Ice Skating at three!

My girls and I just had the best evening ice skating! My DH is out of town and a friend invited us to a local resort where she and her family go to ice skate. I figured we'd just watch and then get some dinner since my girls are only 3 and have never been on skates. My friend, who is a former pro skater, convinced me to rent a pair of skates for them and she took them on the ice. They did great - they were actually kind of skating and had loads of fun! My friend had to leave early and I decided to stay and continue to skate with the girls. They were so awesome - since we only rented one pair of skates, one kid would stay by the skate entrance where I could see her and the other would go out on the ice and skate with me. I can't believe I took two three year olds ice skating by myself. I'm looking forward to going out there with my DH so we can all get on the ice together!

I have been putting off putting the girls on skis because 3 seems a bit young for skiing, but after our fun skating experience, I'm thinking I need to get them out on skis now, too!

 

That's wonderful. All my guys skated early and love it! I did have to put my foot down with my middle son when I almost fell on top of him when he was 18 months old. I made DH wait until he was almost 2 to take him skating again. It's been hard to get him off the ice ever since, LOL. It a great sport!

 

That is inspiring. I am terrified of taking my two because they both seem to trip over their own shadow, but I do think it would be really fun for them. We have a rink just down the street from us.. maybe I'll work up the courage before winter is over!

 

Sounds like a fun evening. DH just took the kids ice skating the other day for the 1st time. My son had a blast and can't wait to go again. I was working that day, but have never skated before and my daughter said she would learn when I did. So I guess her and I need to get out there. I sense a lot of falling down in my future!

 

:woo: The kids school has an ice skating trip but I've been afraid to take the kids because I'm a klutz and I'm afraid I'm going to hurt myself :blush:

 

I put roller skates on Alice the other day and she was skating through the living room in less than a minute. So Nini, we might be able to go skating with you soon!

 

That is awesome and so encouraging!! I have been looking for skates for my boys for 2 months!! I can't find a place around here that rents them. All the skates we have found are to big...nothing under a size 10. However I did find a pair but they were $60 each....unfortunately to much for us at this time. But we have taken them to our town rink where no one is around and 'played' on the ice hahaha!

 

My MIL got the girls ice skates last Christmas, they were just over 3.5 yo. We skated all winter and they loved it. So far, this winter it hasnt been cold enough to make rinks yet ( outdoor), but the girls can't wait to go!

 

My brother took his boys skiing starting at 3 and they love it! They pick up things so quickly. At that age, most of the time, they don't even use ski poles because they are so close to the ground, they are less likely to tip over. If they fall, the poles are more of a burden and problem than a help. The poles are more for grown-ups or taller people who need the help to balance. It's not a surprise to me that a 3 year old would pick up on skating. Less fear the younger they are, so they can focus more on correcting their balance more than worrying about falling.

 

When my niece was little (3-4ish) we got her ice skating lesson passes every year for Christmas. (Hey... kid had too many toys, I hope my family does the same thing!) Anyhow, we went once or twice and it was about the cutest thing in the whole world. The very little ones used "walker" type supports and they were all over the ice. At one point one of the instructors brought out a big box of ball pit balls and dumped them out - the kids all scattered working to pick them up. It was the slickest way to get them to practice balance I'd ever seen. I think she really liked it, but eventually it was too hard for her mum to schedule around, so she moved on to dance.