Purchasing Skates for Children
You have two options when it comes to children's skates: roller blades and roller skates. Many of these skates are adjustable in size and offer excellent ankle support, making them very suitable for kids. Discover how to select the right skates for your youngster with this purchasing guide.
To quickly understand what to consider before acquiring a pair of children's skates, watch this informative video in English.
Skating alongside your child provides a rewarding and enjoyable activity that is not only beneficial for physical fitness, but also enhances your child's motor skills like balance, all while enjoying fresh air. If your child is new to skating, it's advisable to skate together to help instil a sense of security.
Which is more appropriate: roller blades or roller skates?
Kids' roller blades and roller skates have several features in common, although they differ in other areas. At SkatePro, all our skate wheels are crafted from PU rubber (polyurethane), unlike those made from plastic. Rubber wheels are preferable as they offer better grip compared to their plastic counterparts.
In addition, children's skates provide robust ankle support, ensuring enhanced stability and control for your child.
Children's Roller Blades
Roller blades, also known as inline skates, allow for easier acceleration and speed maintenance, due to their narrow wheels which have reduced surface contact and consequently, lesser rolling resistance.
These are typically lightweight and, since they lack trucks, they require minimal maintenance.
We suggest inline skates if you intend to take your child on extended outings. Furthermore, they serve as an alternative during the summer to ice skates and allow you to keep practising your ice skating skills in warmer months.
Roller Skates for Children / Quad Skates
Roller skates, or quad skates, feature wheels arranged in pairs rather than in a line, and a wide baseplate design enhances stability and balance. There is a toe stop located at the front, used for pushing off and as a braking mechanism.
Quad skates have more rolling resistance due to their wider wheels. This ensures your child does not unexpectedly gain excessive speed and dash off.
Quad skates are equipped with trucks beneath, allowing you to modify skate hardness. This offers the option to make the skate more manoeuvrable for easier turning or tighter for greater directional stability.
Roller skates are often regarded as the original skates since they were the first to be marketed, and some parents choose roller skates because they remember having them during their own childhood.
Adjustable Size Skates for Children
Many children's skates offer adjustable sizing, greatly simplifying the process of choosing the right size. These skates can grow with your child, accommodating about 3-4 sizes. Size adjustment is straightforward; simply slide the boot forwards and backwards by pressing a button or using another mechanism.
If opting for non-size adjustable skates, bear these tips in mind:
- Always consult the size guide available on each product page.
- A common guideline is selecting one size larger than the regular shoe size, unless otherwise specified in the size guide.
Protective Gear for Skating
To avert potential injuries, we always advocate for the use of a comprehensive set of protective gear covering the head, wrists, elbows, and knees.
Ensure you choose certified protective equipment. At SkatePro, we only offer gear certified according to the EN 1078 standards. Further, most of our equipment is additionally tested by skaters.
We advise your child to use a skate helmet as it covers the back of the head effectively, making it particularly suitable for skating activities where falls typically occur backwards. Certain skate helmets are also size adjustable. Children's wrist guards usually have two plates - one above and one below the hand. This stabilises the hand and offers better protection against fractures.
Always refer to the size guide to determine the correct size to select.
Care and Maintenance of Children's Skates
Properly caring for your child's skates ensures they perform well for many years. This involves:
- Avoid skating on sand and in water.
- Store the skates in a dry location, ideally indoors.
Explore our extensive range of roller skates for children or roller blades for children.
If you require further guidance, feel free to get in touch with us. Our customer support team is always eager to assist. :-)