Heelys

[andi]

outside areas, parks, sidewalks, skate parks the only places appropriate for them.  i don't get it and my child wouldn't be getting a pair either (thank god he's only 2)

[Zilla]

At first I didn't know what they were until I read your post.  I remember them being in "style" around here last year.  But I haven't seen them too much lately.  My kid had wanted a pair too at that time and I said no way.

I am with you, there isn't really a place for them unless it is a rink or outside.

What shocked me are the mini "harleys" that are in style.  I saw at school letting out about 10 of these things being ridden home.

The kicker was that this was from an elementary school with 3thor 4th graders riding them without parents anywhere around.

[Chartreuse]

The kicker was that this was from an elementary school with 3thor 4th graders riding them without parents anywhere around.

Maybe this is the new updated version of Darwinism?  If your kid gets run over because you were stupid enough to let them ride around unsupervised, your genes are unfit to continue?   

[miredrose326]

I bought Heely's for my 9 year old son for Christmas this year.  We have discussed before where he will be able to wear them.  He knows that they are not for in the mall, or Meijer, or Wal-mart.  I don't mind carrying his wheels in my purse, it's better than carrying a lot of other things I have carried in there. 

Luckily, I can buy Austin these because I know him.  He is one of the most responsible, respectful kids I know.  He doesn't have roller blades so he can ride them around the neighborhood.  He can use them at the zoo when it's not crowded, only in wide open spaces.  I have definitely seen them misused but Austin knows that it will only happen once and the wheels will disappear and they will become regular tennis shoes.

[MadMadge43]

So while I can see everyone's points, I have not personally seen them misused. My kids don't have them, mine are accident prone enough without giving them new ways to break bones!  LOL!

I also have never seen them misused. Most kids roll a couple of feet and wait for their parents to catch up with them. But I can see the potential (I've never seen a platypus either, but I'm pretty sure they're out there).

[Rei-chan]

I work in a store that carries these darn things, and I HATE them!  All day long its kids sliding back and forth, running into stuff and people.  I had a woman looking for them a few days back in a size 1.  Now, I don't have kids, but isn't that a little young to turn them loose with wheels on their shoes?

Another drawback, to those that might be buying them this year, it that they run small, in some cases a whole size smaller.  Not that big a deal, just wanted to put the word out there so people would know. 

[Felica]

My kids have them. I've been tempted to buy myself a pair as well.  Of course, they aren't allowed to wear them most places. Mostly they roll around in the driveway with them, and only occasionally do they wear them out, when I know it won't be in a crowded place where they are likely to knock someone over. Anything can be dangerous and used disrespectfully, if that's the way a parent chooses to let a child act. And I don't think that just because you buy your child something that isn't nessasary mean's their spoiled. I bought them because *I* thought they were cool too.

[NanaBananaNa]

These are not new.  They were really popular about 10 years ago. Kids everywhere had them, and they ran into everyone the same as they do now.  After 1 or 2 years of this, suddenly they were gone.

Maybe whatever caused them to disappear in the 90's will happen again.

[MrsP81]

My husband would have a pair if they made them in his size!

Although I couldn't imagine wearing them, the kids that I have seen (which is a lot!) have not been terribly inconsiderate with them. Yes they use them at the mall and such but I have never seen them bump into someone or do something horribly innappropriate.
I think as long as they have good manners to start with they should be fine.

[wellisawstar]

Let me preface this by saying I don't have kids.

As a kid, though, I would have LOVED Heelys. I probably would have used them on every smooth surface, even inappropriate ones. Heelys are the new snap bracelet.

I have seen plenty of kids with these shoes, and have never seen them come close to crashing into someone or falling. I do understand parents' concerns about safety, but I don't feel they're as dangerous as regular rollerskates because you can easily stop yourself by just walking. You can't get the speed of an inline skate on these things.

From what limited research I've seen, once you master how to use Heelys and don't try any stupid tricks, like wheeling through a slippery puddle, you're fine.

[fklwmn]

Let me preface this by saying I don't have kids.

As a kid, though, I would have LOVED Heelys. I probably would have used them on every smooth surface, even inappropriate ones. Heelys are the new snap bracelet.

I have seen plenty of kids with these shoes, and have never seen them come close to crashing into someone or falling. I do understand parents' concerns about safety, but I don't feel they're as dangerous as regular rollerskates because you can easily stop yourself by just walking. You can't get the speed of an inline skate on these things.

From what limited research I've seen, once you master how to use Heelys and don't try any stupid tricks, like wheeling through a slippery puddle, you're fine.

actually, the BIGGEST safety issue with heelys is that they pose the same dangers as skates or skateboards, but that they are not worn with the same protective equipment (pads and helmets). Parents who would never let their kids on a bike or a skateboard or roller blades without a helmet think nothing of them skating off on heelys b/c they are 'shoes.' Which is how a little boy died in march when he skated into a car on his heelys.

But beyond the safety issues, I just have to reiterate... it's not okay to skate in malls. Or stores. I wouldn't let me kid zoom around the mall on rollerblades, no matter how considerate or careful he is being. Why? Because we DON'T SKATE IN MALLS. just like we don't run in malls, and we don't yell in malls. It's a place to sjop, not a playground, a park, or a skatepark. I don't really have issues with Heelys at the park or around the neighboorhood - provided they are accompanied by the appropriate protective gear. But since my kids have rollerblades and skateboards, they don't need them in those places. Therefore, they are only good for skating in inappropriate places, and IMO... that's just rude. 

It's no different than the mom who lets her toddler run around the restaurant. She's not buming into anyone or breaking anything. She's not even yelling, so it should be fine, right?  No, because we do not run in restaurants. Simple concept, I thought.


ETA: I would have LOVED them as a kid too, and I would have worn them everywhere. That's why kids have parents to teach them what is okay, and what's not. Kid's just don't always make the best decisions

[bopper]

My DD10 wanted Heely's.  I had just bought her new sneakers...also I could see her trying them and saying they were too hard to learn how to use.  So I told her that I was not going to buy them for her.  She saved up her money and bought them herself. 

I tell her that it is her responsibility to stay away from people in those things so we do not use them in crowded places and we do not use them when asked not to (like in stores) and of course you cannot bring them to school.

[avonlea29]

I work in a store that carries these darn things, and I HATE them!  All day long its kids sliding back and forth, running into stuff and people.  I had a woman looking for them a few days back in a size 1.  Now, I don't have kids, but isn't that a little young to turn them loose with wheels on their shoes?

Depends...lol A 1 could be infant shoes which would be kinda pointless. But a youth size 1? My son is almost 8 and not even in those yet, but his best friend is probably in a 3 already. Depends on the kid. But both are responsible enough for them if we chose to buy them, btw.

[Elfqueen13]

I had a woman looking for them a few days back in a size 1.  Now, I don't have kids, but isn't that a little young to turn them loose with wheels on their shoes?

A toddler size 1 or a junior size 1?  Toddler size 1 will only fit an infant.  I think my son's first pair of shoes was a size 3.  But a junior size 1 will likely fit 7-9 year-olds.

[Rei-chan]

I think it was a youth size 1.  It's hard to remember as she was screaming at me b/c we didn't have the size in stock, and couldn't find them at the 5 other locations we tried for her. 

As I have said, I don't have kids, so I am not up on how the sizes work.  I do know that she was buying them for all 5 of her kids, and the youngest appeared to be around 4 or 5 from what I could tell.  Call me crazy, but I still think that if it was for the youngest, that's a bit young to turn them loose like that.