Has your child expressed an interest in ice-skating? If so, there are several things that you need to consider when purchasing a pair of skates for her.
Some parents are worried that if they buy an expensive pair of skates and then their child ends up dropping the sport that they will have wasted their money They are tempted to start their child out with an inexpensive pair of skates. This is not a good idea because a poor fitting skate is one factor in why children drop out of the sport. You don’t need to pay over $300 like the pros do. You can get a good starter skate for around $40. These will have good support and a good blade.
If your child is interested just in recreational skating, a boot with average support will be sufficient. It should not be too stiff. It will be able to quickly mold to your child’s foot without causing blisters.A soft nylon boot would be fine, too. I
f your child is interested in jumping and doing tricks, get a skate with a stiffer boot. You could also get a gel liner that would give added comfort.
In determining the correct size, the boot should fit snug. It should not put pressure on the bones or the joints. Pressure will cause blisters.
When skating, your child will want to wear a thin pair of socks so that she will be able to get a good feel of the ice. When you go to the store to buy the skates, take the socks with you that she will wear while skating. That way, you will be able to find a skate that will fit correctly.
If your child wants to play hockey, get hockey skates.The length of the boot is different, has no toe-pick, and the blade is rounded on both ends.