babies on ice

Tiny little girls in skating dress as the smallest skates you've ever seen. Cute right?

Well, they make me cringe a little. I've seen the littlest kids doing "jumps" when they can't do three turns and spins when they can't do crossovers. Skating in competitions and shows to routines they can't remember without coach shouting the steps to them.

They get the biggest cheers, and I'm all for that, because those little babies need all the help they can get! It's like five year olds doing a-levels, it's too much too soon. They're gonna burn out before they hit double digits. And boy, will those parents and coaches be disappointed then!

I don't think anyone (whether they're 3, 13 or 30) should be taught to jump if they can't do the steps leading into the jump. I don't mean well and at speed and with a good jump after them, I mean at all. One of my friends did her first competition aged 7 and cried when she got lost halfway through and fell at the end. And I'm no child pychologist, but there's a big difference between pre-schoolers and 7 year olds.

My advice to those parents of the babies on ice is to let the kids play on the ice. There's plenty of time for lessons and competitions when they're out of nappies.