Little skate boarders

[eepster]

DS and I were at target to get him a new bike helmet to wear while he's on his trike. (I know he doesn't really need it but I want it to be a habit already well established before he moves on to a bike.)

In the same aisle they had skate boards. They had tiny little ones. He grab one off the shelf put it on the floor and hop on it perfectly. Now of course the wheels were inside wrapping so it wouldn't really roll, but frankly the kid looked pretty good on that skate board. He was balancing well and hopping on and off. I gave it a try myself to see if all the stability I was seeing was just from the wheels being wrapped, and I felt very wobbly when I stepped on it just like I had when I was a kid (I never could skate board myself though I my day they were slippery plastic {scroll down to see plastic boards from the 70s.})

I told him we needed to talk to dad about it. I think I would have just gone for it if I wasn't worried about what DH would say (I pretty sure DH never set foot on a skate board ever.) When I mentioned it to DH last night though he wasn't as against it as I thought he might be though (this may be do to lack of knowledge about what kids do on skate boards.)

Really tough should I? I know plenty of MDC moms get skate boards for their 4 yo, but I also get the impression those are moms who can skate themselves (unlike those of us who just repeatedly fell on our .) So, it's not like I can teach him. Heck, the kid is still on a trike, b/c he's so small (though he's got a big head and outgrew his helmet.)

Of course at 4yo it will be much easier to get him to keep his helmet and pads on while learning. I suspect enforcement of helmets will be a problem when he's 14yo.

I'm just very torn.

[Alyantavid]

I've never been able to skate board, but both my boys can and do pretty well. My almost 4 year old can hop on and off and skate along for awhile without falling. My 8 year old's more into tricks at this point. My dh was and is a skateboarder so he'll give them some tips here and there, but mostly they've just gotten on and practiced on their own.

I would get a full sized skateboard from a skate shop though.

[Drummer's Wife]

No way can I skate board, but my 5 and 7 yr old have full-size skateboards (they got them when they were 3.5 and 5.5). They don't skate-skate, like whiz down the driveway at this point. But they can go smaller distances before hoping off. They also sit on them, ride around on their bellies (inside, on the tile floor), and hook ropes to them to pull stuff, etc.

Honestly, it's not small kids with skateboards that would freak me out - but pre-teens/teenagers who do crazy stunts and such! That seems dangerous to me, and would have me paranoid - but of course, if they start at a young age it's likely they will be rather good at it - but still, scary to me.

[4evermom]

My youngest nephew jumps off and on a skateboard and scoots around on it. He wasn't more than 2 1/2 when he started. It's just a balance board with wheels .

[sapphire_chan]

There are Youtube videos of 2 year olds skateboarding (scarily a lot with NO helmets, but it still shows how stable a LO can be.)

They sell helmets and pads that fit LOs, so I say go for it.

You wouldn't need to be on a board yourself to keep up and help out, in fact, I'd think that'd make it more dangerous.

ETA: mind you, it's going to suck a bit for him that you aren't skaters with ramps already built in your back yard and stuff.

[nola79]

I can't skate to save my life, but my very active ds got his 1st skateboard around that age. Now, he didn't do much on it but balance and go up and down the driveway a couple of feet, but hey, he had fun doing that.
I say go for it.

[staceychev]

Originally Posted by Alyantavid

I would get a full sized skateboard from a skate shop though.

DH has been skating for almost 20 years (and still skates, with a bunch of "skate geezers" ) and says those little boards are junk. Your LO would have a better chance of learning with a full-size board that's actually decently aligned and such.

[yogamonkeyjo]

Originally Posted by staceychev

DH has been skating for almost 20 years (and still skates, with a bunch of "skate geezers" ) and says those little boards are junk. Your LO would have a better chance of learning with a full-size board that's actually decently aligned and such.

:

AND be sure to get him a skateboard helmet, which is different than a bike helmet, as bike helmets do not protect the back of his head. Skate helmets can be worn on bikes, but bike helmets are not great for skating.

If it makes you feel any better, we're generally pretty safety conscious and our not quite 18 month old skateboards on full size skateboards with his dad in the driveway and the basement. He loves it and does well and I feel great about all of the good agility work his brain and body are getting.

[karne]

And, I would add, knee pads and elbow pads, for protection. My youngest was on a skateboard at 3, and did/does just fine. I couldn't believe it because I didn't think he was super balanced, but he's done great. Most kids do, from what I can see.