First Roller Skates

Well my 3 year old is pretty clumsy with the old school skates, even though she loves them, and so I can't really imagine in line skates would work at all, I don't even think she'd be able to stand up! We go to a toddler skate at a local skating rink and the little kids skates are all tampered with so that they don't roll fast...even then she falls down quite a bit. She has also used those plastic over the shoe skates and she loves though too, but same problem! She has a blast so I'm sure your 3 y/o will too, but personally, I'd go with the slow, old ones so your child has time to warm up to the idea of skating!

As a skater all my life...old school are much easier to learn on...and easier to catch yourself when you fall. Though eventually if your child likes skating they will want to progress to inline...and they will have te re-learn a little since you do not skate on both the same. Your balance and center of gravity are very different on both types.

If you could (have access)...get ice skates and learn on those. Ice skating and inline skating are extremely similair. Most programs (all I know in Wisconsin) offer free lessons and sometimes free hockey gear for the first year. Falling on ice is much less hard than pavement (no road rash), and easier too get up and down because it is slippery. Also you have the advantage of using skate helpers (plastic or wood things the kids push when first learning) across the ice to hold you up until you get the hang of things.

I coach a Learn to Skate program at our local arena and it is free lessons and gear for 3 months. The kids gear is the same stuff NHL players wear so you are so wrapped and padded it is pretty hard to get hurt. It is a lot of fun and FREE! Check your area for arenas and offerings.

we have the in-line "first skates" that they wear over shoes. there are 3 wide wheels in a row and a 2-wide/traditional in the back. It is very stable. Both my girls (22 months and 3 yrs) love them and can "skate" in them by themselves in the medium speed control setting.

Either way, your 3 yr old will love them!

OOPS! I typed the wrong one but meant the one I just edited... lol.

Probably old school... easier to balance and their ankles probably don't have the strength to hold them straight like they should be. With in-line, you have to balance back and forth AND side to side. Steering is harder, but at this point it's more about balance and going forward...Let your kid learn one then step up to in-line once he/she masters old school.

the inline skates that are plastic may be too big. my 3 year old has the regular plastic ones that go over her shoes. she does pretty well with them for a 3 year old.