When it comes to trying something new and exciting, ice skating is a sport that ranks pretty high on the list. If your child is looking to try something a little different, this is a great chance to have a lot of fun while also reaping the benefits of a great workout!
Want to make this an even more exceptional experience? Consider installing a synthetic home ice rink. It is way more doable than you think. Contact KwikRink and find out how.
Whether you head for lessons at the local arena or choose to create a home rink, this is a sport with plenty of benefits for the whole family!
Is Ice Skating A Good Workout?
In addition to being one of the most fun forms of exercise, ice skating has the extra benefit of providing a whole-body workout. It is easy on growing joints due to the low impact nature of the sport, and so can be a gentle and suitable alternative to running or jogging on growing bodies.
And those are not the only benefits.
Balance and coordination can also be hugely improved. These skills are targeted because ice skating is an activity that uses a lot of so-called ‘stabilizer muscles,’ which everyday life rarely uses fully.
These are primarily located around the knees, hips, and ankles. Muscle tone is also improved, and the challenge of keeping your balance helps to build a strong core and overall body strength.
Need more persuasion?
Ice skating can also be a great way to keep in shape as your child grows; skating at 14km per hour can burn up to 300 calories with minimal effort!
What If I Can’t Get To A Rink?
Despite the growing popularity of ice skating, families living in remote or rural areas may struggle to get out to a rink for lessons. The good news is that you don’t have to!
Building a home ice rink may seem like a daunting challenge. Though overwhelming, this does not have to be the case.
Contact the folks at KwikRink Synthetic Ice and see how easily you can be skating, year-round, on your very own rink! Before long, your child will be building and honing their skills and abilities in the comfort of their backyard, or even their basement.
A home rink can be perfect for newbies who are just starting and who may be nervous or self-conscious in a public space. They are also an ideal solution if you are already a keen skater, looking to get a head start on next season. Or to perfect a technique, just in time for a test date or big performance!
What Can Your Child Learn?
Why should you go to this trouble just so your child can skate? As we have mentioned, getting on the ice is a great way to build strength and agility, and is a great physical and mental workout for your child. There are a host of benefits to the sport, and participants can learn some precious lessons, such as:
If you fall, get back up: Ice skating is a tricky activity performed on a very slippery surface. At some point, a fall is inevitable, especially when you are just starting. Though sometimes a little painful, this can also be an excellent chance for your child to learn some serious resilience.
To improve and become the ice dancer they have dreamed of, every skater has to fall, get back up, and try again. This lesson applies to life as well as on the ice.
Try, try and try again: When you see fluid, graceful ice skaters performing at the Olympics or in a show, it is easy to think that their moves look effortless. In truth, there are hundreds of hours of practice which have gone into perfecting their techniques and routines, and this can be an excellent lesson for your child.
The only way to get better is to practice, and there is always something to learn.
Exercise can be fun! We know how important regular exercise is for growing bodies, and as a way to boost mental health. However, organized sports can be a turn off for many children at a young age.
Ice skating is a perfect way to show them that there are fun alternatives. They are introduced to new ways to move their bodies, which do not require team sports or a traditional workout.
Establishing a love of exercise at a young age is valuable, and something your child will carry through their lives.
Confidence is key: The unique challenges offered by ice skating means that progress can be slow. This slow progress can lead to a powerful moment when your child can reflect on how far they have come.
Spending several hours mastering the basics may seem tedious at the time, but the rewards will follow. In the long term, it will allow them to stand tall and confident when it comes to trying the more complex moves.
It will also show them that a little hard work and self-belief will help them to achieve more than they thought possible!
Balance is essential: A big part of succeeding in ice skating is the ability to master your balance and coordination. These areas are crucial to unlocking more complex moves, and training and practice will give your child a better awareness of their sense of balance.
They must use all the parts of their body to succeed – if they neglect one area, the whole trick falls apart.
Acknowledging and understanding this also allows for an opportunity to extend this concept more fully into their life. Just as balance is essential for performing a tricky spin in skating, it is needed in everyday life to help your child stay well-rounded and adjusted.
Learning to master their balance and body on the ice can provide the tools they need to succeed in a range of other areas.
Why Wait?
Getting started with ice skating may seem daunting; there are lessons, schedules, transportation, and safety equipment to consider.
A backyard rink can alleviate a few of these considerations and provide as many benefits as a commercial space, all while having the bonus of being available 24/7 for your child!
With so many fantastic benefits to the sport, why not take the plunge today, and set your child up for a whole host of positive outcomes. What are you waiting for?
Contact KwikRink to get started, and get your child on their way to being the best they can be today!
