Kids Skis : What To Know When Chosing Skis For Kids

October 27, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Getting kids out on the slopes is easier than you think. Skiing is a great family sport, and is something that all but the very smallest children can appreciate, but you will need to make sure that you properly equip your child to get out on the slopes.

Equipment rental is always a possibility, but if your family are keen skiers or you live in a ski area, then you really might want to consider buying equipment.

Most kids will get at least two seasons out of equipment, so it could be a good investment. Want to know what you should be buying? Here’s everything you need to get your child out on the slopes in no time…

Kids Skis Themselves

Kids Ski For Small KidsWhen buying kids skis you’re going to want to make sure that you measure the skis and your child.

Kids skis should come somewhere between the child’s nose and chest area when the skis are placed next to the standing child. Shorter skis are going to be best for true beginners, since speeds will be slower, and if your child is a little underweight for his age you also might want to consider shorter skis.

Longer skis will mean more speed, and are also recommended for children who are a little above average weight. These kids skis are a good choice for smaller kids. Notice that they’re thicker than normal skis in order to give the child more control and stability.

For older children something more like this pair of skis may be more appropriate, since they’re a little thinner and will get a little more speed. When it comes to bindings, make sure that they’re tight and fit well and that they are specifically designed to be children’s bindings NOT adult models. The ski’s manufacturer will note whether bindings are adult or child appropriate.

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Filed Under: Kids Skis, Ski Equipment

Ice Skates for Kids : How To Find The Perfect Pair

September 4, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Ice Skates for KidsWithout the proper skates, ice skating can be dangerous.

Choosing the right skates for your kids is essential.

Fortunately, there are a few guidelines that will help you choose the right kind of skate, whether you want toddler ice skates, fast girls skates, or boys hockey skates.

Read on to find out the important info you need to ensure that you’re buying the right skates for your child…

Fit is Important When Choosing Ice Skates For Kids

[easyazon-image align=”right” asin=”B00520BB1A” locale=”us” height=”300″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51FOpSYN2ML.jpg” width=”300″]As with anything that goes on your child’s feet, fit is extremely important.

Skates that are too big will allow slippage and loss of control on the ice. Skates that are too small can damage your child’s feet. Ensure that boots fit snugly, that the heel doesn’t slip, and that toes have a little wiggle room.

In general ice skates will require a lengthy breaking in period, since the material of the boot has to be stiff to give support. A boot may not be comfortable at first fitting, so do make sure that it fits appropriately.

Your child will probably need to wear the skates around the house (with guards on!) for a while to break them in.

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Filed Under: Hockey Equipment, Kids Ice Skates

Boys Winter Coats

August 31, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Boys Winter CoatsWinter coats for kids are obviously extremely important.

But you can’t just bow to the demands of style when deciding which coat to go for. Boys in particular have quite particular needs when it comes to a great coat.

Active and energetic, your boy is looking for a coat that not only keeps him warm, but also accommodates all his activities.

Shopping in the outdoors and sports section is the best way to get an appropriate kids winter coat. But what exactly should you be looking for?

Here are a few ideas that you might want to keep in mind.

Boys Winter Coats Sizes

Boys Winter Coats SizesYou want to choose the right size of coat for your child.

When you’re making a relatively big investment it can be very tempting to buy clothing in a larger size that your child can grow into.

However, children do all grow at different rates, and because kids winter coats are worn for such a limited time there’s no guarantee that even the bigger size will fit him next year.

Sleeves should cover the wrist, length should come just below the butt, and the jacket should be snug but lose enough that he can wear a sweater or two beneath.

Keeping Your Boys Warm During Winter

Of course, kids winter coats need to be warm. Remember that it’s generally far more effective to wear layers that trap heat inside them than it is to buy one thick coat.

Another factor here is the level of activity of your child.

[easyazon-image align=”right” asin=”B0083IW6Z8″ locale=”us” height=”324″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51B7iJy19iL.jpg” width=”300″]Boys do tend to run around and want to play in the snow, so buying coats that layer give the option of removing one layer of clothing without actually taking off an entire jacket. Something like this coat from Columbia is an excellent option.

You can detach the outer shell from the inner fleece lining and wear either part separately or both together.

This also makes the coat a better investment, since it can be worn in different temperature ranges.

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Filed Under: Boys Winter Coats, Ski Equipment, Winter Sports

Amazing Kids Tennis Rackets and Lessons You Can Teach At Home!

August 28, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Kids Tennis BallsIf you’ve spent any time on our kids tennis page you will have noticed that we highly recommend the smallest and lightest tennis racket that we could find that is made by Le Petit Tennis, as well as their “My First Tennis Kit – Starter Kit“, and their great portable nets.

We are strong believers that the are really onto something great for kid tennis! Their story based tennis lessons, age appropriate tennis equipment and special tennis balls make it very fun for kids to learn how to play tennis.

We stumbled across this video on YouTube which shows their lessons in action. What we really noticed was how the children were engaged in the stories and adventures and didn’t really know that they were leaning how to hit forehands, backhands and serves! Here is the 3 minute and 15 second video:

What is really exciting is that you can recreate this kids tennis lesson plan at home or at your local free public court! As the instructor in the video mentioned, you “don’t need to be a tennis coach, or even know about tennis to be able to teach tennis”!

Here are some links to quickly find the products that will help you get your child/children started with tennis:

Tennis can be enjoyed by kids of all ages with the proper equipment.

Photo Credit: 1

Filed Under: Kids Tennis, Summer Sports, Tennis Equipment

Roller Skates for Kids

August 25, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Roller Skates For Kids

Roller skating was a part of most of our childhoods, and just because these days everyone’s into inline skates doesn’t mean that your kids should miss out on the four wheel deal.

In fact, there are solid reasons why roller skates for kids are a better idea for your children that inline skates are anyway.

Today we’re taking a look at kids roller skates, as well as some of the concerns that you should keep in mind whilst you’re buying. So, don’t let your kids miss out on the four wheel experience, you might even feel like recapturing your childhood and joining them!

Why Roller Skates are Better For Kids

Kids Roller SkatesInline skates might be the hot new thing, but roller skates really are a better idea for children. As children are still developing, their inner ears are not quite giving them the same kind of balance that adults have.

This means that giving them quad wheel roller skates rather than inline skates is going to be a safer decision. Plus, the learning curve for roller skates is a lot less steep than that for inline skates.

Strap on some roller skates and you’ll be dashing up and down the street in no time, as opposed to inline skates which are going to require a fair amount of practice.

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Filed Under: Kids Roller Skates, Summer Sports, Winter Sports

Kids Tennis Shoes : How To Find The Perfect Fit

August 21, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Kids Tennis ShoesKids tennis shoes are often also branded under running shoes, and you have a whole plethora of options to choose from on the market.

Getting the right tennis shoes for kids is important for the health of your child’s feet.

The wrong kind of shoe can lead to minor injuries like blisters, but because children have relatively soft bones in their feet, the wrong shoe can also lead to foot deformities as the bones lack the appropriate support to grow in the correct fashion. How should you go about buying kids tennis shoes?

Well, there are some buying guidelines that you should keep in mind when buying kids tennis shoes.

Determining the Fit For Your Kid’s Tennis Shoes

Kids Shoes SizesThere are several ways to determine that the shoe fits properly.

Always try sports shoes on towards the end of the day, as feet are slightly larger then. Measurements should be taken of both feet whilst the child is standing, not sitting.

If your child is going to be playing tennis in these shoes, then make sure you have a pair of tennis socks handy to try on with the shoes.

Re-lace the shoe completely as the child puts it on, making sure that it’s laced up tight.

Once your child stands up in the shoe, they should be able to wiggle their toes, meaning that there’s enough room at the front of the shoe. Carefully check to make sure that the heel of the shoe fits snugly and that there’s no slippage that could cause blisters.

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Filed Under: Kids Tennis, Summer Sports, Tennis Equipment

Kids Basketball Shoes : 5 Tips For The Perfect Fit

August 17, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Kids Basketball Shoes

Basketball is a great first sport for kids to play. It teaches great coordination skills and teamwork.

But as with any sport it’s important that your child has the correct equipment in order to be safe and prevent injury.

Buying basketball shoes for kids is more than just a matter of style.

Today we’re discussing some of the things that you should be looking for in kids basketball shoes, so that you can ensure that your child has the right shoes to not only play his best game, but also to protect him effectively.

Fitting Kids Basketball Shoes

Basketball shoes for kids don’t always come cheap, and it can be tempting to buy a size larger than necessary because little feet grow fast.However, this isn’t a great idea.

Shoes that are too large are going to cause feet to slide, and your child just won’t have the control that he needs. Shoes that are too small are going to impair foot growth, and this is a serious issue since children have very soft and pliable bones in their feet.

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Filed Under: Kids Basketball, Summer Sports, Winter Sports

Football Games for Kids

August 14, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Football Games For Kids

When you think of football, you probably think of big guys wearing lots of padding and getting knocked around.

That means that when it comes to kids football, you might be a little worried about sending your child out onto the field. However, football does have a lot to teach, from coordination to team spirit, and it really is never to early to start.

As long as you have the appropriate equipment, there are plenty of football games for kids to play that aren’t going to have them coming home with black eyes or broken noses! Today we’re looking at what you should keep in mind when it comes to football for kids so that you can make sure that your child is both safe and having fun.

Which Football Games for Kids are Right?

Kids Football GamesIt’s unusual that smaller children will play full contact football. Generally, kids play flag football, a variant of traditional football that involves grabbing a flag from the waistband of the opposing player, rather than knocking him to the floor.

Obviously, this is far safer for children to play. This has the benefit of allowing younger children to learn the appropriate rules of the game, without placing young bodies in too much danger.

In general, contact football won’t start until at least middle school level. However, you can even play simple throw and catching practice games out in the yard to help your child improve his coordination.

You might want to consider investing in a practice net, which will allow your child to practice both kicking and throwing without needing another player around.  Another great thing about this practice net is that is can be used indoors and/or outdoors all year round.

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Filed Under: Kids Football, Most Popular Sports, Summer Sports, Winter Sports Tagged With:

Kids Ski Pants Becasue No One Should Ski In Jeans

March 9, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Ski Pants for KidsKeeping your kids safe and warm on the ski slopes is obviously your top priority, and nothing factors more heavily in this than making sure that they’re properly equipped.

You may not think that kids ski pants can make a difference, but in both keeping kids visible and keeping them comfortable they really do, and pants need to be chosen carefully.

Below we’ve listed the things that you should be considering when buying ski pants for your child:

Style

[easyazon-image align=”right” asin=”B006BEY22Q” locale=”us” height=”300″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31bu0lMF1zL.jpg” width=”172″]Kids pants come in three different styles.

The most common is insulated, which are waterproof on the outside and lined on the inside to keep kids warm.

There are also shell pants, that are basically waterproof coverings that need to be worn over other layers. These may be practical when skiing in warmer conditions.

Finally, there are bib pants, which fit like overalls, and are most suited to younger children, as they ride higher and keep more of the body warm as well as making sure that pants don’t fall down.

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Filed Under: Ski Equipment, Winter Sports

Best Tennis Strings For Kids

July 7, 2012 by Leave a Comment

[easyazon-image align=”right” asin=”B001RM807A” locale=”us” height=”300″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Ttf%2Bt2T3L.jpg” width=”300″]Most kids who are between the ages of 2 and 12 years old are not going to break many sets of tennis strings but there is the odd chance that you might be faced with the question of what kind of strings to put into your 7 years old’s racket.

The right string is a very important companion to the best tennis rackets for kids and the decision should not be overlooked.

Nearly every single professional tennis player is using polyester strings but they should not be used in kid’s tennis rackets.

The best tennis strings for kids is a nice and soft synthetic gut. We recommend using, what is widely regarded as one of the best tennis strings every made, Prince Synthetic Gut.

The reason we recommend not using poly strings for your kids tennis rackets is because poly is a lot stiffer and harder on their arm.

At a young age it is more important to protect their elbows then to get the most out of their strings.

Once they get a little older and stronger you can start to experiment with a poly main string and a synthetic guy cross string but make sure you’re dropping the tension on the main string 5-15%.

Until next time, good luck and hit hard!

Filed Under: Summer Sports, Tennis Equipment
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