Anyone remember these? Good old-fashioned roller skates with a giant rubber stopper in the front – or the brake that didn’t really work!
When I was little, I used to watch the Jetson’s on Saturday mornings all the time. I loved that cartoon. My kids will sit down and watch it sometimes when it comes on Boomerang (my favorite cartoon channel), but it’s not as intriguing to them as it was to me. I think it’s because the idea of hovercrafts and houses in space are not so foreign to them. They are living in a world of hoverboards and iPads – very different than when I was growing up. I used to think that by the time I was an adult, I would probably be flying around in some sort of hovercraft just like George Jetson. Not so much, but I will tell you that after a lot of practice…I CAN ride my son’s Swagway hoverboard from Swagway.com! Impressive, huh? Of course, I do not have any photographic evidence of this because the way I have to hold my arms out to the side and bend a little at the knees, puts me in a “not ready to be photographed” position. I’m sure you all understand.
But I do have photos of Zach scooting around the neighborhood and house on his Swagway. For him, it came quickly and easily. It’s like the Swagway is just an extension of his feet. After seeing him in this, I realize that it’s time for me to take my children skating. At a good old-fashioned skating rink! With good old-fashioned skates. You know…the kind with 4 wheels? Do they even have those anymore, or has everyone moved on to Rollerblades?
Here’s my boy – – cruisin’ up and down the street on his hoverboard!
It amazed me that he could be riding this thing and look up at me and wave at the same time. When I’m on it, it takes such an amazing amount of concentration just to stay upright – I could never look up and wave at someone. He’s so good at this thing – he can even come up (or down) the driveway. He can go over small bumps, through the grass, over gravel, and easily over the carpet in our house. You can’t tell from the picture below, but our driveway has a pretty steep incline. Doesn’t stop Zach. Nothing fazes him! I remember as a child having no fear just like Zach. Now I worry too much sometimes – I wonder what I’ll break if I fall. Or if I’ll be able to get back up. The ground seems much farther away and much harder than it did when I was Zach’s age.
Coming up the driveway, and posing for the camera all at the same time – no big deal!
Now, I know there is a lot of controversy over these hoverboards. We did not enter into this deal lightly. My husband and I did all kinds of research on batteries, fire hazards, etc… before we purchased this particular brand. Zach had worked hard to save up his money, and he had his eye on a more affordable brand. We were not comfortable with that one, so we padded his account a little bit so he would afford to get the brand we felt comfortable with. So far, no issues.
Okay…sorry for the poor picture quality, but I only had my cell phone to capture this moment. Really? Using his laptop while he roams around on his Swagway!
We have discovered lots of fun accessories for Hoverboards. The best purchase we made after getting the hoverboard was the Swagway Carrying Case – it’s a backpack that the board fits into nicely. It’s been great for trips to the park – the board is actually quite heavy, and a little bit awkward to carry around. You can also get Bumper Guards for your Swagway. As you can see from the close-ups of Zach’s board, they do take quite a beating at times. Zach was completely against bumpers for his, but it seems they might be useful for someone who doesn’t want to scratch their board up.
So…whichever hoverboard you decide to get, be sure to do your research – make sure it has a safe battery. And when you decide to try to ride your child’s hoverboard, I recommend trying it in a hallway so you can have your hands on both walls to help keep your balance. Or…have your child follow you around and keep one hand on his shoulder until you’re comfortable. And most importantly…make sure no one has a video camera or a phone out while you’re learning! Enjoy and be safe. Until next time…
