How old should children be to start roller skating?
Preschooler class, age 4-5
One of the most frequently asked questions I hear from parents. “How old should my child be to start roller skating?”
The answer is.. if they can run and stop with control, they can learn to skate. That’s typically around age 3.
But most importantly, they have to WANT to learn. If you have a toddler, you know how temperamental they can be. 😉
Teach Your Child How To Skate - even if you’re not a skater
A Comprehensive Guide for parents and carers
Preparation
Before putting a young child on skates for the first time, you need to prepare them on what’s happening. Show them videos of skating, tell them about the protective gear they will need to wear. Make it fun, make it exciting. Better still, if they see YOU do it first.
a 2 year old playing with skates
Manage expectation.
You can’t expect a 3 year old to last 30 minute of skating. If they are keen to do 5 or 10 minutes of skating, and then had enough and take their skates off, take your win :)
Choose the skates that support their skills.. or the lack thereof.
Putting a young child on inline skates that are way too big will not end well. Choose skates that is appropriate for their skills. Here are some suggestions:
My daughter at age 2.5
Age 3-4. For the youngest of them all. Strap-on skates from toy stores.
These adjustable size skates typically fit from j8 - j11, which is great for toddlers. The wheels don’t have bearings which means they barely roll. It still gives toddlers the feeling of being higher up and having wheels underneath them.
A 5 year old on klip klops
4-6 Year olds.
I find the Crazy Skates Trolls Klip Klop skates great for age 4-6 beginners. The wider wheel base makes it easier to balance. Adjustable size j11-1. Once the child grasp the forward skating stride, they can move on to skates with trucks, to learn beyond just skating forward.
7+ Older kids
Typically by this age, a child have good awareness of their body and limbs, and are ready to learn skating with proper roller skates with trucks. There are plenty of options out there.
See also A guide to buying first pair of roller skates for your child
