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Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

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Original poster

Heelys for five year old good or bad idea ?

43 replies

LilyLoo · 04/03/2007 11:08

Just wondered if anyone's dc's got them. Are they easy enough for five year old or am i in danger of making numerous visits to a+e. Just that my DS really wants some after seeing older friends cousins with them. But been reading some negative reports.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

dueat44 · 07/03/2007 11:57

I'm fed up of parents turning their kids loose in these. I have been run into more than once in places where it simply isn't appropriate to roller skate (Waitrose) and that's not funny when you're v pregnant.

gobshite · 07/03/2007 11:57

They're banned in a lot of shopping centres and supermarkets in Ireland too. To be fair, I think it's more because of the perceived nuisance impact on other shoppers than any danger in the heelies themselves.

I think they look like such fun. I'd love a pair for myself

LieselVentouse · 07/03/2007 12:52

I was going to get them for my 5 yr old but they only start at a size 13.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

5 year olds Behaviour & development General parenting

wulfricsmummy · 07/03/2007 14:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster

LilyLoo · 07/03/2007 14:47

OMG NGB that less than half price bargain. I have seen them on the net in a size 12 Liev, mine has big feet. Still undecided it's so hard when he says that's all he wants for Bday. Thinking maybe he just uses them when playing out and therefore no danger to others in public spaces? Just to himself!

OP posts:

pianist · 07/03/2007 14:48

I'm sure your 5 yr old would love them. The only downside is that so many places have banned them now, that it might be difficult finding a time/place they can be worn!!

Original poster

LilyLoo · 05/04/2007 09:14

Thanks for all the advice ladys but decided to go ahead anyway. It was his birthday yesterday so i got him some in a size 12. He still a bit wobbly but has in fact done really well on them (no accidents yet) i got the two wheel ones which are easier. The wheels can clip out so they turn into trainers as well. Am restricting them for playing out and that's all. So for those who were considering them i would say yes they are ok for a five year old just takes some practice.

OP posts:

Doodledootoo · 05/04/2007 19:06

Message withdrawn

christywhisty · 06/04/2007 18:31

There was no evidence that the heelies actually caused the accident. This child probably had no road sense anyway and from the description fo the accident I read he was in the road anyway.

Unless you are on a very shiny surface or going down hill then you can't go above walking speed.

There is so much silly misinformation obaout them.they are far less dangerous than a bike or proper roller skates or inlines ,lot slower than the scooters that were all the rage a couple of years back and certainly safer than a skateboard. They are far easier to control and easier to brake.

CorrieDale · 06/04/2007 18:35

I'm with Dueat44. Being pregnant, with a toddler in tow, and having children wheelying around you in shops is really not very pleasant.

shinypeople · 06/04/2007 19:01

my children are 8, 6 and 3 and i won't let any of them have wheelies. I just can't see the point.

You walk naturally heel to toe but can't do that in heelies. Surely it isn't good for your feet or your legs?

Doodledootoo · 06/04/2007 19:44

Message withdrawn

christywhisty · 06/04/2007 23:53

That is the point children do not have road sense and from what I gathered that was what actually killed him. There are 2 cases the first one nobody actually knows what happened but it was thought that he could have been playing in the road other reporst said he was running across , This boy has brain damage and did not die.

The child that was killed in America was actually running across the road to post a letter again poor road sense.
The other thing is unlike roller skates you lean backwards rather than forward with heelies which makes it very unlikely to pitch forward into a road
The children involved in both cases were 12. Children usually get road sense about the age of 11 so in these cases they probably hadn't. So there was no need to be so insulting.

Please provide evidence of your incidence because I can't find it.

In both cases the fact they were wearing heelies was a coincidence and makes great headline news.

My daughter has them and uses them as she would a bike or her scooter etc when we are going out for a walk at the weekend or to the shops. She is far safer and in control on heelies than either her bike or scooter when it comes to stopping quickly. They have given her a lot of pleasure since christmas. She was a bit slippy on them the first couple of times but after that she has been fine.

christywhisty · 07/04/2007 00:14

Apologies my first sentence was confusing.

There have been 2 incidents i have read about

The UK one was a 12 year old boy, to which nobody actually seems to know what happened. He did not die but has suffered brain damage. Even the ROSPA website says nobody knows if the Heelys were to blame.

The second case is in US where another 12 year old actually ran across the road and was hit by an oncoming car who didn't see him.

Flumpleton · 23/04/2007 19:42

Felt I had to resurrect this as I was gobsmacked to see at weekend a father of child wearing heelies taking a run up and propelling her as fast as possible - both finding it hilarious, DH who is orthopaedic surgeon didn't find it so funny. HATE the bloody things

Hulababy · 23/04/2007 19:48

There is no way my 5yo could manage them. She'd be falling over every two minutes!

mumeeee · 25/04/2007 23:18

Heeleys are not safe for 5 year olds. They are not really suitable for any child under the age of 8 and then they should only be worn for a short time.

pickledpear · 25/04/2007 23:44

it is proved it is not the heelies that gets the children hurt but the cars that hit them both my kids have them but the kids here have not really seen them and so the shops have not banned them my kids think it a theme park going to the supermarkets they love shopping ...

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