Q: How do I get to the next step?

A: Practice!

I know it's cliche and pretty much how you get better at everything, from academics to learning a new skill (like roller skating!) but seriously, the only way to get past the I don't know how to skate forwards and backwards stage is simply to give it repeated practice.  Everyone will have different comfort levels with balance and different levels of risk aversion/acceptance.

The anxiety you feel when after realizing that with wheels on feet is different than no wheels on feet is real.  For some people that lingers for others it doesn't.  In the novice stage, your brain will continually panic looking for ways to mitigate what it perceives as constant risk.  That is completely natural; if you didn't have that fear, it would be difficult to learn!

After acknowledging the risk, we want to get used to the feeling so it can be used as an alarm system of sorts for us when we are actually in danger of something.  Falling is scary and we want to avoid those at most costs (not all).  Everyone falls. Check out the floor tax page for tax man fun.

Starting as a yute [youth]

Skating will come like walking for the little ones.  Starting young is super helpful just like all of the other activities that they will do at their age.  We can take advantage of their ability to learn rapidly.  I think watching styles can set a good direction for what they want to achieve.  Self-set goals are better than imposed ones.  

Watching cool skate videos can show the possibilities and reduce complacency!  Eat 'em up!

Starting as a teenager

I skate solo for situational reasons but as a teen, get yourself a crew!  Not only is it fun to learn and style together, but you can end up developing a crew style!  Having a goal in mind is great and working to bring each other up to the next level is really fun.

Starting as a young adult

First thing that's got to go is the fear.  Safely get to the ground by taking a knee (like you're going to tie your shoes); don't drop straight, descend with control.  From there, you can breathe a little and start from a solid position.

You want to know how to go forwards, how to skate backwards, how to stop all at the beginning.  Totally natural since you can see all of the elements that you need to know in order to have a good time, style, and be safe.  

Starting as a "proper" adult

We need to be a bit more careful since we don't heal like we used to.  I strongly recommend working with an instructor that can correct weird posture right at the get-go and wearing some protective gear.  Like the other stages, getting to the floor safely is priority #1.  Bend like you're gonig to tie your shoes. From there, switch to the other knee down.  Down low is really safe. Falling from high up is scary and invites more risk.

Having an experienced skater to hold on to if you lose a step is pretty nice.  Leaning on the banister or that person 90% of the time will not make learning smooth.  We have weight and a commensurate amount of momentum.  going slowly is kinda challenging so having some speed is the play.  Leaning side-to-side, slightly picking up each foot is a simple way to gain speed without risking too many extra movements.