I just did this last year for my 6 year old. Basically they just need ice time, if you can skate, that's even better.
We did some lessons and I didn't think they were worth the money, YMMV. I think it took us 6 hours to get him skating around on his own, then we just went a couple of hours every week until hockey season started.
He didn't end up picking up backwards skating before the season but once the season got going and he was on the ice two times a week his skating improved dramatically.
I guess my point is that all he needs is ice time and don't worry what level he gets to before he starts. He'll catch up with most of the other kids by mid season.
Also I bought him new skates and totally sandbagged him by not getting them checked by someone who knows blades. We got his skate blades profiled about 1/4 way through the season and his skating got instantly 3x better. So get his skate blades measured somewhere that profiles skates!
|