Don’t let winter break slide by without making the most of the time off. If you blink, you’ll miss it, so it can help to make a schedule… Even if you’re just scheduling downtime! There are plenty of things to do with your kids for winter break, so keep reading for some of our favorite ideas.

Things to Do with Your Kids During Winter Break

Family-Friendly Exercise

Cabin fever is at an all-time high, and not just for kids! We could all use a chance to get out of the house and move our bodies, but between the weather and the pandemic, it’s hard to know what to do. Fortunately, there are ways to be active while keeping safety in mind. 

• Roller skating is a perfect family-friendly fitness activity, providing both a cardio and strengthening workout. At Lanham Skate, you and your kids can burn off some energy and have a blast, all while social distancing. No matter what the weather’s like outside, the skating rink is here for you! Please remember to wear your masks and practice COVID-19 safety so we can all keep skating. You can see our skate session schedule here. 
• Walking is definitely an underrated form of exercise that the whole family can do. Incorporating a daily walk into your family’s routine not only gives everyone some crucial physical activity, but also provides quality time together to talk about your days, explore your neighborhood, or just enjoy being outside in nature.
• Obstacle courses are a fun option for getting some physical activity on days when the weather isn’t cooperating. Work with your kids to create an obstacle course in the living room using couch cushions, laundry baskets, painter’s tape, towels, or even plastic cups. Just remember to keep safety first and foremost… So no climbing on furniture, playing on the stairs, etc. 

Movie Day

Instead of letting every day of winter break turn into an unintentional couch binging session, try to limit screen time most days. That will make it even more special when you hold a “film festival” one day! Choose a theme or genre, and let your family members vote on what to watch. (Just make sure the options are appropriate for everyone who’ll be watching.) 

On the day of your film festival, make sure everyone is comfy with pillows and blankets—it’s a perfect time to take the cushions off the sofa and make a big nest on the floor! Dim the lights, pop a big bowl of popcorn, and enjoy the show! You can even stop for an “intermission” every so often to allow for bathroom breaks, stretching, etc.

Front Yard Fun

The coronavirus pandemic has been very isolating for everyone, so why not head out to your front yard if you have one, and say hi to the neighbors? Hang out and play with your kids, or spread out blankets and read together. Bust out the sidewalk chalk and write a message to frontline workers thanking them for their hard work. You and your kids could even make signs or an art installation in your yard to cheer up the neighbors!

It’s easy to turn into a bit of a couch potato during the cold winter months, for kids as well as adults. How are you supposed to keep your kids active when it’s freezing cold outside and the combo of a couch and Netflix is so very cozy? Well, you might need to get creative. Fortunately, we’ve rounded up 3 creative cold-weather activities to keep your kids—and you—active all winter.

Creative Cold-Weather Activities

There are two ways to deal with the cold, windy, sometimes gloomy winter days here in Maryland. You can either choose indoor activities to keep your kids active or, if you do want to go outside, you’ll need to dress for the weather. Which activities you choose will depend on the day, but here’s a mix of both so you can handle whatever the weather throws at you!

Go Roller Skating

The great thing about roller skating is that you can do it rain or shine! Here at Lanham Skate Center, our skating rink offers kids (and parents) the chance to play hard and burn off some energy while still social distancing. And of course, because it’s indoors, it’s just as fun even during freezing cold temperatures or heavy rain. We even offer skating lessons for kids who want to improve their skills and learn how to skate faster or do tricks. 

Roller skating outside is fun too, so let us know if you’re in the market for some outdoor skates. Outdoor roller skating is a great activity for the whole family, and we can help you pick out the right skates for everyone from little kids to teens to adults. 

Go for a Nature Walk

As the Norwegian saying goes, “There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.” So grab those raincoats and puddle-jumpers, or coat, hat and mittens, and go outside for some winter exploration. Just because it’s cold doesn’t mean there’s nothing to see. Winter is a great time to notice the branch growth patterns of temporarily barren trees, look for seed pods on bushes, and even scout some animal tracks in snow or mud. 

Have a Living Room Rave

There’s no better way to get your heart rate up than by dancing. (That’s one of the things that makes the skating rink so fun, after all.) Why not take a break for a dance party? There are video games like Just Dance and Dance Dance Revolution, but you don’t have to be that fancy. Turn on those smart speakers and blast some danceable tunes, like this Spotify kids’ dance party playlist. For bonus points, get one of those laser party lights to add some funky ambiance to your living room rave!

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!