How to teach a six-year-old to ice skate?
Ice skating is great, it was one of my favorite wintery things to do when I was a kid. I second the chair and the skate key suggestions (especially the skate key one – nothing makes skating harder than loose skates). Whatever you do, don’t get her those double-bladed skates. It’s impossible to learn any of the essentials of skating beyond staying upright with those things on – they pretty much prevent you from being able to glide forward by pushing off the ice, for example. Also, it would probably make it much easier on her if you can find a noncrowded place to skate, maybe a local rink at off hours or – best of all – a frozen pond (just make sure the ice is around six inches thick). Some of my most terrifying skating memories involve being at the rink when it was crowded with all of the taller, faster adults whizzing around and glaring at me.
Big important thing: buy a skate key, and use it to help tie her skates tight! There is nothing worse than seeing a bunch of young’uns with their ankles almost touching the ice because their parents didn’t want to hurt their feet or just don’t know how to tie skates. Or, as when I learned how to skate at a precious young age, use boy’s skates (with reinforced sides) instead of girl’s floppy figure skates. I’ve also found it much more pleasant to have slightly large skates and wear an extra pair or two of thick socks, as it cushions the tightness of the skate and helps avoid chafing.
Check with the rink before bringing a chair. They generally won’t allow it on public sessions as it’s hazardous to have chairs out there in the middle of the skating, but they may have some sessions where it is OK, or they will be able to loan you something. But — personally, I would avoid the chair as I think it’s not necessary for a six year old and will teach the bad habit of leaning forward on the chair. If you are a strong enough skater to be able to guide her, just hold her hands when necessary. This page has good basics to follow — start her with marching in place, scooter steps, then swizzles. If your rink has group lessons available, you might try those. They are relatively inexpensive. They are likely to use the ISI level structure, which also gives
We always called those lace hooks, never keys. I agree, double-bladed skates are a Bad Thing. However, I disagree with the “boys’ skates” vs. “girls’ skates” comment — figure skates aren’t “girls’ skates” and other skates aren’t “boys’ skates” — and figure skates are often just as strong and reinforced as any other kind. It’s just that rental skates suck. Cheap department store skates with the blades riveted on also suck. Wearing extra large skates generally makes it harder to skate than wearing ones that fit. What you want are skates that are strong on the sides and fit well on the whole foot, not loosely. It is hard to get this from rentals. If you know a skater who has outgrown a pair of skates that are still in good shape, and would let you try them, that would be a good option. If you have to get rentals, get the newest, solidest feeling pair you can find. Hold them up, by the top of the boot, extending out parallel to the ground — if the boot bends, that is not good. Get the o
