Right now she's just on the rental figure skates--which are free with the class (as is the open skate after class, and parking!), and which they recommend because of the flatter blade, etc. Also, this is a true novice/beginner's class for five year olds: Half of the kids have never skated before, and the rest (including my daugher) have only been to a few public skates (where they held onto parents' hands and/or traffic cones for dear life). So really, they're just teaching the kids some basic balance stuff, how to step forward, and, most importantly, how to get up once you fall down.Is she starting right away with hockey skates or figure skates?
Of course, I've also spent waaay too much time perusing Sideline Swap for youth hockey skates (and full sets of youth starter hockey gear) because it warms my heart to daydream about her enjoying the game I love enough to stick with it. (She says she wants to, but five year olds are five year olds, you know? And I'm still trying to find that balance between encouraging my kid's interests while not pushing my own interests on her.) But yeah, there's also a really good kids' hockey program up here in Philly--the Snider Hockey League (boo! hiss! I know)--for kids with little-to-no hockey (or even skating!) experience, that provides free equipment and ice time and coaching and all of that. So I'm hoping to get her into that in the fall. Then she can work on those swivels and hockey stops!
Anyway, sorry for the threadjack, y'all.