Any balancing excercises for a 4-year old to do to help with skating?

Question

I've tried 3 times to take my son to the ice skating rink - he wasn't miserable (that's why we kept coming back), but he really couldn't get the hang of it and was not improving. I bought him sneaker-rollerskates (4-wheels on each foot). No go. He cannot keep a balance. His legs just go apart and he starts to fall backwards (and sometimes forwards) before I catch him. The skating rink we go to does not allow the use of walkers for kids unless you're taking/paying for a class. I don't have time or resources for a class, but I would like to know if there are any exercises I can do with him to improve his balance. He seems perfectly fine on 'solid ground'. Internet and book references are appreciated. Please - no answers with criticism about endangering or pushing my kid too far. Thanks!

Answer 1

Keep practising with the skates, did you get up and go on your skates right away? It will come with the and practise. Go to another rink or pond that allows aides on the ice. More ice time is the best solution, it has nothing to do with his core balance he is just a little boy learning to skate.

Answer 2

Try this: have him stand behind a kitchen chair, and practice standing on one foot and then the other. When he gets the idea of weight shifting, have him let go of the chair back, but keep his little hands just above the rail for confidence. When he masters this balance, have him do it without the chair, and gradually raise his foot a little higher, until he can do it easily and quickly. Have him use the sneaker skates indoors if possible and skate near a wall, so he can reach for support. Make sure his skates are the correct size, as too large will make him wobble, and too small will be painful. Some rinks have beginners areas where they can learn within the confines of fence rails. Best wishes.

Answer 3

If he has his own skates they may need to be sharpened, if he's using rentals their probably inadequate (i.e. ill-fitting or dull). Ice skating is all about edge control (inside and outside edges of the blades). If he is trying to stay flat on the blades he's going to slide all over the place (ironically, not a good thing). Most, if not all, balance problems stem from not bending your knees enough. You have to lower your center of gravity in ice skating (keeping your weight directly over the edge of your gliding skate). Do this and he should be alright. I plan on starting my 2 year old on skating soon and will bring a bucket to assist (turn it upside down on the ice and let him use it as a holder until he gets his bearings). This will probably be insufficient for a 4 year old however as 4 year olds are generally taller :)

BTW, as a beginner he should be starting out with swizzles first. I answered a question about this earlier today so you may want to search that out for more info.

Best of luck.

Answer 4

I was a tots skating instructor in high school as well as a rollar artistic skater for 12 years until a knee injury.
Take the skates you got him tighten the wheels that way he can't really roll on them. Have him step or march in them...every time you use them loosen the wheels a bit and he will get he hang of it. Make sure they aren't loose on his feet sometimes bringing an extra pair of socks helps.
As for balance take him to the local park and play a game with him as to who can walk on the step to the sand box the longest.

Answer 5

Try the childrens skates that have resistance on the wheels - they still roll but, not as fast as regular roller skates.

Answer 6

YOU NEEED TO PUT HIM IN YOGA OR GET HIM A RAIL OR SOMETHING TO REAPDLY STAND ON.