

Apparently sports direct do a cheaper version for £25 so I might investigate those. I think roller skates would probably be a better investment though!

[Shurelyshomemistake]

They are a major cause of accidents apparently. Saying that DD 8 has some and loves them.

[smEGGtoplasm]

A bit like skates but not (not helpful!)

The wheels are at the back of the shoe and they must learn to balance on the wheels and 'push off' to go. Mine had them mastered really quickly and they never get bored of using them. Youngest to have them here is just 6.

They fall over. A lot at the beginning. There are videos on YouTube that aim to teach them. When ours started they used the kitchen to go up and down before going outside.

Knee and elbow pads and a helmet are recommended.

[Wolfiefan]

They can't walk properly in them.
You can't safely skate on them in shops etc.
I don't think they would work on anything other than a smooth surface.
If you are prepared to save them to be put on at the park or garden only then fine.

[MusterTheRohirim]

You're very lucky, I'm sure most of us have been almost crashed into in the street/supermarket/shopping centre! I think they're a bit of a menace but then I'm miserable

[MrsRhettButler]

They're great when the kids are rolling along in them but I've yet to see a child walking comfortably whilst wearing them.
Dd is only allowed to wear hers to play out now and she usually chooses her roller skates anyway.
Waste of money imo

[smEGGtoplasm]

Fwiw we don't let them wear them in the supermarket or around town. If they must have them on for a short time in a shop, the wheels come out.

[nurseinwonderland]

You can remove the wheels. I will educate him Gobolinothewitchscat
Although I doubt he'll get the full use of them, I'm an A&E nurse so see danger everywhere

[gininteacupsandleavesonthelawn]

I'm refusing to get DD them. I hate other kids wearing them in shops/public places- dangerous, rude, anti social.

[KC225]

DON'T DO IT WITHOUT HIM TRYING THEM FIRST. My 9 year old spent his birthday money on then and he has had them on three times. I have even offered to take him to a newly tarmaced area where he could practice. He refused and later admitted he didn't like the feel of it. My neighbour's daughter is the same.

[FATEdestiny]

My 10 and 11 year old has them 2 years ago. They're on their 3rd pair each now and LOVE then.

You need to consider your child's resilience. Because they are a difficult thing to learn to use.

You have to learn a different way to walk when wearing them (on the balls of your toes). Then learning to start yourself off, stopping and controlling them is much harder than it looks.

My eldest was like this. "Gaaaa this is HARD. I cant do it" . Then refused to try. It was only for the fact that her brother was more willing to learn that, several months on when hed cracked it and she saw how cool it was, that she tried again.

They are much harder to use than they look.

[MrsHathaway]

If you must get them, please explain to your DC that they are not shoes. They can't ride a bike around the supermarket so same rules apply to these shoes.

Absolutely this. There's a reason they're less popular than they originally were!

I think if you explain they can only be worn as rollerskates and not all the time they might seem less attractive. See what they think.

[Kirriemuir]

We got them for DS. Cost £40. They've been worn twice. He is another who doesn't like the feel of them.

[Inmyownlittlecorner]

My DDs friend has them & she is a menace! Her mum lets her wear them everywhere.
She nearly caused an accident on the tube when she slipped at the top of the escalator. She wore them going down the slide in the park & hurt a child when she crashed into them, in fact I've never been out with her while she's wearing them when she's not caused chaos!
I think if you treat wearing/using them the same way you'd treat using a scooter or roller blades/skates, then they're fine.

[Howmanysleepstilchristmas]

Dd got some for her 8th birthday and mastered them immediately- no collisions or falls, and she wears them everywhere, smooth surface or not (even grass!). Apparently they are the second best present EVER!

[Eva50]

Ds3 (10) has some. He has never really got the hang of them. Mind you he didn't ride a two wheeler until he was 7! Quite a few of his friends have them and are really good at using them. I think it depends on the child.

[Meadows76]

The only place the ground is smooth enough for them to work effectively seems to be supermarkets and shopping centres. Outside of those all I see is kids walking awkwardly on these ridiculous shoes with wheels poking out of the bottom. It's a NO from me

[SouthWestmom]

Crap Xmas present unless they already use them - they take ages to master, and it's freezing outside and painful to fall on frosty roads.

I'd wait til Summer tbh.

[Maryann1975]

I think we are going to get dd1 (11) a pair of heelys and get dd2 (6) a pair of cheaper sports direct ones. Older ones feet won't grow as much so I guess we will get more wear out of them.
We tried a pair of heelys on dd1 a the weekend, she is a size 4 school shoe, but the size 5s were too small, so watch out for the sizing. Dd2 is a 12.5 school shoe and would need a size 1 heely.

[TreehouseTales]

It's THE thing my nearly 8 year old wants. I've suggested roller-coaster instead bur no its heelys.... I've put off for a year as I really don't like them but think we're giving in as it's whatsoever really wants.

[1happyhippie]

My DD1 has them, she's 9yrs old. They took a lot of mastering, not as easy as skates.
Where we live they are now banned from supermarkets and larger stores. They only really work on a completely flat surface. They have sat in the cupboard for ages now since the novelty wore off.