Ice skating

2023 Author: Anita Thornton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-27 18:44

Probably the most famous winter sport of our Quebec winters and also the most accessible for the whole family! Are you coming skating?

Skating is one of the cheapest and most accessible sports. Each city has a free arena or outdoor rink to keep young and old busy. Some families make one in their backyard with help from the neighborhood! So why not?

Here are some great ice skating tips for the little ones

• Wearing a helmet (a hockey helmet and not a bike helmet) is highly recommended.
• Always check that the skates are the right size and will hold the ankles firmly. To avoid buying new skates every year, rotate among your friends, run the bazaars, or shop at stores that carry used equipment.
• A good sharpening every year is required so that the blades bite the ice well.
• Lace your skates up tight! If your children complain a little at first, it's because they're not used to having their ankles so tight. But it is essential!
• Dress children appropriately. Do not wear several pairs of stockings, rather think about investing in the purchase of a pair of stockingsthermal.
• If you skate indoors, still wear nylon pants that will protect your child from the cold and are more comfortable than their big winter leggings. Do not forget to wear gloves, this reduces the risk of cuts (with the ice in the event of a fall or with the blades).

How to teach your child to skate

• Choose places that are less crowded or less crowded.
• Dress your child in comfortable clothes that won't hamper their movements and in which they won't be too hot or too cold.
• A child starting to skate should wear a safety helmet. If your child already has knee pads and elbow pads for inline skating, they could use them for their first skating outings.

• Teach him the correct basic position. Thus, he must:

  • bend your knees slightly. By lowering the center of gravity, this position promotes stability;
  • keep the arms on either side of the body or a little forward. This allows for better balance and protection in the event of a fall.
• Learning to skate sideways and transferring weight from one leg to the other should be integrated gradually.
• At the fitting, only one pair of socks is necessary. The same goes for your outings: wear a single pair of well-insulated socks.
• Stand in front of the child and hold him by the hands, because hemust not turn to see you. Ideally, it should be able to lean on an object: a traffic cone (a bit soft) or an Easy Skate type support (about $50), which is the ideal tool.
• Learning to skate is like learning to walk. If the child always uses the same leg to push, encourage him to work both legs.
• Remember to secure your child. It is true that it slips and it is also true that it hurts a little when it falls. If he feels confident, his learning will be easier and he will be proud of the results.
• Enrich the “lessons” with games. Learning will be more engaging and, above all, more fun. Let's not forget that play is essential to the development of children.
• Teaching a child to skate is a gift for life. In addition, skating is an inexpensive, accessible and enjoyable family activity.

Several municipalities offer beautiful outdoor rinks, but with the he alth measures related to covid-19, the rinks in the red zone may not open this year. For more details and to stay tuned for public he alth updates it's over here!