Teaching your child to longboard can be an incredibly rewarding experience, opening up a world of fun, exercise, and bonding. While skateboarding and longboarding share similarities, longboarding, with its longer deck and larger wheels, offers a different feel and learning curve, often considered more stable and easier for beginners. This guide provides a step-by-step approach to teaching your child how to longboard safely and effectively.
Before getting started, it’s important to understand that children below the age of 5 should be closely monitored, if introduced to longboarding. Their bodies are still developing, and their bones and muscles may not be strong enough to handle potential impacts. It’s crucial to prioritize safety and ensure a gentle introduction to the sport. This guide assumes your child is ready for this type of activity. Here’s how you can help your child learn to longboard:
Getting Started: Building Confidence and Familiarity
-
Start on a Soft Surface: Begin the learning process on a patch of grass or carpet. This will prevent the longboard from rolling away and give your child a chance to get comfortable with the feeling of standing on the board.
-
Board Familiarization: Let your child jump on and off the longboard several times to get a feel for its weight and balance. When standing on the board, their feet should be positioned near the trucks (the metal parts connecting the wheels to the deck).
-
Leaning and Balance Exercises: Have your child lean forward and backward using their toes and heels, encouraging them to bend their knees slightly. This helps them understand how their weight affects the board’s movement.
-
Finding Their Stance: Determine whether your child is regular (left foot forward) or goofy (right foot forward). This can be done by walking alongside them while holding their hands as they stand on the board and seeing which direction they naturally lean into. It’s not about right or left-handedness, but what feels more comfortable and stable for them. Ask them to try both directions to confirm their preference.
-
The First Steps: Have them place their preferred foot near the front trucks of the board. Then, have them walk slowly, pushing with their other foot while you hold their hand or walk close by. As they get comfortable, encourage them to take a step with their back foot and then place it on the board. Repeating this motion will build momentum.
Child learning to push on a longboard
Learning to Push and Ride
Once your child is comfortable with basic balance and movement, you can move on to pushing and riding:
-
Foot Placement: Explain that their front foot should be near the front trucks and point towards the direction they want to go, while their pushing foot should be used to propel themselves forward. This is similar to walking, but the pushing foot goes back onto the board after each push.
-
Start Slowly: Encourage them to start by “walking” with the board, using their pushing foot to take slow steps. Hold their hands for stability.
-
One Step at a Time: Gradually have them take one step with their pushing foot and then place it onto the board, close to the front foot. This should be repeated, each time going a little farther.
-
Proper Posture: Remind them to bend their knees slightly, keep their back straight, and look in the direction they are going. This will help with balance and control.
-
Avoiding Parallel Foot Placement: Emphasize the importance of never having both feet parallel to each other on the board as it can easily lead to imbalance and falls.
Finding a Gentle Slope
After your child has learned to push and maintain balance, you can introduce them to a gentle slope.
-
Start Slow: Have your child sit on the board first at the top of the slope, giving them a chance to get comfortable and build confidence.
-
Initial Push: Walk them a bit up the slope (not all the way), and have them stand on the board. Start by blocking the board with your feet, and then gently let go (don’t push). Make sure to run alongside them to help them balance.
-
Practice Downhill: After a few attempts, your child should be able to ride down the slope independently. Ensure they have quality equipment to avoid any sudden falls. Inspect the area for any obstacles like rocks or glass before you start.
Longboarding Together
Once your child has some experience, longboarding together can be a lot of fun. You can:
-
Push and Follow: Have your child make a few pushes and then follow behind them. When you are close enough, give them a gentle push to help them keep moving.
-
Practice Falling: Practice rolling into the grass or a soft surface. This teaches your child how to react and minimize impact when falling.
-
Regular Practice: Try to longboard together regularly for consistent improvement and a fun activity.
Child wearing full protective gear while longboarding
Protective Gear is Essential
Safety should always be your top priority. Make sure your child wears full protective gear:
- Helmet: A properly fitted helmet is crucial to prevent head injuries.
- Knee Pads: Knee pads protect the knees from scrapes and impacts.
- Elbow Pads: Elbow pads are essential to cushion the elbows during falls.
- Wrist Guards: Wrist guards provide support and reduce the risk of wrist injuries.
It’s important to make sure the gear fits properly and is in good condition. Poorly fitted gear can be ineffective and even dangerous.
Child's scraped elbow after falling off a skateboard
If your child does get hurt, comfort them but avoid making a big deal out of it. Encourage them to get back on the board once they are ready. The aim is to associate longboarding with fun and not pain.
Tips for Parents
Here are some tips to help your child enjoy the learning process:
Early Introduction
Introduce the longboard at a young age by letting them see you enjoy it. Take them with you when you go longboarding, even if they are just observing.
Building Confidence
The protective gear helps with confidence as they know they’re protected from serious injury. This allows them to be less fearful and learn faster.
Patience is Key
Take things slowly and at their own pace. If they aren’t interested or are struggling, don’t push them. Try again another day. This allows them to continue associating fun with longboarding.
Regular Practice
Practice regularly (once a week or more) to build muscle memory and improve their skills. Kids tend to forget if they don’t practice regularly, making it feel like they are starting over.
Show and Make Videos
Show them videos of other children longboarding and also record them so they can see how they are doing. This helps them to see their progress and identify areas where they can improve.
Proper Clothing and Gear
Make sure they are wearing the right clothes and shoes that enable them to feel the board. Their shoes should have good contact with the board and provide some cushioning. Buy a quality longboard from a reputable skate shop to ensure proper stability. Don’t buy longboards that are considered to be toy decks.
Avoid Pressure
Never pressure them to learn faster or be better. Longboarding should be fun and enjoyable. If they want to stop, that’s okay.
Positive Reinforcement
Reward them after longboarding sessions, but not as a bribe for learning. Instead, focus on their progress, and give positive reinforcement and encouragement.
Ideal Location
Visit skate parks early in the morning or find a quiet location where they can practice without many distractions. Ensure the area is clear of glass, rocks, and other obstacles.
Always stay close to your child while they are learning. Do not push them directly, but hold their arms and move alongside them. Pushing them from behind can cause them to lose balance.
Conclusion
Teaching your child to longboard can be a fantastic journey filled with fun, learning, and shared experiences. By following these steps, focusing on safety, and being patient and supportive, you can help your child develop a love for longboarding that can last a lifetime. Remember, it’s not about how fast they learn, but how much fun they have while doing it.
