I bought these about 7 years ago, and my child wore them 2 or 3 times. They were stored indoors. My child wore them in the third and fourth grades of elementary school. They were hardly used; I bought them for practice. It's recommended to start skating around elementary school age, as progress is faster. I started in high school, but children who start from a young age become exceptionally skilled. If a child is talented, they will improve if they have an environment to practice from a young age.