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| One Year Old Masters a Snowboard |
There is some debate about what the appropriate age is to begin letting your child ride a snowboard. There really is no hard and fast rule; it depends on the kid.
The average age is around 7 years old when kids start really developing some core strength and coordination and have enough muscle mass yet to really control the board.
Toddlers can learn to snowboard, but it requires a lot of time and effort, and most likely private lessons to get them to stay on the board for any amount of time. It really depends on the individual youths physical development whether they are successful or not.
Gauge Your Child's Level of Interest
There are a couple of ways to gauge your child's readiness before sending him out on the slopes at such a young age. Some parents start their small children on skis, which they have an easier time controlling. This is a good way to assess their ability to adjust their balance and make corrections before switching to a snowboard.
Be Patient and Don't Rush Them.
Don't frustrate your toddler or yourself by insisting they try snowboarding unless you really think they will be interested. If they do seem interested in standing on their first snowboard, you need to be patient with them. Don't rush them. Never forget they are only a little child. You want to foster excitement and encourage every little move they make on the snowboard. Let them play around with the snowboard. Let them sit on it. Let them push it around. Pull them on it while they are sitting down. Just make sure that every moment on the snow with your child is fun.
Child Safety First. How to Avoid Potential Injuries
Talk to his doctor about possible risks. Kids are top-heavy, which means that any time they fall over, their head is at increased risk of hitting the ground. Because they have disproportionately large heads, they're also more likely to topple over. Because your feet are strapped to the board, wrist injuries from falling on an outstretched hand are the most common snowboarding injuries. Buying Equipment for Your Toddler
Don't invest in the snowboard, boots and other gear until you're sure your little one is even going to be interested in snowboarding. Buy a special board made just for small kids. Toddler snowboards have a beveled edge that allows small children to turn simply by leaning toward the toe edge of the board. This eliminates some of the full-body slams that occur when the board catches an edge.
