Archive for the Category Skater Pictures

Are you nervous about your child beginning to roller skate?  The article below might ease your nerves and help YOU teach them with confidence:

Roller skating is just one of the fun exercises that parents and children can do together that incorporates a healthy lifestyle. Roller skating burns the same amount of calories as running, without the shock impact on your knees that running brings. It is a great workout and it also helps improve balancing skills.

Before you begin to teach your children how to roller skate make sure you have the right skates and safety equipment. Always have your children wear a helmet, knee pads, elbow pads and wrist pads, even if you are with them roller skating.

Preschool
Young children should wear skates that are specifically made for preschoolers. You can buy skates that have adjustable wheels for the stable progress of your little one. You can adjust your child’s skates as they learn and grow with skating.

When your children’s skates have adjusted to the highest level possible, teach them the skating stance and proper pushing techniques. The skating stance starts with your feet in a simple V shape and children should be asked to push their feet out from their other leg. If they start with the left leg have them push their left foot outward and then continue with the right foot. Be close by your preschooler as this will take time and patience for them to understand and manipulate properly.

Main points to address:

• Buy skates that are intended for preschoolers.
• Give them time to comprehend the skater stance and pushing techniques.

Grades K-3rd
Skating is merely pushing yourself with wheels on your feet. Show your children the stance of skaters (if you are unaware of this technique it is provided above). It shouldn’t take them long to get the hang of doing this, as it is a simple technique to learn. But you both should understand that none of this will come without one, two or a few hundred falls. Yet, this is a relatively easy technique to pick up for most children in this age group, so they’ll be skating like a pro in no time.

Unlike the preschooler skates, if you have given them a regular pair of skates to work with, you’ll have to teach them to stop. Which can be done by instructing them to place the ball (that is directly on the front of the skate) on the ground and pull it along until they come to a complete stop.

Main points to address:

• Teach them the skating stance and proper pushing techniques.
• Teach them proper stopping techniques.

Grades 4th-6th
Once your children reach this age group and they already know the simple techniques to skating and stopping you can teach them the proper format to skate backwards. They will take the same stance they used for skating forward but this time they will push their feet inward instead of outward. This may take a few times, because most children will tangle their feet together when they first attempt to skate backwards, and let them know that’s okay. But the trick is to push your feet outward just before they meet up. Their feet will be making connected figure eight motions. In, then out, in, then out…have them continue this backward routine a few times a day to really get the hang of it.

If interested, you can introduce inline skating with your child. The same stance and pushing techniques are used with inline skates as they are with roller skates therefore the only thing that will be different is trying to balance on inline skates. Once they get the hang of skating with them better they will be able to use them properly. Practice makes perfect.

Main points to address:

• Teach them how to skate backwards.
• Introduce inline skates to your child.
• Provide the same instructions for inline skates as roller skates.

Article by:

http://www.teachkidshow.com/teach-your-child-how-to-roller-skate/

Yup for those of us who skated rough in the late 80’s early 90’s it was a song on the radio “White Wedding” by Billy Idol. Now, two people take the idea to the next level by having a wedding on Roller Skates! 

I found this article and thought I would share it. This article explains how exercise (such as roller skating) can help people with diabetes…

DIABETES EXERCISES
How does exercise help diabetes?
Exercise is a great way to help control weight and it also lowers the blood sugar level. It also lowers a person’s risk of heart disease - a condition that is very common in people who have diabetes.

Exercise can also help you feel better about yourself and increase your overall health.

What kind of exercises to be done?

There are no specific exercises for one to do. Choose any cardio exercise (walking, running, cycling, aerobics, skating, warm-ups and cool-downs, tennis, etc.) - anything that increases the heart rate.

Aerobic exercise strengthens the heart and keeps the exerciser’s muscles warm. Strength training builds stamina, while improving both joints and muscles. Warm-ups and cool-downs are essential for the safety of the exerciser.

No matter what kind of exercise one does, make sure to warm up before starting, and cool down when done. To warm up, spend 5 to 10 minutes doing a low-intensity exercise such as walking.

Then gently stretch for another five to ten minutes. Repeat these steps after exercising to cool down.

When you start an exercise program, go slowly. Gradually increase the intensity and length of the workout as one gradually gets more fit.

Consult a doctor about what kind of exercise is right for you, depending on whether one has any other health problems.

1. Aerobic exercise -

Aerobic exercise helps increase heart rate, as well as breathing rate. This makes one breathe more deeply and also makes the heart work harder. It is best to aim for a total of about 30 minutes a day, at least 5 days a week. Here are some examples of aerobic exercises:

· Take a brisk walk either outside or on a treadmill

· Dance classes

· Swimming

· Jogging

· Roller-skating

· Tennis or badminton

· Indoor stationary bicycle

2. Strength training -

Strength training, done several times a week, helps build strong bones and muscles. Some ways to do it:

· Join a gym to do strength training with weights.

· Lift light weights at home

3. Flexibility exercises -

Flexibility exercises, also called stretching, helps keep joints flexible and reduces the chances of injury during other activities. Gentle stretching for 5 to 10 minutes helps the body to warm up, as well as get ready for aerobic activities.

4. Be on the move throughout the day -

Being active helps burns calories. The more you move around, the more energy one will have.

« Walk instead of driving whenever possible.

« Take the stairs instead of the elevator

« Work in the garden or do some housecleaning every day

« Walk to the market; park your car ½ kilometer before the market.

Are there any risks associated with exercising for people with diabetes?

There are some mild risks, but the benefits far outweigh the risks. So, its necessary to moderately exercise daily the right way.

Exercise changes the way in which the body reacts to insulin. Regular and strenuous exercise makes the body more sensitive to insulin, and thus, the blood sugar level may suddenly get too low after exercising.

Therefore, it is important to check the blood sugar level before and after exercising, and follow the doctor’s advice as suggested for low blood sugar.

If the blood sugar level is too low or too high right before one starts exercising, it is better to wait until the level improves, and normalizes.

It is also important to keep a check on blood sugar level if exercising in extreme hot or cold conditions, because temperature affects how the body absorbs insulin.

Should one drink plenty of fluids during exercising?

Yes. While exercising, our body uses more fluid to keep the body temperature cool. Therefore, by the time one feels thirsty, he may already be getting dehydrated. Dehydration can seriously affect the blood sugar level in the body.

Drink plenty of fluids, water before, during and after exercise.

What safety tips to follow while exercising?

Exercise can affect and lower the blood sugar level, so pay attention to possible warning signs during workout such as:

· Sudden change in heartbeat

· if one starts sweating more

· feels shaky, anxious or hungry

· feeling weak or dizzy

If you feel this way, stop exercising and check out on a doctor. It might be hypoglycemia or low blood sugar. It is normally recommended to keep candy, glucose biscuits or juice nearby to treat hypoglycemia.

Exercise tips for people with diabetes:

· Talk to the doctor about the right exercise for you.

· Check blood sugar level before and after exercising.

· Wear the proper shoes and socks, so as to avoid infection and blisters.

· Drink plenty of fluid before, during and after exercising.

· Warm up before exercising and cool down afterward.

· Have some juice handy in case blood sugar level drops too low.

Written By: Tom Alter
www.diabetesmellitus-information.com

We had the pleasure of helping out a school district in Napakiak Alaska becoming physically fit by supplying them with roller inline skates!

They have sent us some pictures of the kids opening their skates and trying them on.

Here is a note from the school…

We have received the shipment in March and have already begun to skate! In-line skating, an aerobic activity, can now be enjoyed by the students in our gym. We plan to have community evenings for students to skate with their families in April/May.

Students now have another activity in their school that can be a life-long learning activity to further develop physical health. As an example, our Jr. High plans to practice skating and then measure their cardio workout for the Health Class curriculum. The Kindergarten and First Grade students have each written an ‘experience story’ about their first in-line skating.

How cool is this!!