Slip-sliding away: Kids take their first steps

Posted Feb 9, 2012 By Jessica Cunha

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EMC sports - Every dream has to start somewhere and sometimes it starts with that first wobbly step onto the ice.

Mary Yarush and Shelley Kettles have been helping young children learn to skate for eight years. The two west-end women are the head instructors and founders of the Sparty Learn 2 Skate program for children ages three to eight at the Bell Sensplex arena in Kanata.

"It's a life skill," said Yarush, who lives in Richmond and teaches the program every Monday and Wednesday. "It's that first step for most playing hockey."

Hockey, she said, promotes team spirit and a healthy, active lifestyle.

"It's the number one sport," said Yarush. "Look at all the hype, every parent wants their kids to play."

Yarush and Kettles, along with the other instructors, use games to teach the children how to balance and glide, and how to get back up when they fall down.

"We just thought it was needed in this area," said Yarush about the program. "I like seeing them go from not being able to do anything to having the skills."

Once a session, Ottawa Senators mascot Spartacat hits the ice with the children.

"Seeing the kids grow, and their faces when Sparty comes," is Kettles favourite part about instructing, said the Stittsville resident.

Around 20 children took part in the program on Jan. 25.

Four-year-old Lily Mendes, dressed in a pink winter coat with fake-fur trim around the hood, black snow pants, a while helmet and skates, was learning how to crouch down to the ice and stand back up on her skates. It was her third time ever on the ice.

A GOOD START

"I just wanted to give her a good head start on learning," said her mom Sonia Mendes. "I think it's one of those skills you just want to instill in your kids."

When asked if she's having fun learning to skate, Lily nodded her head and smiled.

To teach Lily and the other children in her group how to skate from point A to point B, the instructor scattered large puzzle pieces on the ice, with two puzzle boards a few feet away.

Lily shuffled her way along the ice to the puzzle pieces, where she toppled over when she tried to bend down. Nonplussed, she picked up the piece, got back on her feet, and made her way over to the board where she fit the pieces together.

"She's just learning, this is all brand new," said Sonia, one of many parents who were gathered in the stands, watching their children progress. The Barrhaven family has plans to put Lily's new skills to use with a trip to the Rideau Canal this year.

Other games used to teach the young skaters included a number of brightly coloured plastic balls scattered over a section of the ice, children had to skate their way to a ball, bend over and pick it up - hopefully without falling - and then skate over to a crate and drop the ball inside the basket.

Other children skated an obstacle course, weaving in and out around large orange pylons, circling the cones while balancing on one skate and then trying the whole course backwards.

"They do progress quicker," said Kettles. Most of the children are in week four of the 12-week program.

At only two years old, Owen Bellem knows his way around the rink. The young boy was a participant in the Sparty Parent and Tot Learn 2 Skate program, taught by Yarush.

The class allows parents and caregivers to be on the ice with their child and has smaller class sizes, with only six children registered at a time.

PARENT AND TOT

Owen has been in the program for about three months, said his uncle Dan Oliver, the program co-ordinator at the Bell Sensplex.

"It's his favourite thing to do," said Oliver. "Owen comes to learn how to skate. And I come so I can entertain him."

Owen was all smiles as he took to the ice in a race for lollipops against another young skater, Timmy.

"Go to your own sucker," yelled Yarush, as she coached the two boys towards their respective finish lines. "Don't fall down when you get it."

Timmy, dressed in a blue jacket and black snow pants, reached his lollipop first, followed closely by Owen, in a black jacket and snow pants, with red and white stripes down the sides.

Despite Yarush's warning, both boys didn't quite stay on their feet when they reached the end.

"Oh!" said Yarush. "Very good. Oh, very good job!" The point isn't so much to not fall down at all - it's to acquire the skills to skate on their own, to get up when they fall down.

"I like seeing them not being able to stand," said Yarush. "To being able to skate."

Owen, who lives in Barrhaven, said he likes skating because it's fun. When asked if he wanted to be a hockey player, his answer brought a chuckle from his uncle.

"No," said Owen. "I already know how to play."

jessica.cunha@metroland.com




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