There are certain things I never saw myself doing with three kids alone… ice skating was certainly one of them. First of all, we are from Florida. Not much of a calling for ice skating adventures here in South Florida. If you want to partake, you really have to go out of your way to accomplish this. My older two kids were lucky enough to get a chance two summers ago when they went with a summer camp. They absolutely loved it! They really wanted to go back and I kept trying to plan it with other families but we never quite got it together. A new ice skating rink opened up and they had daily open skates in the afternoons from three until six in the evening. My procrastination had gotten the best of me, I promised the kids we would go over the summer and now it was long overdue!
I thought about leaving the three year old with my mother but our schedules just didn’t allow for it. So I found myself with a 9, 7 and 3 year old alone on the ice. I was prepared for chaos and to be honest, the first half hour was a little bit of that. Getting the skates on tight and convincing my youngest to actually allow me to put them on took longer that I ever imagined. But, once we accomplished that I decided that no matter how well any of the kids were able to skate, we were there to have fun and not to stress out over it. Since I was tied to the youngest, my older two were motivated (aka forced) to get out there on their own and give it their best effort. That is certainly not a bad thing, and with a little practice they were quite pleased with their accomplishments.
My older two were skating around the edge but not holding onto the wall in no time. My youngest even stopped screaming, which she started to do the first time we got onto the ice. I was proud of myself for keeping them all motivated, and not becoming the victim of stress myself. I told my youngest that we were going to go out one more time after the first try, and if she didn’t like it then we would stop, but I was certain she would since she wanted to be a dancer, and sometimes people dance on the ice. She ate that right up and absolutely loved it the second time around. I do believe in her little three year old mind she was dancing, and that was fine with me. I was just pleased that we didn’t spend the entire time falling.
With thirty minutes left in free skate, my youngest was done. We found our way to the penalty box and she immediately took off her skates and found an entertaining stack of orange cones to play with. Having the security of the half doors shut and being able to stay close to her on the ice, I was able to take turns with each of the older kids allowing them to show me how well they were doing on the ice. I even gave my daughter some tips. Then, I even made my son fall. Ooops. He decided he would be happy to skate with me but hands off, he could do it much better without me touching him.
We had an unforgettable time. I hope it will be one of the memories my children treasure. I know it was quite an accomplishment for me to just let go and enjoy… we were not headed for Olympic gold for hockey glory, just family bonding in
What to Know Before Taking Multiple Kids Ice Skating
Ice skating with children is genuinely one of the great family winter activities, but arriving unprepared makes it significantly harder than it needs to be. The most important variable is skate fit. Ill-fitting rental skates are the number one reason children have a miserable first experience: too loose and their ankles collapse, making it nearly impossible to balance; too tight and their feet ache within 20 minutes. When renting, have children try skates on and stand in them before getting on the ice. There should be no more than a finger’s width of space at the heel, and the toe box should have room to wiggle without being loose.
Ice Skating Three Kids: A Practical Guide for Families
Layering appropriately matters as much as the skates themselves. Ice rinks are cold, typically kept between 50–60°F on the ice surface, but active skating generates body heat quickly, especially for children. Dress in moisture-wicking base layers, a warm mid-layer, and a light outer layer that can be tied around the waist if they get hot. Thin gloves protect hands without making it harder to grip the rink boards, and a helmet is a wise choice for first-time skaters and young children regardless of whether the rink requires one. Falls are part of learning, and falls on ice are hard.
How to Help Beginners Find Their Ice Legs
New skaters almost universally want to hold both hands of an adult while they find their footing, which works fine for a few minutes but exhausts the adult quickly and doesn’t teach children to balance independently. A more effective approach is to walk children through the “penguin shuffle” first: feet hip-width apart, slight bend in the knees, small controlled steps rather than strides. Most children can manage this shuffle safely within minutes of getting on the ice, and it builds confidence and muscle memory faster than being held.
Many rinks offer skating aids, plastic seals, penguins, or push bars that beginners can hold onto while moving. These are worth the small rental fee for children under 7 or any child who has never skated before, because they provide stability without requiring an adult to crouch beside them the entire session. With an aid in hand and a clear safety boundary established (stay near the boards, avoid the fast skaters in the center), children gain independence quickly and the skating session becomes genuinely enjoyable for everyone, including the parent who no longer needs to hold up a 50-pound child on slippery ice.
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For additional resources, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is an excellent free resource families can rely on.
a new and different way!Frequently Asked Questions
Taking multiple young children ice skating as the sole adult is absolutely doable, but it requires some advance planning. Arrive early to get everyone fitted with properly sized skates, request any available skating aids (penguins or walkers) for beginners, and dress everyone in layers with wrist guards and helmets if possible. Keep your youngest closest to you on the ice, and don’t be afraid to ask rink staff for help. Most rinks have instructors and staff on the ice during open skates who are happy to assist solo parents navigating multiple little ones. Everything in this guide focuses on ice skating three kids8230, giving you practical, actionable advice you can use right away.
Most children are ready to try ice skating around age 3 or 4, though every child develops at their own pace. Younger toddlers (2 and under) generally lack the ankle strength and balance needed to benefit from the experience. Many rinks offer skating aids or “penguin” pushers that help young beginners gain confidence on the ice without requiring a parent to be on skates themselves. Starting kids early, even just for a short session, builds comfort and confidence that makes future skating trips much easier and more enjoyable.
Layers are essential for ice skating, since rinks are cold even in summer. Have kids wear comfortable pants (not jeans, which become stiff and cold if wet), a long-sleeve shirt, a sweater or light jacket, and warm socks, one thick pair works better than two thin pairs for skate comfort. Gloves are a must to protect little hands from the ice if they fall. For safety, wrist guards and helmets are worth bringing, especially for first-timers. Avoid long scarves or dangling accessories that could get caught in skate blades.
A few strategies make a huge difference when you’re the solo adult with multiple kids on the ice. First, get skates on and get everyone to the ice before you put your own skates on so you can walk freely during that phase. Use the rink’s skating aids for your youngest so they have something to hold onto independently. Position yourself between your most nervous skater and the boards. If an older child is more confident, they can skate alongside a sibling while you focus on the youngest. Take regular warm-up breaks to regroup, rest, and refuel with hot chocolate.
Many indoor ice skating rinks are open year-round, though hours vary by season. In warmer months, some rinks reduce their public session hours or shift to hockey schedules. It’s always worth calling ahead or checking the rink’s website for current public skate hours, pricing, and any special family sessions. Some rinks offer discounted family rates during specific hours, and skating on a weekday afternoon is typically less crowded than weekend sessions, which makes the experience much more manageable when you’re there with young children.
