Should I Invest in Ice Skating Lessons for My Child?

Children do best when they have a hobby they feel passionate about. Giving children the opportunity to invest their time in a hobby they love can have enormously positive effects on their physical and mental health.

Ice skating is a wonderful activity that combines patience, athleticism, and careful techniques. It’s also a lot of fun! If you’re looking for a new way to get your kid off their screens and participate in something more meaningful, then ice skating may be exactly what they need.

Benefits of Ice Skating

There are a lot of benefits to ice skating. It’s a physical, adventurous sport that requires your kids to use their bodies and minds simultaneously. Other key benefits to ice skating include: 

• Builds concentration & confidence. Ice skating is all about learning how to move and balance on the ice. As your child masters the basic movements and begins learning more complex ones, their concentration and confidence will soar.
• Helps develop muscles. Your kid’s leg muscles will get a serious workout from ice skating! It will also help develop the muscles in their core, shoulders, arms, and neck. Using ice skates is a full-body balancing act, and it’s a great way to encourage your child’s physical health.
• Teaches the value of the learning process. No one is going to step out onto the ice for the first time in their new figure skating blades and never fall. Ice skating teaches children and young people how to fall, dust themselves off, and get back up to try again. This will also massively boost your child’s confidence and sense of self-reliance.
• Hobbies are good for their mental health. Along with boosting their confidence and sense of self-reliance, ice skating could be beneficial to your child’s mental health. It will help them feel connected to something and encourage them to develop a drive to improve themselves and their techniques. The desire to learn and improve will be a huge asset to your child throughout their life.

How to Get Started

The first thing you want to do is talk with your child and see if they’re even interested in ice skating. While most kids will jump at the opportunity, others may prefer a more low-key sport. 

Once you know your child is interested, it’s time to look for a qualified skating instructor! There are plenty of online forums and groups you can join to find someone qualified in your area. You can call the local figure skating club to learn about the classes they offer and the rates. You could even ask if you and your child can come and sit in during a lesson or performance, which will help your child feel more comfortable when they begin.

Of course, before your child can join a class, they’re going to need new ice skates! This is an exciting part of the process, and you want to make sure you get the right type of skates for a beginner.

Beginner Skates

Riedell ice skates are of great quality, and we have plenty of skate sets that are perfect for beginners. Our Emerald Jr. 19 Skate Set is the perfect place to start! It has double-layer heat reinforcements, durable microfiber uppers, moisture-wicking comfort lining, and the blade is made of tough stainless steel.

This is a perfect beginner skate set because it offers comfort, support, and durability. It’s also not as expensive as buying a custom skate, which is important for parents whose children are just getting started and will need to size up frequently. 

You might also want to check out our Opal Jr. 20 Skate Set. It has all the same features as the Emerald Jr. 19 skate set, but it comes in an option of black or white. This may not sound like a defining feature to most adults, but kids are picky! If you need a little color variety, then this set has options for you.

Final Thoughts 

Ice skating lessons aren’t just for would-be competitive skaters. They are an excellent way to get your child out of the house and to encourage the habit of physical activity. 

If you need a pair of skates to get you started, have a look at our catalog for a wide range of ice skate models or check to see if one of our dealers is nearby.