Roller skating has recently made a comeback from its heyday in the 90s. What was once considered slightly dated has been given new life in recent years, with children and teenagers all around the world lacing up their roller skates and taking to local parks and recreation areas to have a bit of healthy outdoor fun.
As a parent, you may naturally worry about your child’s safety while skating (how could you not!), but thankfully we’re here to alleviate your worries. In this article, we look at 6 skate safety tips that will give parents peace of mind, so read on to find out more!
Don’t Size Up!
It’s no secret that kids grow, and boy do they grow quickly! This can sometimes be a reason for why parents are wary of buying roller skates for their children… I mean, who is to say they’ll fit into the same pair in 6 months? Whilst you may get away with sizing up when it comes to sneakers and sandals, we highly recommend abandoning this method when buying skates. Ideally, you’ll want to measure your child’s foot and purchase a pair of skates that fits them in the current moment. Sizing up can lead to skate boots that are too loose and may cause your child’s foot to slide, chafe and even blister. Doing this may cost you a little more but no price can be put on a child’s safety.
Safety Gear Is Non-Negotiable
Safety gear is an absolute non-negotiable when it comes to keeping your child safe on their roller skates. Sadly, kids can be mean and it’s no secret that there may be situations in which your child is taunted or made fun of for wearing a bulky looking helmet and knee pads. Luckily, a few prominent skating figures have now started wearing helmets in a bid to encourage youngsters to follow suit. If you’re having trouble trying to get your child to open up to the idea of safety gear, we highly recomment having them watch a couple of videos to open his or her mind to the idea of wearing a helmet, knee pads and elbow pads.
Encourage Light Stretching
Just like any activity or exercise, failing to do your stretches at the beginning and end of every workout can prove to be a painful experience. This is why parents are encouraged to incorporate light stretches prior to a skate session and right after. Stretching will help loosen those muscles, increase flexibility and greatly reduce the possibility of injuries or falls. Some experts even recommend incorporating a few yoga poses and stretches into your child’s routine in order to further strengthen their bones, muscles and joints.
Skate In Safe Zones
You probably already know this, but ensuring that your child skates in a “skate friendly” safe zone is imperative. Thankfully, there are now many parks with designated skating areas where you can feel safe knowing that your child isn’t in harm’s way. Roller skating should never be done on sidewalks or pavements, or even worse, on open roads. This is especially important if you have a young child or a child that is brand new to skating. Better safe than sorry, so to the skate park we shall go!
Get Involved
One of the best tips we can give parents is to get involved in your child’s skating journey. By getting involved and researching on moves, tips and tricks, you’ll be able to teach your kid safe skating from the get go. Tagging along and even picking up a pair of roller skates for yourself to join in the fun is also a fantastic way of getting involved without seeming too overbearing. If you’re there and aware of basic skating techniques and safety, you’ll be able to prevent injuries or accidents from happening.
Enrol In A Class
Last but not least, enrolling your child in a skating class is probably one of the best ways to ensure that they learn all the necessary techniques to keep themselves safe while roller skating. An added benefit, your child will be able to mingle with like minded peers who may very well end up becoming their friends. You will also have peace of mind knowing that your child is in the hands of a professional, which is always handy when dealing with potentially dangerous sports and situations!
Roller skating can be an amazing activity for kids that gets them active, out of the house and in great health. By ensuring that you take all the recommended precautions and instilling some good safety habits, you’ll be able to rest easy knowing that they’re enjoying themselves and out of harm’s way!
Amrita is a writer, blogger and content creator hailing from Melbourne, Australia. With a penchant for research and exploration of esoteric topics, Amrita is always on the lookout for more pointless things to get excited about.