At what age do people start skating? Child at the skating rink: having fun with health benefits. Figure or hockey

Professionals agree that already at the age of three, children quickly and without much difficulty master the basics of figure skating. At this age, they are plastic, flexible, and have no fear of falling. And if you start classes at three years old, then by the age of five the child will already be able to perform a number of simple sports elements. But if you don’t set yourself the task of raising an Olympic champion, you can start training, if you wish, at any age.

How to choose skates?

The main thing is not to buy plastic skates, or skates with sliding boots. In “oversized” skates your feet will feel uncomfortable. The size of the boot must strictly correspond to the size of the child’s feet (exceeding one size is acceptable - for a warm sock).

Boots should be just above the ankle, ideally made of genuine leather. Then, during training, they will become somewhat deformed and will fit the leg more tightly. This is very important from a security point of view.

You should also check that your skates are well sharpened. To preserve the blades and avoid the formation of “burrs”, it is necessary to have covers (made of plastic or fabric). After training, wipe the blades dry and only then put on the covers. If moisture remains on the skates, rust may appear on the blades by the next training session.

Let's go to the skating rink

Which skating rink is better to start classes at: open or closed?

On an outdoor skating rink, it is difficult to achieve ideal ice quality, which means it is more difficult to learn how to skate on it. If possible, it is better to take your child to the first training session in a closed complex. It is advisable that the ice be poured recently, as it becomes rough within an hour after pouring (especially if more than 30 people are skating on it at the same time).

Exercises for Beginners

1. Herringbone. The child stands on skates with a straight back, legs slightly bent at the knees, toes pointing to the sides. We draw a Christmas tree: one leg goes to the right, the other to the left. It’s good if parents can hold the baby’s hands. When the child feels more confident, you can suggest: “Come on, run to mom!” - and let go of your hand.
2. Flashlight. Legs together, back straight. The skates slowly move apart, while the knees bend slightly. Then the knees are straightened and the skates are connected. In this way, “lanterns” (“figure eights”) are drawn on the ice.
3. Heron. When the child is already sliding quite confidently on the ice, you can try to lift one leg while sliding (as in the “swallow” gymnastic exercise). At the same time, to maintain balance, you need to spread your arms to the sides.

Don’t be lazy to find time and take your children to the skating rink. After all, visiting the skating rink is not only an undoubted health benefit. Sliding on ice with your children will bring you a lot of fun and will bring your family even closer together.

Many parents would like to instill in their child a love of sports. But most of them do not know at what age a child can be placed on. If a child loves winter and is interested in ice-related activities, parents may consider buying skates.

If we talk about sports sections, then enrollment of children in such groups begins at 4 years old. At this age, the child’s body is ready for stress. However, many parents and experienced athletes advise starting earlier. On the Internet you can find many stories about how a child should be put on skates at one and a half years old. In this case, it all depends on the age at which the child began to walk. If he is confident on his feet, he can get up independently after falls, gradually on a non-slip surface.

Doctors' opinion

Many doctors (including Dr. Komarovsky) do not recommend putting a child on skates under 3 years of age. They explain this by the fact that until the age of 3-4 years, the child’s foot begins to form. Early placement can lead to the development of flat feet. Before the age of three, there is a risk of serious injury, which can cause a lot of trouble. This is due to the fact that the child’s body is weak, and the musculoskeletal system is not adapted to additional loads.

It is better to start skating at 3-4 years old, when the child will quickly learn new movements. During this period, the child’s body is very flexible, and he himself is not yet afraid of falls and can quickly master complex exercises.

Choosing equipment

When parents find out at what age they can put their child on skates, a new problem arises related to the choice of skating equipment. The equipment should fit comfortably on the leg without causing any inconvenience to the baby.

Depending on their purpose, skates can be divided into three groups:

1. Amateur or . These are lightweight and comfortable products designed for skating on any skating rink. They are not suitable for professional sports. However, there are combined amateur models with which you can master complex elements from.
2. . Specially designed for performing complex elements. They are also suitable for simple walks. These models have a long and low blade. The boots are made from genuine leather.
3. . These are skates on which you can quickly gain high speed and stop. They are made of tough materials to protect the hockey player's foot from being hit by the puck or being hit by the stick. The shape of the blade is rounded, without sharp ends. In length, it is slightly larger than the boot itself. Due to its short length, maneuverability increases. The blade itself is made of heavy-duty steel that can withstand heavy loads.

Hockey is a difficult sport that requires athletes to have a strong physique, lightning-fast reactions and the ability to calculate their actions in advance. It is better to send your child to hockey only after he reaches 5 years old. For hockey, you need to purchase a large amount of protective equipment and also the skates and stick themselves.

- a non-aggressive sport that involves mastering various techniques and elements of skating. You can enroll your child in figure skating classes from the age of 4. Until this age, you can learn new movements on your own.

For a successful start to skating, it is better to choose artificial ice. It has a uniform structure, smooth surface without irregularities. Thanks to this, the child feels more comfortable and falls less. Moreover, skating on natural ice areas has many dangers associated with the risk of falling through the ice.

Photo Legion-Media.ru

When to put your child on skates

Ice skating is not only fun, but also very useful, say doctors, including pediatricians. Since figure skating is a unique complex of various physical exercises and loads - from running to acrobatic steps - it strengthens the vestibular apparatus and the body as a whole. Just an hour of ice skating a week will be an excellent prevention of colds such as acute respiratory viral infections, acute respiratory infections, etc. The dry cold air that forms above the surface of the ice hardens the nasopharynx, which, in fact, increases the protective functions of the body.

So, the benefits of ice skating for children are undeniable. But a logical question arises: at what age should a child start skating? Pediatricians are of the opinion that the first attempts to stand on ice should occur at 4-5 years of age. Before this age, it is better not to take risks - the child’s muscles, ligaments, and musculoskeletal system are simply not ready for such loads. Although there are cases when children 2-3 years old got on the ice, and quite successfully.

How to choose skates for a child

Often parents who decide to put their child on the ice get lost in a sporting goods store. It turns out that there are a huge variety of types of children's skates. They come in double-track and single-track, figure and hockey, with and without boots, sliding and classic. How to find skates that are ideal for a child in this variety? It will be easier to answer this question if you decide on the purpose of the skates.

To begin with, you can test the so-called double-slide skates. Thanks to the two blades, they have more stable and durable characteristics. Moreover, skates with double blades, unlike single-bladed ones, do not require special sharpening. However, this type of skate never gained widespread popularity. As a rule, they are purchased by parents who put their child on the ice at the age of 2-3 years, in order to protect them as much as possible from possible injuries. 4- the child is quite capable of mastering single-slide skates. In addition, some reasonably believe that it is better to learn right away on single-slide skates than to waste time later on relearning.

Guided by the name, many parents mistakenly purchase figure skates for girls and hockey skates for sons. The difference between them is colossal, and it lies in the features of the device. Figure skating skates are equipped with special teeth on the toe, thanks to which the child can push off and place his feet straight. However, such equipment will only be needed by those who plan to engage in figure skating professionally. Amateurs are recommended to train the so-called skating, or herringbone riding. This means that hockey skates with blades without teeth are suitable for them.

In recent years, sliding skates have become popular. They are a kind of hybrid of skates and rollers. Their unique feature is the ability to “grow” with the child: the sliding mechanism of the boot allows you to increase the size of the skates by as much as 4 sizes. Agree, a very economical solution for parents.

These skates are available with both figure and hockey blades. The boots themselves are made, as a rule, from synthetic materials: plastic, polyurethane foam, textiles. Often, sliding children's skates are equipped with a removable anatomical boot, which provides the foot with additional comfort and warmth. The ankle of the boot is reliably protected by fixing elements that protect the toe from injury.

It is believed that boots should be made of genuine leather, because in such shoes the child’s feet will not sweat. Indeed, leather is an ideal option for those who intend to engage in figure skating. Such boots better copy the anatomical shape of the foot due to their flexibility. The child will not get tired wearing them even after hours of training. However, beginners are still advised to pay attention to plastic boots, as they are more stable and durable. But when the baby is confident on the ice and it becomes obvious that his friendship with the skating rink will last for a long time, you can buy more expensive leather boots.

You cannot buy boots “for growth”: due to improper distribution of weight on the skates, the child will not be able to learn the correct skating technique. But experts also do not recommend purchasing skates “back to back”; your feet will get tired in them too quickly. The best option is to buy skates half a size larger. It is better to do the fitting in thick socks, in which the baby will then practice. Skates are laced in a special way: they are tightened tightly at the bottom and at the instep, then the lacing is loosened, and the top is laced again tighter.

Parents should take care of purchasing protective equipment for their young athlete. A child who is going to conquer the ice for the first time needs a helmet, knee pads and elbow pads.

How to teach a child to skate

Before you teach your child to ride, you need to teach him how to maintain balance. Let the child try to stand on skates at home. This will give him confidence in his own abilities.

Most likely, the baby will stay close to the side the first few times he goes on the ice. Don't demand immediate success from him. Give time to adapt to new conditions. It is important to teach him to stand on the ice correctly: leaning forward slightly with bent legs. Stand with your child, then offer to try to ride together, holding hands, show how to turn and brake. Don’t forget for every achievement on the ice, encourage them in case of small failures. In a word, do everything possible to charge him with positivity, cheerfulness and confidence in your capabilities.

It is equally important that the child learns to fall correctly. This very important skill will protect him from dangerous injuries. Teach your baby to fall forward, and if possible, then on his knees or hands, grouping his entire body. Perhaps the child will be able to roll onto his side during a fall without putting out his arms.

By the way, considering that the first attempts to conquer ice will not be too active, think in advance about how to dress your child. The “equipment” should be warm enough, but not restrict movement. Be sure to put on a hat and mittens for your baby.

And also, if you are planning a professional career for your child, it is recommended that you consult with a pediatrician and orthopedist about this before starting active training.

The rays of the morning, winter sun reflected from the smooth ice surface of the skating rink and created an indescribably warm mood, giving everyone cheerfulness. To be honest, we were surprised that despite the early morning, there were quite a few ice skating enthusiasts. My husband and I have long wanted to introduce our daughter to figure skating and teach our child to skate, but for some reason we always had to put it off. But the question of how to teach a child to skate was far from the only one. Most of all I was worried about age - is it too early?

And so, we finally managed to put everything aside and try ourselves in such a difficult task as teaching a child to skate.

At what age can you start teaching your child to skate?

It is quite natural that before you teach your child to skate, you will ask yourself the question - what age of the child can be considered optimal to start learning. In general, there are no clear age restrictions here, and some children can be taught how to skate even at 2 years old. The main thing is that the child is physically developed, because skating is a big load on the child’s body, and of course, the learning process should be interesting for your young athlete, otherwise it will be difficult for you to achieve success.

The optimal age to start teaching a child to skate is the period from 4 to 6 years. Firstly, because by this age coordination appears in the baby’s movements. Secondly, most children by the age of 4-6 are physically quite developed, and thirdly, they themselves begin to show genuine interest in this. Well, of course, because Pashka, Marina and Artem are already skating with all their might on the skating rink in the yard, and I want to be there with them, and not sit alone at home.

How to choose skates for a child?

For training, figure skates with teeth in the front are best. It is very important that the skates fit the child exactly. But you need to try them on wearing a wool sock.

How to teach a child to skate?

If you have already begun to think about how to teach your child to skate, then you should be prepared for the fact that it will take you more than one day, and you will have to spend a lot of your energy on it. But the success of a child is the best reward for all your efforts.

Don't be in a hurry to get on the ice. For the first lesson, it is enough for the child to simply try to put on skates and walk in them on dense snow. After this, you can try to go out on the ice.

Before you teach your child to skate, be sure to teach him how to fall correctly, this will help your child avoid serious injuries and you unnecessary hassle. It is best to fall on your side, first crouching down a little and pressing your bent arms to your body. To provide your child with greater safety, you can use a helmet, elbow pads and knee pads during the first few days. You won't be able to avoid falls - be prepared for this.

There are several simple exercises that will make it much easier to teach your child to skate.

• Side step. The child needs to walk from one edge of the skating rink to the other, with an extended step, that is, sideways.
• Spring. Squats in place.
• Walking forward.

All these exercises, of course, are performed in skates and on ice. After they start to work out, you can try to ride while holding your child’s hand. This way the baby will practice maintaining balance, and in addition, it will make your activity more interesting.

After this, you can move on to the next stage of your training. The left leg is placed forward, and the right leg is placed diagonally behind it. Leaning his body forward slightly and bending his knees, the child pushes off with his right foot and rolls forward. After this, the movement is repeated, but only now, the right leg is placed forward, and the child pushes off with his left. If the movement is performed correctly, the child should leave a trail in the form of a Christmas tree. After taking 2-3 of these steps alternately, you can put your feet straight, at the same level, and try to slide. Once you are sure that your baby is doing everything correctly, do not interfere with the process and give him the opportunity to practice a little.

It is quite natural that the speed at which your miracle will move around the skating rink is small, therefore, there is no point in teaching it braking techniques. Most likely, by the time a child learns to skate independently, actions such as turning and braking will be performed intuitively.

Winter is in full swing, which means winter fun has become a favorite activity for all children.

While there is severe frost outside, kids either stay at home or have fun in shopping centers.

While waiting for warmer weather, you can teach your child to skate at the skating rink, so that later he can show off his class to his peers in the yard. When can you start putting your child on skates and what is the best way to do it?

The time has come

Ice skating is an excellent training for children's muscles and development of the vestibular apparatus. An hour of skating on ice will be an excellent prevention of colds, because the cold air formed above the surface of the ice hardens the nasopharynx and increases the body's protective functions.

As you can see, the benefits of this sport are undeniable. But this does not mean that a child should be taught to skate as soon as he learns to walk. Experts advise starting no earlier than 4-5 years. By this time, the baby’s musculoskeletal system, muscles and ligaments will be ready for this kind of load.

Choosing skates

You won’t envy modern parents: in order to choose the right skates for a child, you need to be an expert in this field. We will try to make your task easier.

Mom Katya thinks so: “Before you buy your child expensive leather skates, think about how he feels about everything new and how much activity he will have enough of. My daughter was raving about skating, she wanted to go on the ice so much, she whined all summer and autumn that she would practice and not go back on her words (4 years old). In the end, we went on the ice, skated for 5 minutes - and that’s it: I’m tired, I want to go home. And this happened five times throughout the winter. It’s good that the skating rink is not far from home.”

Double pole or single pole?

First, you can opt for two-poled ones. They are more stable and durable thanks to two blades, moreover, they do not require special sharpening (unlike single-blade ones). True, they are not very popular: most often they are bought by parents who decide to put their 2-3 year old kids on the ice. An older child is already ready to buy single-slide skates.

Figure or hockey?

Often parents decide that boys definitely need hockey skates, and girls need figure skates. The difference between them is very big. Figure skates have a special teeth , with the help of which you can push off and at the same time place your feet straight. But this technique is useful only to those who intend to engage in professional figure skating. For amateurs, trainers recommend training in skating (herringbone riding). Therefore, do not be afraid to buy your daughter hockey skates with blades without teeth - they will suit her better.

Sliding or classic?

Sliding skates are a hybrid of skates and rollers. They can “grow” with the child: the sliding mechanism allows you to increase the size of the boot by as much as 4 sizes (taking into account the prices of skates and the growth rate of the child’s feet, parents can subsequently save a lot of money).

They have both figure blades and hockey blades. The boots themselves are made of synthetic materials or textiles. These skates are often equipped with a removable anatomical boot to keep the child’s foot warm and comfortable.

Of course, a young athlete needs special equipment: knee pads, elbow pads and a helmet.

Mom Yulia shares her experience: “My poor child, at the dawn of his acquaintance with skates. Due to constant falls, he constantly had bruises on his butt. They told us about knee and elbow pads, but not about other special equipment. One of my mothers suggested to me during training that you can sew a small pad or a piece of thick fabric folded several times onto your panties (on top or inside) to soften the fall. If it weren’t for this advice, my daughter would have quit classes a long time ago.”