WLC preschool teacher Eileen Bierk said it was part of the annual boot skate program. Multiple times throughout the year, preschool students are able to invite their parents or a special adult to take part in an activity. The most popular activity is the boot skate.

Bierk said for many of the preschool students, it is their first time skating on ice. Actual skating with ice skates could be too complicated for the preschoolers, but sliding around on their boots works just fine.

Bierke said a few of the kids have already started learning to skate through hockey. These kids attended the boot skate wearing helmets.

Four-year-old Quinn Howk had never set foot on an ice rink before the program, but she was able to use a special walker to keep her balance on the ice. Parents Nate Howk and Karla Deutschmann were nearby to catch if she fell. By the end of the hour long program, Quinn was sliding around without the walker. She said sliding on the ice felt “weird” but she liked doing it.

Three-year-old Onyx Hughes is slid back and forth on the ice by his mother Kaitlin Hughes (left) and his aunt Brook Bejarano (right) during the WLC boot skate program.

Five-year-old Bennett Mielke had been on the ice before so he did not need a walker, but he would sometimes throw himself on the ice intentionally to slide on his back. His mother Brooke Mielke said his balance on ice is great. If he’s ever lying on the ice its a deliberate action.

A couple other preschoolers had fun sliding on their backs. Three-year-old Onyx Hughes was pretending to be a curling stone as his mom Kaitlin Hughes and his aunt Brook Bejarano slid him back and forth. Both his mom and aunt are staff at WLC and were able to spend time with him during his first skating experience.

By the end of the program, few of the preschoolers were using the walkers for balance, but some had decided to use them as sleds. Adrian Tarlson, Bryer Smith, Cambree Gustafson and Jensen Kohn took turns riding on sideways walkers as an adult pushed them around the ice.

Bierke said the boot skate was favorite program at WLC because the preschoolers responded positively to it and learning to travel on ice is a great skill to develop young.

“It is a great introduction to winter activities for kids,” Bierke said. “Especially in Minnesota.”

Allie Smith pushes Adrian Tarlson (left) and Bryer Smith (right) on Civic Center Ice during Washington Learning Center’s (WLC) annual boot skate program Thursday.

Courtney Jones pushes Bryser Smith, Adrian Tarlson and Cambree Gustfson on a plastic walker across the Civic Center ice rink.

Bryer Smith attempts to steer the sliding plastic walker from the back as Adrian Tarlson (left) and Cambree Gustfson (right) hold on during the WLC boot skate program.

Karla Deutschmann watches as 4-year-old Quinn Howk walks on the Civic Center ice rink. This is Howk’s first time on the ice. She said it felt weird, but she liked it.

Four-year-old Milo Richards boot skates around the Civic Center ice rink during WLC program. His mother Lelia Richards said it was not his first time on the ice, but it was his first time on a dedicated rink. Milo said he loved it.

Five-year-old Bennet Mielke and mom Brooke Mielke are all smiles as they slide around the Civic Center ice during the WLC boot skate program.

Bennet Mielke, 5, slides around the Civic Center ice rink on his back. His mom, Brooke Mielke, said he did not fall down, he deliberately decided to slide on his back.