roller skates/blades ???

[mtemm]

we were at a sporting goods store the other day and I took a look at the roller skate/blade section for DS5. he fell in love with these bright blue roller skates...just loved them. he's normally a timid kid when it comes to stuff he doesn't know how to do, but he took to these right off the bat. I didn't even know they still made skates, I have roller blades and that's all I seem to see older kids wearing. unfortunately, they didn't carry blades in his size (11.5), but the skates he liked were in his size. we went ahead and got them for him, but dh is concerned that they are dorky, and that he is better of anyway with blades. I say, does it matter if they are dorky at age 5, and figure if he learns to roller skate this summer, then next year he can get blades and should do well with them. I used to roller skate constantly as a kid, and when I first tried blades when I was around 30, I had zero problem, just took off. yes, there are differences, but a lot of it is the same, kwim?

I guess my questions are, do they even make blades in this small a size? and do you think it matters if they are skates or blades? (yes, he's in love with the skates, but if they do make blades in the same size, I'm sure I could stear his love that way).

 

[corie161]

This is the pair I bought my DS last year when he was 5, they are adjustable size and have held up great. Close to looking like a blade. He loves them!

 

[RunDanceSkate]

My Kids have had rollar blades since they were 4 and D has very small feet at 10yrs old she is in a size 13 so I am sure we have owned some very small pairs, I think the first place that I found a small size was Sears. Keep looking, quads are cute but my kids wouldn't wear them, too restrictive, but they are both competitive figure skaters.

Cindy

 

[I'mNoPrince]

Rollerskates are way more cooler then Blades.

That just my very biased opinion as I grew up in a rollerskating rink that my Dad helped run.

Corie161's are just to wild looking.

 

[corie161]

Rollerskates are way more cooler then Blades.

That just my very biased opinion as I grew up in a rollerskating rink that my Dad helped run.

Corie161's are just to wild looking.

They may be wild looking in comparison to roller skates. I also grew up roller skating and what he has isn't your normal looking pair of skates, but it was my suggestion of a skate if what you want is something more resembling roller blades, but the stability of a roller skate.

It doesn't matter to me what they look like...as long as he is having fun with them, and I liked the fact these adjusted with his growing size, but were still a durable skate.

 

[I'mNoPrince]

DD had 2 pairs of rollerblades with that same type of boot system. They lasted until she outgrew them as well. It was nice to not to have to buy a new pair every year.

 

[rt2dz]

DS6 (just turned) has finally learned to skate. Fell in love with it and wanted a pair of skates for Christmas. I wasn't sure on the skates/blade thing either. I did a lot--A LOT--of research on it. Even talked to the people who run the skating rink around here. Most of the experts, actual experts not just big skaters, said start with rollerskates.

From what I was told/researched it is because it is hard to learn to skate after learning to blade, but it is really easy to learn to blade after learning to skate. It is better on your ankles if you don't have great balance. More control and better balance with skates. If you do lessons (our rink offers them 1/2 hour once a week via walk in), they won't let you do them in blades. There are less injuries from falls on skates than blades if you don't know how to skate. A few more reasons that I can't remember, sorry.

The way I figure it, the skates he has won't last too long. They are adjustable (size 1-4) and we've already moved up a size. By the time he gets good enough for a pair of blades, he'll need a new pair anyhow.

Most of the kids are just learning to skate and use rental skates at birthday parties and school skates. They don't notice and they don't care. Even some of the older ones have skates. And then those other kids, especially the "big kids" tell DS they like his skates. Retro is cool.