Thanks to Max & Ruby, Angelina, Arthur, and other book friends, our little Bluey has been aching for ice skates for as long as he could walk. But with feet that seem to grow at a visible rate, the idea of dropping $50 on a pair of brand new ice skates that would only last about 6 months just wasn’t viable for our family.
We resolved ourselves to find a second-hand pair of skates. Bluey and TR Dad visited numerous thrift stores in the area looking for these elusive kid-sized skates. Though many stores had adult skates for sale, few children’s skates were out there. Finally, at Play-It-Again-Sports (a store specializing in used sports equipment,) we found a few pairs in Bluey’s size. And they cost less than half the price of purchasing brand new skates!
Tip1: It is critical that you have your child wear a sports helmet as they learn to ice skate. Nothing will ruin your day on the ice quicker than experiencing your child smacking their head on a thick sheet of ice. If you need help affording a helmet, please contact the Ian Tilmann Foundation. We fully and heartily endorse and support this charity, which aims to make sure that everyone wears helmet. All you have to do is promise the helmet will be worn, and it’s yours.
Our skates in hand and winter air blowing, we headed to the local pond to learn how to skate. In our town, the parks department monitors ice thickness. The park employees make sure that the ice is safe for skating and they help to maintain the numerous outdoor rinks. Many of our parks also offer warming houses and skate rentals to enhance your winter fun. Be certain to check with your local municipal or county parks department for services available. Make sure whatever ice you are on is safe. Don’t rely only someone else’s word. Inspect the ice yourself.
Tip2: Bring a small chair with you to the pond or rink for your child’s first few skating experiences. The chair will help your child keep their balance as they learn what it feels like to move on skates. This is especially helpful if the adult isn’t too steady on skates either! If a chair isn’t available, you could bungee cord 2 or 3 milk crates together for the same effect.
On our first skating attempts, we kept to the edge of the pond which was out of the way of the other skaters. Along the perimeter of a pond, there is also a small amount of snow and chopped ice that provides a bit of a foothold for the beginner skater. Soon enough, we were confident enough to migrate out onto the main ice.
Get out there and have some fun!