I remember working two jobs throughout college in order to save up enough money for my first vehicle, a ’73 Ford Pinto. Up until I bought that car, I was forced to get around town with nothing but my skate shoes. The Pinto certainly wasn’t the nicest car on the planet, but I had earned it myself and, therefore, I was proud to drive it.
Today the kids in my neighborhood consider it a travesty and personal affront if their parents don’t bestow a $30,000 car to them for their 16th birthday. There is a puzzling amount of entitlement for doing absolutely nothing. Personally, I think everyone should have to buy their own vehicle or, at the very least, drive one of their parents’ old cars. Maybe kids these days would have a little moral fiber if they were forced to hoof it everywhere or use public transportation.
As we get older, we tend to think of all of the physical activities we do in terms of exercise and the amount of calories burned. For children however, many of the same activities that adults deem exercise are simply viewed as fun and games. In my opinion, a simple rebranding could marginalize the stigma attached to physical activity.
For example, kids roller skate or bike because it is enjoyable, while adults tend to see a Sunday bike ride as a workout. Try replacing one or two activities a week, such as going to a movie, with some sort of physical activity. Don’t look at it as exercise however, but rather try to view it as any other form of entertainment and amusement.
While we may think of roller skating as being a relatively new trend, the earliest incarnations of the roller skate date back to the mid 18th century. Although there were variations of the roller skate in this era, it wasn’t until 1819 that the first patent was acquired for a roller skate design. These primitive skates resembled today’s inline skates, but it was exceedingly difficult to do anything but move in a straight line.
It wasn’t until 1863 that the quad roller skate became prominent. These skates featured a rubber cushion, which gave the user more freedom in turning. After the release of these skates, the hobby exploded in the US, and within a few years, the first skating rink was opened.
Many sports and recreational activities come in and out of style, but there are a few mainstays that seem to transcend generations. Despite a variety of innovations and trendy new conveyances, roller skating has remained popular in American culture. While the style and nuances of the activity have evolvedm the basic concept has stayed the same.
You will be hard-pressed to find people donning the original quad roller skates, but there are still roller blades and options that even attach to your shoes. In my opinion, one of the reasons that roller skating has remained popular is its social nature. There are still roller skating rinks and people on roller skates can easily maintain the pace of walkers.
Extreme sports have been popular with preteens and teenagers for several decades now. The trend began with surfing and skateboarding, and snowboarding and rollerblading caught on shortly thereafter. Kids are naturally drawn to activities that are new and exciting, so it’s no wonder that they are eager to latch onto the latest trend.
Conscientious parents aren’t always keen on the idea of their kids hopping on a skateboard and bombing a vert ramp with total abandon. The best way to forestall this issue is to substitute a child’s dangerous desires with safer forms of fun. While the design has changed drastically over the years, roller-skating remains a mainstay in extreme sports. You can even find skate shoe models now that have wheels built-in.