Try to walk across a stretch of smooth ice and you end up flailing wildly. Lace up a pair of skates and that same ice is a perfect surface that lets you move like the wind: that's the magic of skating. Kids respond to that magic. "She just likes how skating feels; the movement, the gliding," says Chicago's Kristen Wheatley, mom of 4-year-old Heather. If your child wants to learn how to skate, here's what you need to know.

Know the benefits. "Skating is a lifelong sport, whether you're 3 or 73," says Erika Roberts, skating director of the Park City Ice Arena in Park City, UT. "It's a great way to get exercise without even realizing it! You're working muscles in your core and your legs, and improving balance and posture."

Understand what's suitable at what age. Remember that skill development varies from child to child. "I've seen kids as young as 2 ½ zooming around on skates, but that's unusual; most kids that age don't have the core strength or coordination," notes Kaboose editor Leigh Felesky, who coaches skating in Toronto. "A mature three or four is a good age to start." (And of course, learning as an older child, or even as an adult, is fine too!) Many skating classes have kids start off by walking or marching on the ice in skates, and then progressing to a two-foot glide. Gliding from one foot to the other comes next, followed by moves like two-foot jumps and one-rotation turns. "After two or three months, a four- or five-year-old will be ready to start skating backward," says Felesky.

The equipment. Skates should fit snugly, especially at the heel, but your child should be able to wiggle her toes. Lace the skate tightly, starting at the bottom of the boot and moving up. It may be tempting to buy skates too big and pad them with extra pairs of socks, but one pair of thinner, non-cotton socks should be enough.

Figure skates or hockey skates? That's up to you. Wheatley chose hockey skates for her daughter (watching her mom play hockey is what got Heather interested in learning to skate) but agrees with Roberts, who cautions that hockey skates have more of a curved blade and therefore are less stable for kids who are just learning. "Decent skates cost $100 to $150 new, but there's nothing wrong with buying secondhand, especially when kids are growing out of them from year to year," says Felesky. "Your best bet is to go to a store where the staff is knowledgeable and knows how skates should fit." You can also rent skates from many facilities for a few dollars an hour.

Most experts strongly recommend a helmet, specifically one with a face guard for those beginner skaters who are more likely to do a face-plant on the ice. Several thin layers of clothing (no jeans!) are best for warmth and mobility. To provide extra padding for those just learning, complete the outfit with snow pants, a jacket and mitts. Elbow and knee pads aren't really necessary-they soften falls but also restrict mobility.

Choose an approach. Yes, you can teach your kids yourself, but some organized lessons to learn the basics means you aren't inadvertently passing on bad habits. "Learn to skate" devices such as a tall pylon, tall plastic bucket or a special kid-sized "walker" (don't use chairs, which are too unstable) help kids find their balance in the first couple classes.

When it comes to instructors, one who has been certified (in the US, by a program such as the Professional Skaters Association; in Canada, the National Coaching Certification Program) is great, but not essential. Look for a facility with a family-friendly vibe, a fun approach to teaching skills, and an instructor-to-student ratio of about 1:4 for beginners and 1:10 for intermediate.

Prices vary widely, but $8-10 per group lesson is common. Three- to five-year-olds can handle a 30-45 minute lesson, while older kids have a 45-60 minute stint.

Be safe. When skating outdoors, only skate on surfaces that have been approved by local police or recreation departments. Indoors, skate in the direction as everyone else. Practice spins and jumps in the middle of the rink. Don't wear dangling hats or scarves. Public free-skate times should be supervised.

Common teaching tips. If your child wants to…

• Improve balance: hold arms out on either side; keep head up. Practice standing on one foot then the other.
• Get better at stopping: turn toes in and push heels out. This will "make snow" ie shave a bit of ice off the surface. Or, if your child skis, he'll recognize the same snowplow technique.
• Work on skating backwards: bend knees and lean forward slightly with weight on balls of feet. Think about doing a backwards wiggle, like doing The Twist.
• Skate faster: bend knees and push into ice harder