Parent Assist is a branch of our dynamic learn-to-skate program, CanSkate, which allows young children to learn basic skills with the direct support of their parents. This program strives to help young skaters become comfortable on the ice, learn through play, and discover what it’s like to participate in group sports

For young children (typically 3-5 years old) who are not able to stand, move forward, and recover from a fall independently. In Parent Assist, each skater must have a parent or guardian accompany them on the ice. Parents need to be registered with skate Canada, which we will do as part of the registration process.

Every little skater must wear skates, a CSA-approved hockey helmet, long pants, mittens, and a warm sweater or jacket. Parents must also have skates, and are required to wear a CSA-approved hockey helmet if they cannot adequately perform Stage 5 CanSkate skills.

NCCP-trained professional coaches, assisted by trained program assistants.

The Parent Assist program focusses on instructing kids on the 8 basic skating skills found at the beginner CanSkate level, PreCanSkate. These are balancing, falling & getting back up, moving forwards, moving backwards, making snow, twisting, turning, and jumping. If skaters can reach the standard for these 8 skills, they can begin to learn the skills taught in CanSkate.

Action, movement and fun! Lessons are given in a group format with a coach-to-student ratio of a maximum 1:10. Skaters progress at their own rate and coaches make sessions active using teaching aids, upbeat music and a wide variety of activities that create a motivational environment and promote learning. Badges, ribbons and other incentives are used to benchmark skaters’ progress and reward effort and participation.

Skate Canada’s Helmet policy will be enforced. This means that all skaters up to and including Stage 5 must wear a CSA approved hockey helmet while on the ice.  Bicycle helmets are not acceptable.