Choosing a first Roller Skate

(471 Words)
Roller skating is a great activity for children of different ages. When your child is finally old enough to roller skate then it is time to get him or her a first pair of skates. Use a variety of criteria to choose this set.
First you want to make sure to get something that is age appropriate. The manufacturer will recommend an age range for the skate. Try to stay within that so that you know it is appropriate for your child. Also, for most they will get a quad skate as the first skate. This has four wheels in a rectangular shape, which is easier to skate on for beginning skaters compared to an inline skate.
Look at style. There are different styles that you can choose. One popular first skate style is to have skates that simple fit on over shoes. One popular and highly-rated such skate is the Fisher-Price Barbie Grow With Me 1,2,3 Roller Skates. This skate is a quad style and just goes right over your child’s own shoes. Because the child is still wearing his or her own footwear, he or she may be more comfortable and accustomed to it.
Look for extra features. There are many different features that could be very useful for a new skater. For instance, the Barbie skate has three settings to help your child learn to skate. In the first setting you lock a wheel. The child can then walk in the skate and get used to having skates on. In the second setting you set it so that the adjustment wheel can roll in a forward direction but cannot go backwards. The third setting makes free-wheeling wheels. They are not spaced too closely to make the wheels more stable.
Another nice feature is adjustability. There are many different skates that are adjustable like the Barbie skates. This will make it last longer and be more of an investment.
Another popular skate that is adjustable but is a full quad skate (doesn’t strap on to shoes) is the Chicago Girl’s Adjustable Quad Skate. This skate has also garnered good reviews and lets your child progress through four sizes. It is soft and comfortable with semi-precision bearings, a toe stop and large composition wheels.
Look at the appearance. Your child might want a skate that is a brand name to a specific character such as the Barbie skates.
You should consider reviews and ratings when choosing a skate for your child. Websites such as Amazon allow you to view this in one place.
Ultimately you want your child to be comfortable in his or her skates. Try them on in a store or at home and only keep them if they are comfortable.
You want to choose the right first skate. Evaluate your options fully to make the best selection.