I just successfully gave a one hour private lesson to a four year old. This was my first time with her and her second time on the ice. I tried to dissuade her mom when she made the appointment, but her mom was sure about it, so I agreed to give it a try. I've had enough four year olds who couldn't do the standard half hour, that I'm always prepared to stop early and prorate my fee. It wasn't that this child was so talented at all. In fact, upper body control was a huge and constant struggle for her, but she was pretty focussed and stuck with it. I have to add that I thought she was very mature for her age. Anyone else had this (great) experience?

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My dd had no problem with a 1 hour lesson when she was 4. She is not particularly talented either, but she has great focus in a lesson of any kind. (Now if she could practice on her own like that .....)

I actually saw one of our coaches do an hour with a kid who was 5 the other day. I was really impressed, since almost the entire lesson was spent on stroking, edge work and it looked like she was learning pre-pre moves, she only did maybe 10 minutes of freestyle. She was really focused the entire time. Usually the kids that age want to get to jumping and spinning, not spend all that time on the "boring" stuff.

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My 5 year old has 2 45 min of lessons per week and then she spends time after her lesson practicing what her coach went over with her. Her coach spends most of the lesson on no moves and basic skating skills vs tricks she has been introduced to the pre pre moves we haven't pushed my DD in to these lessons she has requested more time in lessons so we have ran eighths idea. My older daughter prefers shorter more frequent 30min lessons. So I think it depends on the skater

As does everything! I just think it's very unusual for a 4 year old to last an hour.

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If the kid is a typical tot skater, 1 hr would be way too long. If the kid has more skills to work w and loves to skate, it could work. I have never worked w a kid that young who has skills beyond tot or B1. I also have found many young skaters to have a short attn span and to be too immature to handle a long lesson. In many cases, 15 min is about their limit.

Kay

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I teach a parent:child class that's 45 min long. Usually, they're having so much fun that they want to stay longer.

Last season, I had a 4 yo private student who took hour-long lessons regularly. I also had a ten yo who was clockwatching within 15 mins.

It all depends on the child.

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