First Time Ice Skater

I think the biggest thing I could offer would be that she wear good thick gloves. When I've gone ice skating I would occasionally fall and my hands, if I didn't have on thick gloves, would get cut up pretty good. You might think about knee pads and perhaps even a helmet if she is going to try to skate without you holding her hand.

She may have more confidence and fun with the aid , but will probably then give it a try without, like the big kids. Our kids were given chairs when they were little and first starting out.

I would use the aid if you feel like she needs it. It really depends on her personality, I think, and a little bit on her natural athletic ability. My kids kind of liked to know that they could use the aid if they needed it, but they didn't really want it and wanted to prove they could do it. My daughter never used one, just got out there. My son used one sometimes but mostly I would say why don't you try it without the aid and if you need it come back for it. That worked for him and he rarely used it. My kids learned very quickly, like the first or second time they tried, but I wouldn't stress about it either way.

Also, I see you're in LA so I don't know how much winter gear you have, but I've always found that ice skating in snow pants is WAY better because it keeps them warm and dry when they fall...and they will fall. Also maybe take a couple pairs of gloves because the knit gloves with get saturated quickly if she falls a lot. Also wear layers that are easily removed. It is cold out there, but it also gets warm if they are exercising a lot and my kids usually just wear long sleeves and a sweatshirt, plus hats and gloves.

We had an aid but got rid of it. We found the kids learned just as well without it.

Essentially they just sort of walk on the ice in their skates until they figure it out. Doesn't take long.

Our kids learned at home first few times (we had lake then later rink) and then put them in lessons. At our local lesson place - they do not use aids - not even for the youngest skaters. Kids just went very slowly to begin with. Quickly got hang of it.

Please have her wear a helmet.

The aids (like a walker) helped for one or two rounds (till they got confident) and then became a bit cumbersome.

Have fun!

depends on the kid. obviously some like the skating aids (or they wouldn't have them) but who can say whether or not yours is one of the ones who does?
it took my older about 10 or 15 minutes to learn. it took my younger several visits and a lot of tears and frustration.
beyond having her wear a helmet, i don't know what to tell you. every kid is different.
khairete
S.

It kind of depends on how willing she is to just give it a try. My oldest was more willing to try without than my youngest (he was afraid he would fall).

Make sure her skates are nice and snug and secure around the ankles. Wobbly ankles will make it much harder for her.

we helped the kids and let them use the aids when they were avalable. once the child is comfortable without a hand or an aid then watch them have fun.

Both my kids started skating at this age. I had them wear snow pants and gloves (for falling) as well as a bike helmet! My daughter liked wearing thicker knee high socks bc the ice skates start hurting your ankles. Make sure the skates are on tight. Depending on your child's personality, she might get really frustrated. Or if she sticks with it she should be doing much better by about her 3rd time ice skating. That is how my kids did anyway...but every child is different! This first time will be hard...she will get up, she will fall, she will get up, she will fall. I had my kids hold my hand and we would skate around. They would walk/shuffle really at first. It takes a lot of practice. If they have skating aids and your child can do it then yes, use it! Whatever makes it fun for your child is what you should do!

Expect that it will take her a few times to really get comfortable on skates. She might surprise you, but if she hasn't skated before, chances are good that she's not just going to take off after a short stint on the ice. If the rink where you are going allows kids to use milk crates, let her use them. A lot of rinks don't allow them. If the rink doesn't allow milk crates, then expect that you will start off hunched over uncomfortably as you hold her up, then she might be able hold on to the boards and shuffle along, then perhaps have one hand on the boards and another holding your hand while she moves slowly around the rink.

My kids all play hockey and they either started late (my oldest was 9 when he learned to skate so it took about an hour before he could move on his own) or really early, as soon as they could stand. Typically the brand new learn-to-skate kids need a couple of hours of ice time (two complete sessions) before they can stand without falling and move forward without crashing.

Have her wear snow pants, waterproof mittens and a bike helmet so that when she falls she's not afraid or uncomfortable. Really as long as they're not feeling cold or wet, most kids are fine with falling over and over. It's when the gloves get soggy and their fingers get cold that they stop thinking it's fun.

Whatever you do, if you are holding hands and she starts to go down don't pull up on her from that hand you're holding. She will then still fall but rotate towards you and you can ski over her. I understand this is a very common rookie mistake. Best thing is to let go if she falls or don't hold hands at all. I learned the hard way with my then 4.5 year old. Now 11, she loves to retell the story of how I broke her first two bones (index and middle finger). I love to pretend how horrifying it all was but really at the time she hardly cried at all. She's very tough. I learned a few lessons that day. One being if she cries at all, something is probably broken.