Inspire beginning skaters (and warm up chilly ones!) with a spirited game of ice hockey. Players will need a hockey stick, which should come up to the child's chin when she's standing on skates. For smaller kids, a youth-size stick makes handling easier. Bigger kids can use a junior-size stick. Once they're outfitted, introduce them to the sport with one of these fun games.

And for a sweet place to kick back and tie up your skates, try our homemade Multitasking Bench, Goal & Carrier, which serves triple duty as a bench, a hockey goal and a gear tote!

Half-Ice:   Set up just one goal (see our make-it-yourself project, below). One child (or team) plays offense, the other defense. Each time a goal is scored, they switch positions.

Two-Puck:   Both teams get a puck and shoot at a single goal. The first team to score gives up their puck and switches to play defense. The game continues until the other team scores.

Touch It:   Every player on the offense must touch the puck before each shot at the goal. This is a good way to be sure everyone is included, especially on teams with mixed ages or abilities.

Score More:   Players line up, and each gets a chance to shoot at the goal. After every round, those who succeed move back to shoot from an increased distance until there's a winner.

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• Ice Skating |
• Preschooler |
• School Age |
• Skating Party |
• Tween |
• Winter

Related Categories:

• Winter Fun & Games |
• Preschooler Games |
• School Age Games |
• Tween Games