My daughter is turning 6 and I was thinking of getting rollerskates for her birthday. Any advice? Toe Stop versus Back/Heel Stop? Get roller skates ("quads" or 4 wheels per foot) or "rollerblades" which have inline wheels, with a front wheel then two side by side wheels in back for balance"?
My older kids have been fine with in-line skates but took a couple of ice skating classes before they got in-line skates. She would probably be fine with any of those you listed, I would think it’s more of a personal preference, but she will need more help and more time to learn to skate on her own if you go with in-line versus something with wheels on the side. My daughter has in-line skates with the brake on the back and always forgets she has it since she learned to skate on figure (ice) skates first. Personally, I would think the toe stop would be harder to get used to. Seems like it would be easy to topple over rather than dragging the brake behind you.
I would just get her a pair of skates, either inline or roller skates. I wouldn’t get any type of trainer skates.
They learn quick and do much better than use adults.
We got a set with pads, helmet, and inline skates that fit 6-8 year old kiddo’s from a sporting good store, I think it was Academy. The set was about $20.
I loved the aspects. They were just like the little kid skates at Walmart that are 4 wheels where you can lock the front, make the front only go forward, then eventually make them where all the wheels went freely which ever way you wanted.
These skates looked like big kid skates and that made the kids feel much better about being out there and skating along.
my 7 year old got her roller blades when she turned 5. we got ones that adjust from a shoe size 1 to a shoe size 4. i took her to try them on and see what ones she liked best. and she picked the roller blades. it took my daughter about 20 mins to fully grasp how to use the blades (and heal stopper) without falling.