If you’re one of the many parents looking for ways to reduce your kids’ screen time, you’re in luck! We’re sharing our favorite fall activities to do with kids to inspire families to get off the couch and have some fun. 

How to Reduce Screen Time

While it might be tempting to set strict rules or even take away your kids’ devices, there’s a different approach that can save you a lot of family strife—and might even be more effective!

Think of the old example of a cart driver and his stubborn horse. A swat on the rump will work…For a while. It will probably also tick off the horse in a major way, and could lead to even more stubborn behavior! Dangling a carrot in front of the horse, on the other hand, will achieve the same desired outcome without resentment. Of course, the carrot has to be sufficiently attractive in this case, and the horse has to know that it will actually get its reward in the end. 

OK, OK, we know your kids aren’t horses and you aren’t a buggy driver (despite how many carpool shifts you’ve pulled over the years). But the point is that when you provide more attractive alternatives, even the most social media-savvy kids can’t resist the pull away from their devices and into the adventures of the real world!  This fall, why not try some of these family-friendly fall activities? 

Fall Activities for Kids

Go hiking and geocaching.

Fall is the perfect season for hiking in Maryland, with beautiful fall foliage and cooler weather. Check out one of the many awesome parks nearby, like Greenbelt Park, Bladensburg Waterfront Park, or Schrom Hills Recreation Center. If you want to add a little extra adventure to your family outings (and more incentive for your kids), you could try geocaching. 

Geocaching is basically a huge, communal scavenger hunt in which people use GPS to locate “caches.” These hidden caches usually contain a prize for the next geocacher to find. Your family can create your own “signature” item to leave in place of what you take from the box. Painted rocks, small toys, finger puppets, figurines—just get creative!

Do some fall crafts. 

Speaking of getting creative, a fall craft day is a nice follow up to a nature walk. You can have your kids collect leaves, stones, etc. to create anything from a pinecone owl or acorn doll to pressed leaves or a gourd tea light holder. 

Go roller skating. 

Does your family have roller skates? Roller skating is an awesome year-round activity that’s good for you, and the great thing is that with the proper equipment, you can do it indoors or outdoors! Come skate with us at Lanham Skate to get your kids (or yourself) on a roll at our spacious skating rink. You can also change your wheels to outdoor skate wheels and go out in your neighborhood or local park. 

These are some ideas to get you started, but remember that including your kids in the planning will make them more invested in the activity! Have a family brainstorming session at dinner, or create a list of ideas and let your kids take turns choosing one to do each weekend. Good luck, and we hope you have a fabulous fall!

Figuring out how to get your kids back into a school routine at the start of a new school year can be a bit challenging for families under the best circumstances… And if there’s anything we know about 2020, it’s that this year does not fall under the realm of “the best circumstances.” Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Prince George’s County Public Schools are undertaking distance learning until at least the end of the year. However, just because school isn’t physically in session doesn’t mean that you’re off the hook when it comes to this parental challenge. In fact, getting your family on a regular schedule is more important than ever under these circumstances! 

Why A School Routine is So Important (Even During a Pandemic)

There are so many reasons that having a routine can benefit your family, but just to name a few: 

• Routines let everyone know what to expect. This is particularly valuable when you’re juggling multiple schedules.
• Routines can reduce anxiety and stress, leading to better health, better sleep, and better results in school and work. 
• Routines help us get into the right mindset for the tasks we have to do. This is true not just for kids who are distance learning, but also for adults who are working from home. 
• Routines give us a sense of control. When the world feels out of control, it can be a relief to know that you have a routine to rely on. 
• Routines make time for the important stuff. Getting your kids into a school routine is good for productivity (yours and theirs), which means you’ll have more quality time together. Be sure to schedule in the fun, too, like roller skating at our Family Nights on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month!

How to Get Your Kids On a School Routine

• Set bedtimes for everyone—and stick to them! That goes for parents, too. None of you will be ready to get up and get to work if you’re tired from staying up late. 
• Create a chart showing each family member’s routine and hang it somewhere everyone can see it, like the refrigerator.  Feeling extra organized? Print and laminate the charts and place them at your kids’ work stations so they can refer to the schedule without interrupting your work or their class time. They can even cross off each item with a dry erase marker. 
• Work during the week and relax during the weekend. When you’re stuck at home all the time, the days can start running into each other. It’s easy to get distracted and let the work pile up, until you can’t procrastinate any longer and end up working on schoolwork or work-work during the weekend.
  Making fun weekend plans can help incentivize your crew to work hard Monday through Friday, so you can enjoy the weekend and “unplug” from work and school. Join us for roller skating whenever you’re looking for fun, active things to do in Lanham.

Twins are always double the fun, but especially so when a birthday rolls around. If you’re a #TwinMom or #TwinDad, you know that twins are extra special. Planning the perfect birthday party for one child can be a challenge, so how are you supposed to make one event special enough for two kids? 

Well, you’ve come to the right place; we’ve got the inspiration you need to plan a creative twin birthday party, and we can help you pull it off with our convenient roller skating birthday party packages! We make throwing fun, memorable birthday parties a breeze, so you can actually enjoy the festivities while we take care of the details. Keep reading for our favorite birthday party themes for twins, and get ready to let the good times roll. 

Twin Birthday Parties

Thing 1 and Thing 2

Could there be a more perfect birthday party theme for twins than the classic Dr. Seuss characters Thing 1 and Thing 2? Red, white, and blue make for an easy and vibrant color scheme, and you can add that iconic Dr. Seuss style with red and white stripes, pom poms, and even custom Thing 1 and Thing 2 party invitations. For extra theme points, give out copies of Dr. Seuss books instead of goodie bags as party favors. 

Superheroes

What kid doesn’t love superheroes? The best part of a superhero party theme is that you can show off the personalities of both kids, which is great for older twins who are looking for a sense of individuality. Help them create their own superhero personas complete with signature colors, and use those as inspiration for the invitations, decorations, and even the activities. You could even give each child a cape to wear during the party and to take home as a party favor. Just remember to keep safety in mind based on the ages of the kids, and don’t make the capes long enough to trip over. 

Hansel and Gretel

If you have boy/girl twins, you can’t pass up the opportunity for a fairytale-themed Hansel and Gretel birthday party. Obviously candy is going to be the star of the show, but you can kick it up a notch by dressing your kids in German or folk-inspired clothes—think embroidery, florals, and maybe even lederhosen. For decor, think moss, red and white mushrooms, twinkle lights, candy, even a gingerbread house. 

No matter what theme you choose for your twin birthday party, make sure both kids feel special and unique. People tend to treat twins like a matched set, but they’re individuals and you may need to adjust some of the birthday traditions accordingly. For instance, some twin parents opt to do this with separate “personal size” cakes so each kid can blow out their own candles. 

If you’re a parent or guardian of school age kids reading this right now, just take a moment and pat yourself on the back. The coronavirus pandemic has been challenging for everyone, but especially parents. In between working from home (if you’re even fortunate enough to do so), playing teacher/cafeteria worker/coach/janitor, and having to wrangle stir crazy kids who miss their friends, you’ve got a lot on your plate. When you do have actual quality time to spend with your family, you want to make it count! 

At Lanham Skate Center, creating happy memories with family is what we’re all about, so check out these tips to make weekends more fun for the whole family. 

Add More Fun to Your Family’s Weekends

Lay the foundation before the weekend starts.

We know this tip isn’t the most exciting, but it can make a huge difference in your family’s weekends! While it’s challenging to fit housework like laundry and cleaning into your busy weekdays, spreading at least some of the chores out during the week will free up time for more fun on Saturday and Sunday. If your Saturdays are currently filled with mountains of laundry and hours of chores, start small. Challenge yourself to do one load of laundry during the week, or set a timer every night after the kids go to bed and clean for 15-20 minutes. You’ll be surprised how much you can get done with a deadline!

Make meals special. 

Don’t worry, we’re not advocating for a four course meal every breakfast, lunch, and dinner. In the age of smartphones, tablets, and social media, even parents are guilty of checking out during mealtimes—and that’s assuming everyone even sits down at a table together to begin with. 

While it may seem old fashioned, family dinners are actually really important for families, with multiple benefits for child development and family relationships. Aside from a “no electronics at the table” rule, you can make mealtimes special by asking fun questions, having a picnic on the lawn, or getting your kids involved with the cooking and table setting. 

Get moving. 

We could all use a little (or a lot) more exercise, so choose weekend activities that work up a sweat or provide a sense of adventure. Roller skating is a great family fitness activity, as well as hiking, biking, or walking at your local park. According to the CDC, as long as you stick to COVID-19 safety guidelines, you and your kids can still enjoy getting out in nature for some healthy exercise. We hope that these tips help you and your family have more fun on the weekends—after all, we need it more than ever right now!

In our last post we shared some things to do during the COVID-19 stay-at-home directive… But if you have kids at home, it’s likely that the whole family is starting to feel the confinement. It’s easy to get on each others’ nerves when stuck at home together for an extended period of time, and for once your kids are probably not exaggerating when they say they’re bored! 

As we continue to stay home (non-essential Maryland businesses are expected to stay closed through at least May 10th), it’s important to find new ways to keep busy, to keep entertained, and most importantly—to keep the peace!  While we count down the days until our skating rink can reopen, check out these ideas to help your family pass the time. 

3 Ways to Keep Your Family Busy During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Send some snail mail.

Hopefully you’ve been keeping in touch with loved ones outside of your household by using Zoom, HouseParty, etc. But if you want to step things up a notch, send some real, physical mail!

Clear out all of that old stationary you’ve never used, or help your kids make cards for a fun creative activity. Send your letters, cards, artwork, or postcards to grandparents, siblings, aunts and uncles, coworkers, teachers, classmates—anyone whose day you want to brighten! You can even send notes and cards to fight loneliness among elderly people.  

Get on a schedule.

One of the best (though admittedly, hardest) things you can do right now is create a schedule for your family. A complete lack of structure isn’t good for most people, so work with your family to create a daily schedule everyone can get on board with. Include things like wake-up times, mealtimes when everyone will sit down and eat together at the table, bedtimes, etc. It can also be helpful to split the rest of the day into different categories, with time for exercise, studying, chores, solo activities or relaxation, and family activities. Check out these examples:

• A daily COVID-19 schedule from Prodigy
• This customizable and printable family schedule
• The pandemic schedule that made this mom go viral

Make simple things special.

Speaking of scheduling, remember that a routine doesn’t have to be monotonous. Schedule time for dedicated family fun at least a couple times a week. By keeping everyone on a schedule and making the time you do spend together fun, it will be easier to keep spirits up and avoid bickering.
These are just a few ideas for family fun “events.” What unique ideas do you have? 

• Movie night: Pile up some pillows and blankets, pop some popcorn, and get comfy! 
• Field day: Backyard relay races, hopscotch tournaments, etc. are great boredom fighters that actually provide exercise, too!
• Board game party: Put on a fun playlist and break out those board games. Let everyone take turns choosing games to keep it fun. (Of course, it wouldn’t hurt to “curate” the game choices if you want to remove anything overly long, involved, or likely to end in a fracas. Looking at you, Monopoly!)

Installation art exhibit: Write positive messages or draw pictures on your driveway or fence with sidewalk chalk. Make some signs to encourage your neighbors and prop them up against trees facing the street. Or head outside with a portable speaker and challenge your neighbors to a dance off from the safety of your respective yards!

If “Bored In The House” is now the soundtrack to your life, you’re not alone! Everyone is struggling with social distancing and Stay At Home directives, and needless to say, we are all “in the house bored.” Until we see you again at the skating rink, here are some ideas for things to do while you’re stuck at home due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Things to Do During the Stay at Home Directive

Roller Skating (Or Any Physical Activity)

Our skating rink may be closed temporarily, but if you own your own skates, you can still enjoy roller skating outdoors. To do so, you’ll need to change your wheels to outdoor wheels, which are softer and provide a smoother ride over bumpy sidewalks and paths. In contrast, indoor skate wheels are harder because the surface of the skating rink floor is already smooth and level—especially on our brand new wooden skate floor! 

Whether you skate, walk, run, or just have a family dance party in the living room, make sure to keep your body moving. Exercise is a huge mood booster and we all need a boost during these uncertain times. Check out these tips for safe outdoor exercise during coronavirus. 

Catching Up With Friends and Family

Social distancing doesn’t have to mean social isolation. Call your family and friends to check in on each other, or set up a videochat appointment with your friends to just “hang out” together, even if you’re apart. Thanks to technology, there are so many ways to connect with each other, from a distance: FaceTime, Google Hangouts, Skype, Zoom, even Netflix Party!

Clearing Your To-Do List

We all have a list of things we keep putting off, from household chores like dusting the baseboards to administrative tasks like sorting mail or shredding documents. Using this time to check some of those items off your to-do list—or even clear it altogether—may help you to feel more productive and give you a sense of relief that those tasks are no longer hanging over your head!   

Getting Creative

Now is the perfect time to unleash your creativity. Making art can be incredibly therapeutic and relaxing, and makes for a great change of pace once you’ve exhausted your Netflix queue or Amazon watchlist. Don’t worry about being good at it, just enjoy the process. You don’t have to do visual art, either; pick up your dusty old guitar or have an impromptu family “drum circle” with pots, pans, and buckets. Pretend that you’re on a reality home makeover show and rearrange your furniture. Stage a family production of your favorite Shakespeare play, or create your own unique variety show! Upcycle something from your recycling bin. Plant an herb garden in your kitchen windowsill. The options are endless! 

We hope these ideas keep you occupied while we all do our best to flatten the curve. Stay well, and we hope to see you back at Lanham Skate soon! 

We have exciting news here at Lanham Skate Center. (Drumroll please….) Check out our brand new wooden skate floor! We’re thrilled to have the new floor installed, and ever since it was completed in January, we’ve been in love—and we think you will too!

Now, if you’re an avid skater you probably already know why a quality wooden skating rink is so prized, but if not, we’ll break it down for you. 

Why do many skaters prefer wood skate floors? 

Every building material has its own pros and cons, but sometimes one material is just better for the job. That’s why maple hardwood has been a staple in skating rink flooring for so many years. Keep reading to learn why some skaters prefer wood floors. 

Wood Floors vs. Concrete Floors

Many skaters are just drawn to whichever kind of flooring they grew up skating on. However, wood skating rink flooring has some distinct advantages that concrete lacks. 

What are the benefits of wood skating rinks?

Many skaters prefer maple hardwood skating rink floors because those floors have better grip, give a smoother ride, and are extremely durable. Add to that the fact that falling down on a wooden floor typically hurts a lot less than it would on concrete, and it’s easy to see why these floors are so popular. Because the floor is made of wood, it has some bend, which tends to be A well-done wood floor can even last up to 50 years! 

Of course, wood floors are prized for their good looks, but they’re also a hit with skating rink owners because, with proper care, they can last decades. 

Why do some rinks have concrete floors?

Concrete is a much cheaper option when it comes to flooring, which is why it is popular with some rinks. The surface is slipperier, and the hardness (while it definitely makes falling more painful) allows skaters to more easily do power-intensive tricks like spins.

Any day you get to skate is a good day, so lace up those skates and let the good times roll!

All skating activities at Lanham Skate Center are suspended, as of March 16, 2020, due to State of Maryland’s regulation on the Coronavirus pandemic. For the safety of our community, the closure of entertainment facilities has been mandated throughout Maryland State.

Please take the recommended precautions to keep you and your families safe and healthy.

We will re-open our business as soon as we are able to do so. Hope to see you soon soon!

Your child’s birthday is the same time every year… So why wait until the last minute to plan their birthday party? Here at Lanham Skate Center, we’ve been helping families make birthday memories for years, so don’t worry—we’ve got you covered. Keep reading to learn how to throw a roller skating birthday party for your kid with this easy-peasy checklist. 

A Kid’s Birthday Party Planning Checklist

6 Weeks Before the Party

• Decide on a budget for your event. Don’t feel the need to break the bank—you can throw your child a great party without throwing your budget to the wind. (For instance, our party packages start as low as $169 for 10 guests plus the birthday child!) 
• Make a guest list so you have an idea of the gathering size. Keep your child’s temperament (and your own) in mind when deciding how big the group should be. Some kids love a blow-out party with their entire extended family, soccer team, neighbors, and class, while quieter kids might prefer just a handful of their closest friends and immediate family. 
• Choose a date and reserve a party venue.

One Month Before the Party

• Send out invitations. When you book a birthday party with us at Lanham Skate Center, we provide free invitations! Just give us a call and let us know when you want to swing by and pick them up. Many parents these days are also just as happy to receive an e-vite. After all, you can’t lose an email… And you can easily add the event to your phone calendar. 
• If buying a cake, place your order with the bakery. 

3 Weeks Before the Party

• Order/purchase balloons and other decorations, themed tableware, piñatas, etc.

2 Weeks Before the Party

• Call anyone who was invited but hasn’t RSVPed for a final head count. 

3 Days Before the Party

• Assemble goodie bags if you’re having them.
• Locate and charge your camera if applicable, as well as an extra battery, SD card, etc. 

The Day Before the Party

• Pick up the cake from the bakery, or bake the birthday cake. 
• Wrap birthday gifts. 
• Pack a clipboard with pen and paper or a notepad with the party supplies, so you can record who gave what gift. 
• Make sure the birthday kid goes to bed on time (or even a little early) so they’ll be well-rested for their party.

We’d love to help you make your child’s birthday in Lanham, Maryland a total blast that everyone will remember for years to come. Our roller skating birthday parties are available on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and require a non-refundable reservation fee of $75 to hold your spot. 
Give us a call at 301-577-1733 to learn more about our birthday party packages.

Plenty of parents these days are worried about their kids’ sedentary lifestyles, but while it’s easy to blame video games and TV, the reality is a little more complicated. One study found that for many kids, environmental and social factors were the main contributors to sedentary behavior, with some children in the study even agreeing with the statement, “I sit because there is nobody to play with.” 

If you’re concerned about the effects of a sedentary lifestyle and are looking for ways to get kids active, you’re in luck! The answer may be a lot easier (and more fun) than you think. 

Ways to Help Kids Get More Exercise

At Lanham Skate Center, we make it fun, easy, and affordable to get off the couch and move your body—for kids, teens, and adults, too! Instead of telling your kids what not to do—don’t play so many video games, don’t watch so much TV, don’t spend so much time on your phone—give them positive alternatives that feel like a treat, not a chore.   

Playdates

One great example of providing positive alternatives is to arrange a playdate for your kids and their friends at the skating rink, rather than at your house. They’ll love the freedom of zooming around the rink, racing, dancing, and playing games. In fact, they’ll have so much fun they won’t even realize that they just got a great cardio workout! 

Lessons

If your kids don’t know how to skate or want to learn to improve their skating skills, our roller skating lessons are a surefire hit. Classes are offered Tuesdays and Saturdays here at our Lanham, Maryland skating rink, led by qualified instructors certified by The Society of Roller Skating Teachers of America and USA Roller Sports Coaches. If your kids progress beyond basic skills and want to learn more, we offer more advanced classes as well!

Birthdays

Life is all about balance, so why not embrace it with a roller skating birthday party for your child? Our skating parties are a popular choice with parents because after the kids get hyped up on birthday cake, they can skate away some of that energy before going home! 

Family Fun

Sorry parents, but you probably guessed this was coming: It’s up to you to lead by example! Modelling healthy habits is one of the best ways to set your kids up for success, so you’ll also need to get off the couch, put your phone down, and get moving. Fortunately, roller skating is a fun and affordable way to get active with your kids, while having a blast and making memories that will last a lifetime. Make time for Family Fun Night here at Lanham Skate Center on the 1st, 2nd, and 4th Thursdays of the month! Family Fun Nights last from 7 pm to 10 pm, with $5 admission and $5 skate rental. 

We hope to see you soon for active, family-friendly fun that’s (literally) good for the heart.