What age for roller skates or blades?

[elliott]

That's it really. Is 6 too young?

anyone?

don't know - how good is he/she with balancing?

our neighbour gave dd (7) and ds (about to be 6) their children's old ones but my children have really poor motor skills - they look like something from candid camera when they try them!

They have friends who are 6 and 7 who are really good with them though.

My 6 yr old bot had roller blades last year for Xmas. We had a right performance on Xmas day watching him fall over constantly on them, I think he thought he'd be able to glide off instantly on them...how wrong he was!..he has struggled with them and still only wears them in the house now. Although he is getting better.

With hindsight, I wish we'd bought him 4 wheeled skates, his friend has some of these and they're much easier for them to do.

If you do get some invest in elbow/knee pads and a helmet!

Meant boy..not 'bot'!

He's pretty good at balancing. Has small feet though (size 10.5) - not sure how flexible the sizes are. also have to think about ds2's sibling envy...

I think we thought he's be ok on them because he's a good balancer too. Always climbing, rides his bike really confidently without stabilisers etc..he was adamant he wanted blades as he's into the whole skateboard thing.

Saying that, i'm sure he'll get better with practice (been nearly a year now though!). I have seen some kids his age in the park with blades on who are fine with them.

But you know, he's still really happy with them, scooting about the house (got hard floors downstairs, plus they weren't too expensive (got them from Argos) so I don't feel like its been a waste.

Forgot to say, the ones we got from Argos expand to fit a size 11-1.

Ok, thanks for the tips!