How to encourage your 2 yo to skate?

[redvlagrl]

I know that the title of this thread makes me seem like some pushy hockey mom, but please read on! A few weeks ago, DD because obsessed with skating and hockey. She began saying things like "I need to learn to skate" or "I want to play hockey!". Although we do watch some hockey, it's not often that she sees it because we are a TV free household and she goes to bed at 7pm. I don't really know how she got the idea in her head. So we decided that we'd buy her some good skates and a helmet (cost $120). The first time we took her she loved it and didn't want to go home. But since then (twice) she hasn't wanted to get on the ice at all and has cried. In between skates she has continued to talk about skating. So what do I do to encourage her? She just goes like a limp noodle as soon as she's on the ice and today wouldn't go on at all and began crying. So we watched DH skate around for a while and then went home. Should we just keep on taking her, suiting her up and hope that she'll want to do it? Suggestions?

[Polliwog]

Does the rink have the double bladed skates for little kids?

[dejagerw]

I've seen little kids push traffic cones on the ice.  It helps them with balance.  Or just giving her a stick should help with balance too.  Maybe get some hockey things for at home.  Like a little net and stick set for indoors.  We've got one that has foam balls.  It might get her interested in it again.

[pbjmama]

Take her to watch kids playing?

[Tigerchild]

Time to back off.  It does suck that you spent $120 (I would have rented equipment at least until you knew whether or not she really liked it, but I totally get wanting her to have good skates and protective equipment you know is good and doesn't have lice or whatever)

A two year old isn't always the judge of what they're going to like doing.  I mean, I am 37 and I still try new things sometimes that aren't as fun as I thought they would be (like...knitting.)

Maybe do a family skate once a month for awhile.  She can hold both your hands to go around the ice, or you and your hubby can take turns enjoying yourselves skating while the other hangs out at the snack bar with the kiddo or whatever.

I would drop the hockey/skating focus and make it more about just a fun family thing you do together on a regular basis.  Her interest may revive, it may not.  Maybe you can take her to some local hockey games too, as a Fun Family Thing.

[redvlagrl]

Thanks for the replies. We did try getting her to hold onto one of those zimmer frame type things but she wouldn't have a bar of it. Today we are going to go to a shinny session so she can either watch or skate. We'll see if she likes it.  

They don't rent skates in her size, which is why we had to buy, also they didn't have any second hand ones. The only reason we actually bought them is because she seemed so obsessed and it's not really something you can try (we don't know any other kids who we could borrow skates from). I'm not really that concerned about the skates - DS should be able to wear them when he is older. I do totally get that she probably didn't know what it was going to be like, however the funny thing is that she really liked it the first time! I was totally prepared for her not to like it at all, but I am really confused. We'll see what happens today.

[just_lily]

Do her skates hurt?  Any blisters or pinches? 

Would she be willing to go on the ice just wearing boots? 

[Trac]

Do you think she might be frustrated because it's harder than she thought?  Was she able to go on her own a little?  Could she get herself standing?  I would look into CanSkate lessons.  The instructors are amazing, generally...they'll have her able to get on her feet by herself in the first lesson, and play fun games to get her "walking" on her skates.  Depending on your area, they would probably have short sessions to check out. 

[butterfly_mommy]

Yeah my almost 3 year old insisted that he already knew how to  skate. So last week we went to the local rink with hand me down skates and helmet,  DH and I do not skate or have skates by my BIL skates very well and so does my niece and some neighbours where there and took DS around the rink a few times. He then wanted to leave and said "Oh I can't skate" I asked him if he wanted to take lessons and he said "yes but next year" :) So we will try to register for can-skate next year. Hopefully we get more hand me downs by then  :)