what to wear to ice skating lessons?

[Anonymous]

My 5, 7 and 9 year old children will start indoor ice skating lessons next month. What should they wear on the bottom? Sweat pants with tights underneath for warmth? Or something more waterproof?

[Anonymous]

My 5 year old wore tights and jeans.

[Anonymous]

we always wore sport pants that were more the nylon type with long johns underneath. easier to move around in. Don't forget the gloves!

[Anonymous]

A fleece top or sweater is helpful.

[Anonymous]

Don't bundle them up too much -- you want them to be able to move comfortably. I think tights and sweats or sport pants are good, a long sleeved shirt and sweatshirt or hoodie, and gloves, for sure.

Also, I had my beginning skaters wear a helmet -- I think a skateboarding helmet is best because it protects the back of the head better, but even a bike helmet will do.

Once they are more sure on their feet, they will want to do away with the helmet, but in the beginning, especially the little ones can fall backwards and hit their heads, and that ice is hard.

[Anonymous]

OP here - thank you!

[Anonymous]

I really think waterproof pants and gloves are important. Try rain pants if snow pants are too bulky. The first lessons are all about learning to fall, and they will be wet and miserable if they're not wearing waterproof things. Said from personal experience!

[Anonymous]

My kid started skating seriously in Kindergarten (age 5). We just put him in his regular winter school clothes say jeans, cotton pants on bottom, long sleeve pullover shirt with a sweatshirt on top. The key was getting him gloves. Whenever we forgot gloves, that was bad since he fell on the ice a lot. A helmet is not a bad idea either.

[Anonymous]

For the first lessons, something like track pants or something with a sheen are great because when they do fall, the "snow" won't stick to the pants. After they get their bearings, sweats and such are great. Just make sure they have thinner socks that go over their ankles so the skates are comfy - sport socks don't work well. My kids wore knee socks (even my son - no one could see!)

And gloves and a helmet for sure.

[Anonymous]

mine wore snow pants for the first half dozen or so lessons, then they stopped falling and did not need them, now in tights / leggings.

gloves yes, helmet for as long as you can get them to, the real danger is falling backwards on the head, they teach grab your knees fall forward.

also, really important to practice between lessons, if you want them to progress. 1x a week is not enough.