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.

Many different sports have aids to help children learn the sport or hobby better. We have tee-ball to teach baseball. We have tricycles to help teach the art of riding a bike. Flag football comes before tackle football, and putt putt comes before 18 holes of golf.

Well, do you know what a skate mate is? Have you ever seen one floating around a roller rink? No, skate mates aren’t two friends learning how to skate together. They’re made of PVC piping and are shaped in a V in a 90 degree angle. They have wheels on the bottom. And they are devices that help children learn and feel comfortable roller skating.

While there are a lot of benefits to skate mates, they have become pretty controversial in the roller skating world. How controversial can roller skating get, you may ask? Well, just take a peek on Google at the great skate mate debate. Several seasoned skaters feel there is a time and place for skate mates and it is not during public skating sessions. The other side of this debate is that public skating sessions means public. This should mean any person should be able to skate or learn how to skate during this session. Some skaters view these skate mates as dangerous or hazardous to other skaters.

So what does the skate mate actually do? It helps the skater balance while learning how to coordinate and push your skates across the rink. These skate mates provide a sense of independence to the children using them. At the same time, they provide the parents freedom by not having to drag their children across the rink as the kids are slipping and sliding.

What are the positive aspects of skate mates? New skaters and families will feel more comfortable learning to skate. They’ll know that people of all skill set and ability are welcome. Skate mates help children and new skaters learn easier without having to hold on to the wall or another human. They also provide balance and center of gravity for new and improving skaters.

What are the negative aspects of skate mates? Just like new skaters without skate mates, skaters using this tool need to be aware of other skaters. Skate mates are bulky and can easily get in other skaters’ way. If used incorrectly, they can also go sliding across the rink and cause injury. That’s why it’s important for all skaters, even kids using skate mates for the first time, to understand the importance of rink safety. It’s not just about your own safety, it’s about creating a safe place for everybody who wants to skate.

Where do we fall on the great skate mate debate? We just want happy skaters around us. We also want the art of roller skating to continue to grow. We feel skate mates have a time and a place. As long as everyone around is skating respectably and responsibly, then there is no reason we can’t all skate harmoniously.

Whether you are skating for the first time, bringing your children along to test out a skate mate or dusting off your old custom skates, join us for our next event or open skate. Check out our schedule for theme nights, adult nights, open skates and lesson availability.

STOP, in the name of FUN! We know, you’re busy. With work, school, family, pets, housework, errands, bills to pay, and to-do lists to check off, you’ve been going a mile a minute for way too long. It’s time to prioritize your health and happiness and do something fun. 

Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to learn why you should stop putting off going to Lanham Skate Center and join us for roller skating fun that will refuel your mind and body.

Why You Need to Have Fun—For Your Own Good!

You’ve heard the saying, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” Well, in reality it won’t just make you dull, it’s actually bad for your physical and mental health! According to researchers, working long hours (55 or more a week, opposed to the standard 40) increases your risk of stroke by 33% and your risk of heart attack by 13%. 

So, what can you do about it? It’s actually easy… Or rather, taking it easy! The best way to combat stress is to set aside time for relaxation. You don’t have to go on an expensive vacation (although that never hurts), just try to make sure you’re giving yourself some time each week to ignore work emails, turn off your phone, and enjoy life. If you need more reasons to come to Lanham Skate Center, here are some of the best!

Reasons to Go Skating at Lanham Skate Center

Your Favorite Tunes

There’s one place you can always rely on when it comes to music—the skating rink! We play the best music from the 70s, 80s, 90s 2000s, and today to ensure that everyone is having a blast on the rink. Roll, bounce, slide, and glide along with the beat for a couple hours of unbeatable fun. 

Exercise (That’s Actually Fun!)

Speaking of dancing/skating the night away, roller skating is an excellent form of exercise. You can burn a surprising amount of calories, and skating also tones and strengthens your core and legs. You won’t find a more fun way to workout! 

Making Memories

Even if you’re not concerned about your own health and stress levels, it’s important to make time for the people you care about. Roller skating is a perfect activity to help you make memories with your favorite people, whether it’s a night out with friends, a family fun afternoon with your kids, a date night with your partner, or a sibling skating reunion. Everyone from little kids to senior adults can learn to skate, so nobody feels left out! 
Convinced yet? Check out our skating schedule to see when our public skating sessions are, and come have some fun with us at Lanham Skate Center!

We’re at the start of not only a new year, but a whole new decade! If there were ever a time to make some New Year’s resolutions, it’s now. Instead of a lengthy list of overly-optimistic personal to-do items that you’re unlikely to ever complete, why not try something a little different? 

This year, try making some resolutions with your family! After all, you spend more time with them than anyone else. Plus, it always feels better to tackle a job with help instead of on your own. Check out these New Year’s resolution ideas for your family in 2020. 

Family New Year’s Resolutions

Spend more quality time together.

Families are so busy these days, which makes it hard to spend quality time together. Even when you are in the same physical space, it’s likely that you’re all absorbed in your own electronic devices, playing mobile games, Snapchatting, scrolling endlessly on Instagram, watching streaming services, and whatever else you’re addicted to checking or doing on your phone. If you’re tired of the day-to-day grind and want to make a change, make a family resolution to spend more quality time together. That means everyone needs to unplug—yes, even you, parents!  

Roller skating is the perfect way to do that. At Lanham Skate Center, you can have a fun family outing that everyone can enjoy, and it’s affordable to boot! Check out our skating sessions to find the ones that work best for your family, and set a weekly or monthly date that everyone in the family keeps clear for hangout time. You’re sure to make some priceless family memories at the skating rink. 

Be more active. 

Speaking of “unplugging” from technology, we could all stand to do less sitting and more moving! The best way to ensure everyone in your family is staying active is to plan active things to do during family time, like roller skating! 

Roller skating is a full-body workout that makes exercise so fun, you won’t want to go back to the treadmill. Your kids will be having such a blast at the skating rink that they won’t even realize how much exercise they’re getting, but you can feel good knowing that your family fun day included a healthy dose of cardiovascular exercise. 

Celebrate special moments. 

This year, give the special moments in life their due. Let’s face it, you probably won’t look back on your life and think, “Gee, I wish I would have worked more weekends.” Instead, make it a priority to be present for the soccer games, birthday parties, and other milestones. 

Our skating parties make any occasion extra special, whether you’re celebrating a birthday or having a team party.

Whatever resolutions you make in 2020, we hope to see you and your family for plenty of fun at Lanham Skate Center!

Whether you’re shopping for the holidays, a birthday, or a “just because” gift for a child, you can’t go wrong with the gift of roller skates! Gifting a pair of roller skates is so much more than just the physical object. Learn why you should buy roller skates for your kids, grandkids, nieces or nephews—and why you just might want to treat yourself to skates, too!

Reasons to Buy Kids Roller Skates

There are so many reasons to buy your kids roller skates, but these are a few of the best. Read on to learn more from the skating pros at Lanham Skate Center!

Give Fun

For the ultimate gift, don’t just wrap up the skates. Instead, consider giving your child a pair of roller skates with a gift certificate or voucher to your local skating rink. Schedule a time to take them on a fun roller skating outing to try out their new skates or sign them up for skating lessons to help them learn how to use their gift. 

At our Lanham skating rink, we offer beginner roller skating lessons taught by Certified USA Roller Sports Coaches and members of The Society of Roller Skating Teachers. Classes take place on Saturdays and Tuesdays, and students can choose to attend one or two sessions a week. If your child masters the beginner skating techniques and is excited to learn more, we also offer advanced roller skating lessons, so contact us for availability and other information. 

Give Friendship

One of the best parts of roller skating is hanging out at the skating rink with friends and family. Skating is not just a good workout, it’s also a fun social activity that keeps you interacting with others in the community. There are always fun skating events to attend, and here at Lanham Skate Center, we strive to maintain a family-friendly, inclusive environment. From school fundraisers to birthday parties to open skating sessions, your child is sure to make some great friends at the skating rink. 

Give Fitness

Roller skating is an excellent fitness activity. According to Team USA Roller Sports, 

Roller skating provides aerobic, strength, and endurance benefits.  Research shows that roller skating can provide an aerobic workout similar to running that improves cardiovascular health.  Recreational skating also causes less stress to one’s joints than an activity like running. And, skating’s low-impact quality also allows people with joint injuries or chronic joint problems to enjoy a fun and thorough workout.

Skating in an indoor skating rink allows you to get a workout no matter the weather, and with great music and a fun atmosphere, it’s easy to see why roller skating is the most fun you can have working out! 

Ready to give the gift of fun, fitness, and friendship to the special child in your life…or even yourself? Peruse our skate catalogs and give us a call at 301-577-1733 to place your order today!

As the song says, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” The holiday season is supposed to be about spending quality time with the people we care about, but it also happens to be one of the most hectic and stressful times of the year for many people. 

Everyone loves a thoughtful gift, but don’t get so caught up in the hustle and bustle that you forget about what’s really important—shared experiences! Research even suggests that people who spend money on experiences instead of material objects are happier and feel more fulfilled. 

If you’re looking for ways to slow down and connect with your friends and family, check out these holiday activities coming up in and around Lanham. 

Family-Friendly Holiday Events Near Lanham

ZooLights at the National Zoo

Christmas lights + the National Zoo + kids = A whole lotta holiday fun! Head to the National Zoo for a free experience walking the grounds of the zoo amid over 500,000 energy efficient lights in colorful displays that are sure to dazzle (and also look great on your Instagram). In addition to the usual light displays you may have seen in previous years, this year’s event will feature glowing animal lanterns and an interactive art installation called “Entre Les Rangs.” There will be live music, yummy seasonal snacks, and holiday shopping opportunities. ZooLights is open from 5 pm to 9 pm through January 1st. (Except for December 24th, 25th, and 31st.) 

Public Roller Skating Sessions

You’re on a skating rink blog, after all! Roller skating is a great way to stave off cabin fever when the weather is nasty and your kids need to blow off some steam. Everyone will feel better after doing something active than they would if you stayed on the couch watching yet another Christmas movie you’ve already seen. Check out our schedule to see public skating session times, and remember to follow us on Facebook to hear about special events and deals! 

Enchant Christmas

Explore the world’s largest Christmas light maze at Nationals Park, featuring a 90,000 square foot light maze and a 100-foot lighted pine tree sculpture. There will also be ice skating, a holiday artisan and makers market, and showing of some of your favorite classic Christmas movie scenes from films like Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and A Charlie Brown Christmas. 

Breakfast with Santa

Brunch and holiday activities for the kiddos? What could be merrier? Breakfast with Santa at La Fontaine Bleue is coming up on December 8th from 9 am to 1 pm. Kids under 5 eat free, and there will be photo ops with Santa, crafts, games, and face painting. (Reservations are required.) 

Whatever you get up to with your family this holiday season, we hope you make some fun memories!

We’ve shared when to buy or replace your roller skates, and why roller skates are a fantastic gift idea, but do you know what to do once you have your nice new skates in hand? Roller skate maintenance is super important if you’re going to get the maximum enjoyment and longevity from your skates, so check out our tips to learn how. These are the skate maintenance tasks you should do on a weekly basis. 

Weekly Roller Skate Maintenance

When you rent skates from us at Lanham Skate, you’re getting the convenience of a rental and all that entails—we take good care of our rental skates by cleaning, inspecting, and maintaining them on a regular basis. However, when you own your own roller skates, you’ll have to take care of their upkeep on your own. There are certain tasks you should do once in a while or as-needed, but these are the ones you should be taking care of on a regular basis. 

Tighten Toe Stops

Roller skating is a dynamic activity, and over time the vibrations from skating can cause certain parts of your skates to loosen up. Toe stops are a common culprit for this, so make sure that you tighten your toe stops each week. There are a couple of types of toe stops: 

• Adjustable toe stops
  • Hex lock nuts + tension washers – This type of stopper is common in mid- to high-range skates. You can tighten your hex lock stoppers by tightening the nut on the base of the toe stop with a crescent wrench. Don’t forget to squeeze the tension washers up against your plates; if you don’t, they might fall off while you’re skating. 
  • Allen key lock nuts – If you sprung for high-end skates, you’re probably dealing with allen key lock nuts. You can tighten these back up using an allen wrench or hex key. If you don’t, your toe stops might fall off while you’re skating. 
  • These types of toe stops are nice because they allow you to adjust the stoppers to your desired height; however, it’s important to make sure that the threaded stems of your toe stops are always screwed into your plate by at least half an inch. Failure to keep them at least half an inch into the plates can damage the plates and void your warrantly. 
• Non-adjustable toe stops
  • Common on kids skates and basic skate models, the non-adjustable bell toe stops can be tightened using a screwdriver (take a look to see if you need a flat head screwdriver or a Phillips head screwdriver). The toe stop bolt found in the middle of the stopper should also be tightened, but you can tighten it by hand. 

Tighten Wheel Nuts

The vibrations of skating can also work your wheel nuts loose, and you don’t want to skate on wheels that are not fully secured! If you find that you need to change your skate wheels pretty frequently, you may have worn out your wheel nuts. Another way to tell if your wheel nuts are loose is to shake your skate from side to side. If you hear clunking sounds, that means your wheels are moving back and forth on the axle of the skate and you need to tighten them.

To fix this, use a skate tool or half inch socket wrench to gently tighten the loose nut bit by bit. Your wheel should be able to spin freely but not move from side to side on the axle. Be careful not to damage the bearing on your wheel with your skate tool as you do this. 

Whether you need help choosing the right skates to buy or finding that one accessory to make your skates perfect for you, we’re happy to help! Just visit our Lanham, MD skating pro shop.

Look, we all know that it’s important to stay active for physical and mental health, but life is busy. From taking care of business at the office to playing chauffeur for your kids’ packed school and sports schedules, it’s easy to shift your own health and wellbeing to the back burner in favor of checking off your ever-expanding to-do list. That’s a recipe for boring gym workouts and maybe even choosing to just stay on the couch. 

Fortunately, you can get a full body workout without feeling like you’re being punished for something. Roller skating to the rescue! 

Roller Skating is a Full Body Workout

Here at Lanham Skate Center, we love sharing the joy of roller skating with people of all ages and abilities. Whether you have fond memories of skating as a child and would like to return to the rink, have never even put on a pair of roller skates, or have been tearing up the rink your whole life, you’re welcome to join us at any of our public skating sessions. 

Skating is good for your heart. 

Aerobic exercise (exercise that you can sustain for 10 minutes or more—think jogging, not sprinting) is incredibly important for your health, as it strengthens your heart and lungs. The American Heart Association even recognizes roller skating as an effective aerobic exercise, and researchers have found that roller skating can raise your heart rate from 140 to 160 beats per minute. Intense skating, like playing roller derby or speed skating, can even raise your heart rate to around 180 beats per minute!  

Skating builds strength. 

While it’s pretty obvious that roller skating can build up your leg muscles, it’s actually a better full body workout than you might think! In addition to strengthening and toning your quads, glutes, hamstrings, shins, calfs, and hips, skating also engages your core muscles. These super important muscles are located in your torso and are extremely important for posture, preventing back pain and injuries. The core muscles include your abs, pelvic floor, and the muscles that run along your spine. 

Roller skating engages your core muscles, as well as your arms, because you are constantly having to shift your body weight to maintain balance as you roll. While these movements are less noticeable than the actions of your legs, the small balancing movements can be a surprisingly good workout for your core and upper body!

Skating is low-impact. 

Some exercises are high-impact, meaning they put a lot of pressure on your joints. (Running, CrossFit, and sports like basketball, tennis, and soccer are all examples of high-impact exercise.) Low-impact exercise is more gentle on your joints, which is important for preventing injury and joint pain, especially in older or overweight people. Low-impact exercises include swimming, water aerobics, weight training, and—you guessed it—roller skating! 
It’s never too late to learn to skate, so check out our Lanham skating lessons and get ready to roll your way to fun and fitness!

October is known for all kinds of autumnal fun, from corn mazes and hayrides to trick-or-treating and carving jack-o-lanterns. But there’s something else special about October—it’s also National Roller Skating Month!  At Lanham Skate Center, we love sharing the joy of roller skating with families in and around Lanham, especially during the official appreciation month. Read on to learn 5 fun ways to celebrate National Roller Skating Month. 

Take a lesson.

If you’re not super confident on roller skates, that’s OK! Skating comes more naturally to some folks than it does to others, but taking a skating class is a great way to get caught up and find your skating stride. 

Our roller skating classes take place every Tuesday from 6:30 to 7:30 pm, and every Saturday from noon to 1 pm. We also have skate mates available for rental on Sundays from 1 to 7 pm, which can be helpful for little ones who are still finding their footing. 

Book a party. 

Nothing says party time like the roller skating rink! If you or a loved one has a birthday coming up soon, go ahead and make a reservation for your roller skating party. There’s no need to clean your house, fuss over food and drinks, and spend time decorating, all of which leave you feeling tired before the guests even arrive. (Not to mention the mess you get to clean up afterward.) Instead, leave the details to us and throw a party you’ll actually be able to enjoy!

Make a date. 

With the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it can be hard to make quality time with the one you love. Why not plan a fun, unique date night for your significant other? Roller skating is a great option for quirky dates because it’s got all the elements of a good date: Fun, ambiance, great music, and an excuse to hold hands. 

Plan an event. 

When it comes to school fundraisers and PTA events, we’ve got your back! Roller skating fundraisers are a great way to ensure turnout for your event and drive donations, whether for a school project, a field trip, or another great cause. Our Lanham skating rink can handle large crowds with ease, so you can relax and enjoy the event. Plus, people are more generous when they’re happy… And it’s basically impossible to be unhappy on roller skates! 

Get connected. 

There are so many more ways to celebrate National Roller Skating Month, but we’d be here all day! So we’ll just leave you with one last way—connect with us on social media. It’s the best way to stay up-to-date on all of our upcoming events, specials, and more. And it’s not a one-way street; we’d love for you to join the conversation and share your photos and videos with us on Facebook and Instagram! Just remember to mention or tag us in your posts to be sure we see them.