Introduction to Teaching an Ice Skating Tots Class (Kayla Johnson)

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Tots expert Kayla Johnson explains how she runs a tots class in skating school. Initially she notes that the primary purpose of these classes is simply to have fun. Without having fun, most tots simply won’t be interested in learning the skills or even learning basic balance.

Next she covers safety. She goes over certain rules the skaters must obey that promote safety of the coach, individual skater, and the other skaters in the class. Kayla recommends starting off the ice with the tots in their skaters. There they can more safely and easily develop basic balance and get used to the equipment they are wearing on the ice. The coach should make sure each skater has their skates on the right feet and should inspect the skates to make sure they are safe and ready. Tots skaters should also have a helmet and warm clothes.

Kayla discusses how she initially handles a tots class on the ice. She demonstrates how she teaches skaters to fall down and get back up. She shows this from two different angles. Just standing on the slippery ice is very beneficial for starting to develop balance and control.

Kayla notes that she does not specifically work on skills or elements with tots in a class. Instead she simply plays games the whole time that develop important skills like two foot glide, swizzles, basic stop, one foot glide, balancing, and hopping. Kayla notes that it’s incredibly important in a tots class to keep the kids moving, as any movement teaches basic control, keeps them engaged, and also keeps them warm. It also keeps their parents happy.

In the upcoming videos, Kayla will share a variety of tots games that are engaging, fun, and memorable.


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5 responses to “Introduction to Teaching an Ice Skating Tots Class (Kayla Johnson)”

  1. Nancy

    Thanks for joining iCoachSkating as a presenter, Kayla! This video will be so helpful to all coaches! Can’t wait to see more!

    Reply
  2. Rosalind

    Dear Kayla, I am teaching tots here in Doha and yes-I do all that you discuss. Safety is a major concern and we keep them spaced out on the ice and while we teach we play lot of games and they don’t even know they are skating. One way that I keep them moving is to draw on the ice objects that they do swizzles around and then make it a circuit so that when they are finished with swizzles they keep moving so they go to one foot glides and then jumping over a ‘river’ and then fast skating to a stop position to practice their one foot snowploughs. We draw anything they like on the ice to get them to ‘rub out’ their animals or pictures by making snow over them. We sing songs and play games that has them chasing each other. We pretend to be statues while gliding to practice one foot gliding. Like the ‘Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe’ they are turned to stone while they glide and participate in acting out their parts while they glide as they are turned to stone. It is so much fun and they fully participate but ask them to practice one foot gliding without a game and they are not interested. It’s boring work!

    Reply
  3. jb

    Hi Thanks for posting. I think teaching tots is the hardest! What age do you start at. I find 4 year olds are a lot easier to teach in groups than 3 year olds. Would love to see an actual class. Also use beanie babys that they hold and dip with, throw across ice (like we are bowling), cuz that can get wild!!, so slide across the ice, skate to and swizzle over, stop turn around and pick up. Also do most of the above . I am leery of chasing games at tot level, unfortunately. But kids do love to be chased on the ice. We do a lot of dancing and imagination stuff. I love to make them laugh at me. After we’re finished with the beanies I have them stuff them in my jacket to make me fat. They like that!! Would love more game ideas. Tired of Red, light, green light, what time is it Mr Wolf!

    Reply
  4. Pauline

    Thanks Kayla – I agree that teaching tots should be fun. I was interested in Rosalind’s information on drawing characters and courses on the ice. I have used games to get them involved but think that this is a wonderful idea to draw them into participating. Something I will definately try. We play/sing ring-a-ring-a rosie and Hokey-Pokey to get them moving and doing dips under the arch but if anyone has any other games they play I would be most interested.

    Reply
  5. Sheila Thelen

    As a former Skating Director – TOTS are my MOST IMPORTANT CLIENTS! This is the future of your club/facility/arena! You need to have the GREATESTS TOTS COACHES (in the history of the world) teaching these classes! FUN, FUN, FUN (with massive learning – hidden within the game)! Kayla is a tots genius! THANKS KAYLA!

    Reply

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