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Do you remember the first set of wheels your parents bought for you? Not a car, nor a two-wheeler, but shoes with wheels attached to them. Understandably, it blew our minds as kids to be able to roller skate.
We were curious while falling to maintain our balance on those skates. There were times when our parents would stand on two ends, pushing us to and from.
At that time, it was more than enough because at least we were not falling. Instead, it felt like we were flying!
However, it all was worth it when we finally let our parents’ hands go and took the first glide without losing our balance or tripping.
The first time we skated around our home, or the tiled garden roads, is a childhood memory we will always cherish.
How about giving that same feeling to your child? It can be an equally exciting experience. But this time, the roles will be reversed - or you can skate along with them!
Roller skating is a proven stress buster and a fantastic cardiovascular workout.
You can discover various roller skating nj here.
Benefits Of Roller Skating For Kids And Teens
While you are getting your child their first pair of roller skates, here are some benefits of roller skating for kids that you might want to know about:
Encourages Brain Development
Multiple studies have shown that regular exercise is the best way to enhance cognitive function.
However, it might be a bit of a stretch or outright boring for your toddlers, pre-teen, or teenagers to follow a workout routine.
Roller skating provides a solution to that. It is among the best physical activity to get your kid to have fun and exercise simultaneously.
Moreover, it uses around 80% of your body’s muscles and burns 650 calories in an hour.
Roller skating for kids requires a lot of decision-making and focus regarding agility and speed. This allows your child to improve their concentration, productivity, and cognitive skills.
And do you know what the best part is? They will not find the activity to be even slightly strenuous or taxing.
It is one of those activities that does not require a significant amount of time to learn. So when your toddler starts to excel at roller skating, not only will they have a fantastic time, but it will also enhance their confidence ten-fold.
And if they’re entering their teens, they might be edgy. It is a challenging stage for parents to deal with as it brings hormonal changes and mood swings.
Skating can provide a great way to lighten up their moods since it is a great mood regulator. Have you ever passed someone who was frowning while roller skating? Probably not.
This is because roller skating reduces the hormones in the body that cause mood swings and frustration while increasing endorphins. These are known as the ‘happy hormones.’
Since roller skating is an outdoor sport, it allows your child to interact with their friends, take in the sun, and most importantly (if they are teens), provides an outlet to relieve all the pent-up energy of the day.
Due to the extended workout provided by skating, your child will feel positive throughout the day. Furthermore, not only can it be a great outdoor physical activity for your child, but also for your family.
Builds Physical Endurance
Roller skating is one of the best aerobic activities to get your kid’s heart rate pumping. It helps build their endurance at a very young age and helps strengthen muscle endurance.
If your kid learns to roller skate skillfully, the uphill climbs will train their cardiovascular system along with their muscles to utilize energy more efficiently.
Its benefits are apparent throughout their life, from adolescence to adulthood, and especially if they ever wish to make a career out of it.
Moreover, it tweaks the entire body — working on the glutes and legs, it helps tone and flexes:
- Calves
- Thighs
- Abs
It also helps to stabilize their Achilles tendon. Additionally, it supports ankles since they are the body part primarily used while skating.
Also, it helps improve balance since it involves strengthening the lower back and abdominal muscles. This leads to a steady core, which enables us to stay upright.
Roller skating further allows enhanced coordination and prevents injuries while simultaneously keeping your child active without exhaustion.
As a result, every time your child practices roller skating, their muscle definition will benefit.
Create Healthy Habits
According to research, a child needs a minimum of 1 hour of playtime in a day. Therefore, the mental and physical benefits of roller skating for adults and kids provide thorough health advantages.
It also encourages your kid to improve their performance, boost their morale and keep them out in the sun.
With the right encouragement, it also teaches your child an entirely new skill that involves physical movement, focus, and discipline.
Roller skating is a social sport, and some brand new roller skating shoes for kids can motivate them to take up the sport and become more active.
When your kid is skating at the rink, it is very common for them to meet new kids and run into school friends that skate too.
They will bond with people who share similar interests– roller skating. This helps them sharpen their social skills and befriend easily.
Roller Skating For Kids And Its Risks
The primary physical risk of roller skating for kids is the same as adult roller skating. Possible injuries can happen due to falls.
Therefore, it is crucial to safeguard against them by providing your child with appropriate protection:
- Elbow pads
- Wrist pads
- Knee pads
Moreover, it is imperative to consult with your pediatrician to ensure that your kid is at the right motor development stage to roller skate.
Giving roller skates to a child who has not developed adequate core strength and balance spells nothing but trouble and frustration.
In addition, injuries can also be caused due to skates that don’t fit properly, so ensure that you choose your kid’s roller skates carefully.
How To Choose Right Roller Skates For Your Child
Initially, roller skating for kids can be a challenge. Here are some roller skating tips for you when fitting your child with the right gear:
Know The Shoe Size
Skates typically fit right onto a regular sneaker or shoe. Nevertheless, most roller skates are adjustable and cover various sizes.
Adjustable roller skates are sized a bit differently and often cover multiple sizes to allow rapid growth. This entails that if your child usually wears a size four street shoe, they technically wear the skates even after the size increases.
Allow Growth
It is always better to allow some growing room in your child’s roller skates. This typically means if your child wears size 4, it is better to choose a size 4-5 over a 3-4 roller skate.
Hence, choose a size that can easily fit your child’s foot snuggly enough for safe skating. This will also help them attempt freestyle tricks and other advanced skills.
Furthermore, if their roller skates are slightly uncomfortable at first, it does not necessarily mean they are the wrong size.
As long as your child’s roller skates pass the pencil test and provide a painless skating experience, they are good to go. And if you want to know what the pencil test is, keep reading.
It usually takes around six skating sessions to break in new roller skates.
Stability And Longevity
When shopping for the perfect pair, look through roller skates with high cuffs as they offer more stability. This minimizes the risk of foot and ankle injuries.
Moreover, while your kid is trying on new skates, ensure that they wear socks as this provides an accurate estimation of size.
Finally, make sure that the heel is in its pocket. Before standing on roller skates to try them out, have them kick the heel backward to make sure it sits in the heel groove.
This will help you measure the right fit for roller skates accurately.
Pencil Test
To find if a pair of skates is right for your child, try this simple test:
- Have your kid put on their roller skates and kick their toes to the front, so they touch the tip
- Then, have them stand on their skate with one foot forward and toes touching the tip
- Insert a pencil between the heel and back of the skate
- If the pencil fits with only a little wiggle room, the skates are the right fit for your child
Tips On Roller skating
Consider these roller skating tips before letting your child enter the rink or before teaching them how to roller skate:
Always Wear The Right Gear
Ensure that your kid is dressed appropriately and has their wrist guard, helmet, elbow, and knee pads. Safety gear softens the landing if they fall and protect the vulnerable parts of their body.
Practice The Basics First
Instruct your child to keep their knees bent and slightly lean forward. They should then start strolling in the skates to practice their balance.
Then, with you holding their hand, encourage them to glide. And when your kid feels confident enough, teach them to step forward diagonally and propel themselves forward.
Practice Makes Perfect
No one in history mastered any activity on their first try. Therefore, you must encourage your child to keep on practicing even when they fall. With your encouragement, their confidence will grow.
Get Professional Roller Skating Classes For Toddlers Near You
Take advantage of lessons from Superprof. Even though it is true that practice makes perfect, it is also important to practice using the correct techniques.
Hence, do not wait and visit today to choose from hundreds of tutors on Superprof. When your child has the proper roller skating lessons, they will learn to skate confidently and correctly.
The platform that connects tutors and students
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