How to Teach Your Child to Skateboard Aged 5+

Has your child expressed interest in skateboarding?

Maybe trips to the park have them in awe of the talents of local skateboarders. Watching them quickly perform twists and turns as they whizz past may have sparked their adventurous side!

To support your child safely as they start their skateboarding journey, remember to start slowly to avoid any unnecessary falls and bumps along the way.

Skateboarding Checklist

• A skateboard – with lots of sizes and patterns, there’s a board for every child. You can have a look at our Skateboard range.
• A helmet
• Knee pads and elbow pads
• Suitable sturdy shoes
• First aid kit – plasters and bandages are handy to have on hand for those inevitable falls
• Water and a snack – learning a new skill is hard work!

(Fun fact: skateboard accessories were the first toys Gary Grant, the owner of The Entertainer, started selling in 1981!)

Get to Know Your Skateboard

First things first, encourage your child to become acquainted with their new board. Choose somewhere with a soft surface to start. Set up in the lounge or in the garden and let them step on and off the board, then try jumping on and off.

Where to Place Your Feet

Having their feet in the correct place is important for a smooth and controlled ride. It’s best to get this mastered from the get-go so they can ride safely.

Get your child to place the foot they feel most comfortable leading with at the front of the board – for most people this would be the left. The right would then go at the back, about a shoulder’s width apart from the front foot. You can also use the bolts on the board as a guide.

Try out different positions to ensure they feel comfortable and balanced.

Finding Your Balance

It might feel strange standing on the skateboard at first while your little one finds the best stance. There isn’t a correct stance per se, as it all depends on the individual, but your child will be able to feel what way they prefer.

Try following some of these key steps for when they are on their board:

1. First place your feet in the most comfortable position (remember shoulder width apart)
2. Keep your head upright and look forward (of course, look at the ground from time to time to check for any unwanted obstacles)
3. Slightly bend your legs
4. Practice shifting your balance and adjusting the pressure on each leg until they feel stable

Once they’ve found their balance it’s time to start skateboarding!

First Taste of Skateboarding

While some children may feel confident enough to kick off and skate straightaway, others may prefer a practice run first.

Find a flat, smooth area and get them to stand on their board in their balanced position. Then get them to hold onto your hands as you pull and walk them round slowly.

When they have got use to moving on the board, they can practice kicking off themselves. This is where the fun begins! Remember to remain upbeat and calm as they start to ride solo as falls are inevitable.

With their back foot in place on the board, they can kick off with their left foot (or right, if that’s their dominant front foot) and place it at the front of the skateboard.

Again, they may feel more comfortable kicking off with their back foot instead. Encourage them to experiment till they find the foot that feels the best. Once they’ve kicked off, they can find their comfortable stance and enjoy rolling forward in a straight line. Keep practising until they can do this confidently and fall-free!

Moving On From The Basics

Once your child has got the basics, they’re going to be excited and motivated to start learning more advanced tricks.

They can keep practising in the same place or it might be time to head to the skatepark. Try to aim for a quiet time where they can easily test out some new surfaces, ramps and slopes.

There’s going to be lots of highs as they progress and learn more impressive skills but remember to provide positive encouragement for those sessions that may be more challenging.

Remind them that even the best skateboarders had to start at the beginning! As long as they’re having fun, staying safe and learning new skills, you’ll both enjoy a great afternoon together.

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