5 Ways Skateboarding Lessons Can Benefit Beginners

But many parents often wonder: Where do we start? Well, I’d say a safe and easy place to start is taking skateboarding lessons. And if you're one of those parents wondering whether you should sign your child up for skate lessons at your local skatepark, I think you should really consider the amazing benefits of skateboarding that extend far beyond just learning tricks. And we’re here to break a few of them down for you.

1. Improve Coordination and Build Muscle Strength

Now, you don’t necessarily need me to tell you this, but skateboarding is obviously a great way to get in some exercise. From building muscle strength to enhancing coordination, a heated session can sometimes feel like running a marathon. At the same time, it engages core muscles, works your legs and honestly, it uses parts of your body that often remain idle. Over time, skating on the reg can seriously improve your endurance and overall physical fitness. Simple as that!

Bonus: Mental Health Benefits

Beyond the physical benefits of skateboarding, the mental health benefits are bountiful all the same. It’s a stress reducer. It boosts your self-esteem. It builds confidence. It puts you in the moment. And ultimately, it provides a sense of accomplishment that can't be explained until you're out there experiencing it yourself.

2. Build Social Skills and Connections With Fellow Skaters

Despite how much of an individual activity skateboarding technically is, it’s actually super social. And skateparks are unarguably major gathering places for skaters of all ages and skill levels to come together. Rolling through the park and learning tricks with other kids in the class encourages social interaction and, to go further, has the ability to form lifelong friendships. At a skate lesson, your ripper-in-the-making will have the opportunity to meet other kids who share their passion while learning the ropes. A total win-win!

All of that said, since its inception, skateboarding has always been community-driven to one degree or another. There are a million scenes and crews across the globe, each providing a safe, inspiring place for skateboarders to thrive. What makes it even better, skaters are super encouraging people. You can’t argue with that! They share tips, influence style, exchange interests, celebrate each other’s successes—the list goes on. The camaraderie at the Olympics speaks for itself! And this camaraderie alone will teach your kid the value of teamwork and mutual support well into adulthood.

3. Develop Confidence and Perseverance

Like many sports, skateboarding teaches perseverance, but in its own unique way. You can’t skate without falling, and you can’t skate without failing. It’s simply part of the process. But through skate lessons, your kid won’t just learn to get back up after a fall, but they’ll learn that it’s actually one of the major benefits of skateboarding! They’ll learn to persist until they succeed, and when they finally do, the feeling they’ll get is truly priceless. Resilience like that is such a valuable life skill, one that can be applied to all other areas of their life! (Think school, personal challenges, etc.)

On the heels of that, one of my favorite things about skateboarding has always been how much creativity is involved. Like many skateboarders who started at an early age, it shaped me into the person I am today (in all the best ways). Using your surroundings, adjusting to certain situations, seeing the world with a unique eye—these are just a few of the ways skateboarding amplifies creativity.

Keep in mind this mindset isn’t just for thinking outside the box when it comes to tricks and style, though. It can genuinely encourage innovative thinking when it comes to real-life problem-solving, which is pretty crucial in today’s crazy, always-changing world.

4. Learn Essential Safety Techniques and Skills for Beginners

Skate lessons and skate camps of all sizes provide a comfortable environment for new skaters. The majority of the time, these “skate coaches” are either old pros, new pros or folks who have simply been involved in skateboarding for a long time (which in itself is cool). Point is, there’s no one better to teach the fundamentals of skateboarding safely and effectively than them! At the end of the day, these classes are designed so that your child will begin learning the tricks of the trade right off the bat. From there, it’ll only get better!

Safety is obviously a huge concern for all parents as well, if not the biggest. And rightfully so. Coaches do a great job at teaching the importance of wearing the proper gear when you’re starting out, teaching you how to fall safely, and, more often than not, making sure you’ve picked out the right board! On and off the board, safety is always a top priority at skate lessons and skate camp. That way, the only thing your little ripper has to worry about is learning their next trick!

5. Most Importantly: Have Fun While Staying Active

As we’ve sort of discussed already, skateboarding is a positive outlet to release energy and get creative. I mean, just watch a few videos and it’s clear as day! It gives kids a really unique way to spend their time productively, which typically helps wash away negative behavior (I mean, I can't promise it'll wash away all negative behavior, but you get it).

The excitement and stoke of learning a new trick, or even just simply cruising around with your friends or an empty parking lot, pump track—whatever!—can bring so much joy and positivity to their daily routine. It certainly did for me when I was young, and I can confidently say it still does today, well into adulthood.

Long story short—at its core, skateboarding is fun. It epitomizes the word! It’s free and adventurous and challenging. I’m not here to throw shade on other sports, but these are just a few of the things many traditional sports do, in fact, lack. Lessons can be extremely fun and satisfying, especially when you’re looking to kickstart this new hobby the right way! But the best part is your kid will eventually break free from it all and start molding themselves into their best versions … with every push, fall, and trick learned along the way.

The Simple Answer: Lessons Set Beginners Up for Success

At the end of the day, signing your kid up for skate lessons or a skate camp can be one of the best decisions you’ve ever made and comes with a ton of benefits. From the physical and mental part of it to the friendships they’ll form, life lessons to be learned, perseverance, amplifying creativity … the list goes on. 

Doesn’t matter if they’re a total beginner or have simply just shown an interest in skating, either—lessons can provide the guidance and support needed to start their journey into radness. So, if you're on the fence about signing your kid up for skate lessons, it’s time to jump off and hit the skatepark! But don’t be surprised when skateboarding quickly becomes their entire life. It happens to the best of us!

*Contact your local skate shop to see if they recommend any local coaches in the area. Otherwise, hop online and do the same! There are a ton of well-respected camps and classes all over the country. Happy skateboarding!