We tried skating/figure skating lessons for our boy and his friend (girl) at Cabin John... because it seemed fun... but it was too restrictive. My son did not pass to the next "grade" because of his hand positions. WTF!

But Rockville Ice Rink had hockey ice skating lessons... they were the best. 1st day, lower pads on, no stick. Skate and fall and try to get up, for 1 hour. They were in heaven.

My son eventually quit but the 2 girls he was with ended up playing hockey and eventually HS hockey.

Anonymous wrote:I haven't but my daughter is asking...all I see in my mind are bloody teeth sliding across the ice...

Is she asking for skating lessons, or hockey?

My daughter started asking for skating lessons at age 3. She saw skating on TV and said she wanted to do that. She was already doing gymnastics, and I didn’t want to add another activity, but she kept asking and started Learn to Skate at 4.5. It was just another weekly activity until 7 when she really started to focus on it and dropped gymnastics. Younger siblings started Learn to Skate at 3 since they were at the rink anyway. They all love it, though I have no idea if the younger two will do hockey or figure skating or just get through basic skills.

Anonymous wrote:My kids are learning all the basic sports skills - skating, skiing, rollerblading, paddle boarding, kayaking, biking, golf(later), tennis, sailing, rowing and gymnastics. They play club soccer.

I think it’s important to be able to build confidence across different physical challenges.

Uhhh...basic sports skills include swimming, running, riding a bike, and being able to hit or kick a ball of choice (baseball, football, basketball, soccer, kickball). Not skiing. Not sailing. Not half the stuff on that list.

Anonymous wrote:Many people I know sign up their daughters with ice skating and then figure skating, and are these become popular and replacing ballet or gymnastic (used or still be popular)? And, many parents do not know how to ice skate themselves.

Gymnastics, skating, cheerleading and dance are seen as "girly" and yet athletic. In some cases, they're the only options that both parents can agree are appropriate for their girls. In other cases, they're the only options that non-athletic girls are willing to try. Some parents avoid them because the elite levels frequently lead to body image and eating disorders. Finally, some girls and parents try the "girly" options along with other sports like swimming, softball, tennis, basketball, and soccer, as part of a scheme to horrors... allow their girls to get an idea of what they like.

Why not?

Can't sit inside just because it's winter.

i wanted my kids to have a better sense of balance and be more flexible than I am. So I signed my daughters up for ballet, gymnastics, and ice skating (we would alternate two at a time, none of them year round). For my kids, especially with COVID, gymnastics was the first to go, followed by ballet. I'd like them to keep with it because its good exercise

Both my kids (boy and girl) loved their ice skating classes over the winter. They’re 8 and 6 and really enjoy it. We’ll see if hockey and/or more advanced figure skating is in their futures but for now it is just something they are good at and enjoyed keeping active practicing. They also like to ski in the winter.

I plan on raising an Olympic champion, that's why. And we won't settle for less.

Anonymous wrote:Many people I know sign up their daughters with ice skating and then figure skating, and are these become popular and replacing ballet or gymnastic (used or still be popular)? And, many parents do not know how to ice skate themselves.

Geez. Learn some grammar, will ya, before posting your deep questions!

Because I wished my parents would have given me lessons three decades ago. But my 6 year old DD disliked skating, so I haven't pushed her on it again. She recently expressed some interest in learning again (now 8 years old).

Anonymous wrote:Girls and boys. Why wouldn’t you? It’s great exercise and a fun skill to have for the rest of your life.

I have 2 boys and a girl and this year they all wanted to learn to skate after going to an outdoor ice rink for the first time this winter without ever having been on skates. Since kids don't roller skate any more or go to roller parties it's not something they had much experience with. I don't think you forget it once you get the basics down should they ever want to skate for fun. I don't think it's going to become a hockey or figure skating thing for them. It's just something to do for now and they'll remember how to do it later.