As the year winds down (and what a year it was), it’s time to look ahead to 2021. What are your hopes for the coming year? What are your goals for yourself and your family? While New Year’s resolutions are a popular tradition, actually sticking to them is another matter entirely. This year, why not take a different approach and make some family New Year’s resolutions that are not just doable, but actually fun?

Family New Year’s Resolutions for 2021

Prioritize quality time over quantity of time

2020 has been an intense year in the best cases, even the closest families have struggled with the emotional toll of physical and social isolation. Parents and kids alike are ready to escape the house and go back to the “good old days” of in-person school and work. But while you may feel you’ve had a little too much family time this year, remember that quality matters more than quantity. Even when the world gets back to normal (or as close as possible), try to carve out some intentional family time for you and your kids. It doesn’t have to be an all-day, everyday thing; even a weekly game night or monthly family outing can help you and your kids feel closer and more connected than months of sitting in the same house, staring at screens. 

Move more (and make it fun)

Health and fitness-related goals are some of the most common New Year’s resolutions, but most people struggle with actually sticking to an exercise plan or diet as the year goes on. Instead of setting unrealistic exercise goals and feeling bad when you don’t meet them, try making a family resolution to move more. The best way to ensure that you, your partner, and your kids get enough exercise is to find fun fitness activities that you all enjoy. 

Roller skating is a great sport to get your family into for exercise and fun. Kids can start as young as 4 years old, and skating is an activity they can continue throughout life, even into their senior years! It’s a cardio workout, tones and strengthens core and leg muscles, and can even help improve balance and agility. 

In addition to the physical benefits, skating is a fun, social, and affordable family activity that you can do rain or shine! Join us at Rainbow Roller Rink in North Tonawanda for our public skating sessions, or change to outdoor wheels and skate in your neighborhood, or on a trail at a local park. 

Do something to make the world a better place

Finally, why not team up with your family to make the world a better place? Sometimes the sheer number of things we’re supposed to care about can be overwhelming. Instead of making a vague resolution, pick one small thing that your whole family can commit to in the coming year. Whether it’s recycling, volunteering at a food bank, or fostering rescue dogs, find your family’s common passion and put it into action!

Finding the perfect gift can be tricky. After all, the perfect gift depends on the person. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, as the saying goes. Fortunately, if you’re shopping for someone who loves roller skating (or you have a strong hunch they might love it, given the opportunity), there’s a world of possibilities when it comes to gift-giving! Keep reading to learn some creative, thoughtful, and downright cool roller skating gift ideas to put a smile on their face, whether you’re shopping for the holidays, a birthday, or just because.

Give the Gift of Roller Skating

Roller Skates (Obviously!)

It’s not uncommon for hardcore skaters to own multiple pairs of roller skates. After all, they might want a dedicated pair for outdoor skating, speed skates for roller derby, and some snazzy fashion skates for hanging out at the skating rink. Or, if your gift recipient has been renting skates for a while, you can surprise them with their very own pair that fits their style and needs perfectly. You’re not just giving them the gift of new skates, you’re also saving them money on skate rentals in the future. 

We’re happy to help you find the perfect gift, so visit our pro shop or browse the latest roller skates.

Skating Goodies: Stocking Stuffers and Bonus Gifts

Buying gifts for someone with a hobby is almost always a treat because you have an endless array of possible gift ideas to choose from! Roller skating is no exception, which means you can gift lots of fun and useful skating accessories for years to come. Some of the best roller skating gifts to give (alone or in addition to skates) include:

• Skate bag or carrying strap
• Colorful laces
• Pom poms
• Wheels (Nothing says “celebration” quite like light-up skate wheels!)
• Boot covers
• Toe caps
• Toe stops
• Bearings
• Skate tool
• Bearings cleaning kit
• Safety equipment (elbow and knee pads, wrist guards, helmets)

Roller Skating Art

Head to Etsy or other artist-focused online marketplaces and peruse the wide variety of roller skating-inspired clothes, accessories, and pretty much anything you can imagine! From enamel pins and skater shirts to lace locks and art prints, you can find something awesome and unique for your favorite skater to wear, use, or display. And hey, if you find something you just have to have, why not treat yourself?

Your Presence is Present Enough

And last, but not least, give the gift of happy memories by taking your gift recipient out to skate at the local skating rink! Join us for one of our public skating sessions, or go all out and plan a surprise party. Either way, they’ll love the roller skates, but they’ll always remember the memories you make skating together.

We are officially re-opening on Wednesday, December 16th! Our doors might be re-opening, but your health and safety still remains as our first priority. We will continue to have augmented daily cleaning procedures and are taking proactive measures to minimize exposure. 

For the time being, we will operate under revised conditions based on government guidelines. So, please read this entire update to learn more about how we plan to operate safely. 

Per social distancing guidelines, for your safety and that of the Rainbow Rink staff:  

• All employees will be wearing masks and gloves. All guests are required by New York State law to bring and wear your mask/protective face covering.
• Maintain social distance from other people
• We are managing the number and flow of people utilizing the rink.
• We will sanitize the bathrooms every hour.
• We are going to set up multiple hand sanitizer stations around the facility. It is still a good idea to bring your own hand sanitizer or wipes for your personal use.
• If you or someone in your family is sick, or feels sick, please do not come skate.

Operating hours during initial re-open phase: 

Wednesday: 

• 5:00-7:30 After School Skate
• 8:00-10:30 Adult Retro Skate 

Friday: 

• 6:00-10:00 Fun Skate 

Saturday: 

• 11:00-11:45 Children’s Learn to Skate Class 
• 12:00-2:30 Afternoon Skate 
• 3:30-6:00 Fun Skate 
• 7:00-10:00 Evening Skate 

Sunday: 

• 12:00-4:30 Afternoon Skate 
• 8:00-11:00 R & B Skate with DJs E-Z Ed and Ready Rob 

We at Rainbow Rink are very thankful for our wonderful customers, and we hope to see you soon!

Thanksgiving is almost here, which means the holidays are about to begin! The holiday season is so fun—and sorely needed, after the year we’ve all had—but it can also leave you feeling less than your best after the festivities are over. Avoid the post-holiday crash with these tips for a healthy holiday season. 

Tips for Healthy, Holly Jolly Holidays

Don’t hibernate on the couch.

Long nights, short days, and freezing temperatures make it easy to hunker down in your home. But hibernating the winter away won’t make you feel better in the long run! Instead, find ways to stay active, even if you have to get creative. Pull up some YouTube yoga and turn your living room into a yoga studio. Bundle up and take a nature walk in the snow. Better yet, bring your mask and join us at Rainbow Skateland! 

Our North Tonawanda skating rink is a great option for getting some exercise even when it’s cold and dreary outside. Come skate to awesome music that will make you want to bust a move, and you’ll have so much fun, you won’t even notice you’re getting a cardio and strength-building workout. 

Exercise moderation in all things…Even moderation.

Rich foods and sweet treats are everywhere during the holidays, and over-indulging can leave you feeling like the Grinch. However, not allowing yourself to enjoy any of the season’s delights will have the same effect! Indulge in your favorite Christmas cookie or boozy eggnog, but balance those treats out, too. If you know you’re going to be eating a rich meal in the evening, have a lighter breakfast and lunch with a heavier emphasis on veggies, and grab a healthy snack beforehand so you’re not ravenous when presented with tasty treats. 

Take care of your physical and mental health. 

If you find yourself feeling a little less than “merry and bright” during the holidays, you’re not alone. Many people experience stress and depression during the holidays, from the breakneck schedule of holiday parties and events to managing expectations for “the most wonderful time of the year.” This year may be especially hard as people all over the country and the world realize they can’t safely travel to be with loved ones due to the coronavirus pandemic. Whatever the reason, just know that it’s OK to feel your feelings, and remember that you can take time to rest. No one has the perfect, magical holiday experience every second of the day from Thanksgiving through New Year’s, no matter what their social media feed looks like. However and whatever you celebrate this holiday season, we hope you enjoy it to the fullest! Come see us at Rainbow Roller Rink for one of our public skating sessions, and let the good times roll.

Winter birthday parties are always a bit harder to plan than warm-season parties. In the spring, summer, and even early fall, you can still have an outdoor party, which doubles or triples your venue and activity options. From backyard barbecues to park pavilion parties, there are lots of places to celebrate outdoors… Which as we all know, has been crucial during the coronavirus pandemic. But what about all of those winter babies? We can’t let people with winter birthdays go uncelebrated! Not to worry, because you can still have a fun, safe birthday party this winter, and we’re going to tell you how. 

Indoor Winter Birthday Parties 

There are a few problems that must be solved when it comes to a winter birthday party this year. For starters, it’s cold outside—really cold. So you have to plan your party in such a way that your guests don’t end up like frozen popsicles. That could be outside with space heaters or a firepit; it could also be indoors somewhere large enough that people can comfortably stay socially distanced. That’s where we come in! 

At our North Tonawanda skating rink, we’re taking all the precautions to keep our staff and customers safe, with mandatory masks/face coverings, social distancing, limited admission to reduce the number of people in the rink at one time, and increased cleaning and sanitation. 

When it’s freezing outside, you can still have a fun, active party with roller skating, arcade games, and even our Bounce Zone indoor playground for kids under 54 inches. 

Roller Skating Birthday Parties in North Tonawanda

At Rainbow Roller Rink, we always make birthday parties fun, special, and best of all, easy. You’ve got enough on your plate these days without the added pressure of planning a party, which is why our roller skating birthday parties are such a good deal. We take care of the food and drinks, the tableware, and even the invitations. You’ll even get a Party Server to keep your party running smoothly, so all you have to do is relax and have fun! When you’re not stressing over the details, you’ll have an even better time and be able to make some fantastic memories with your child on their special day. 

Looking for the perfect birthday gift for your kid’s skating birthday party? Why not give them their very own roller skates? There are so many cool styles of skates these days, and we’re happy to help you select the right ones to fit your child’s level of skating prowess, and of course their personal style. Pile on the accessories—a skate bag, skate tool, some cool colorful wheels (or even light up wheels!), and fun socks and laces—and you’ve got the recipe for an unforgettable birthday, from the gift to the party.   

Want to celebrate the spooky season with a fun, socially-distant activity? Roller skating Halloween parties are the way to go! And of course, no Halloween party is complete without costumes… So what will you wear? If you’re feeling crafty, creative, or just need to come up with a costume on a budget, these creative DIY Halloween costume ideas are sure to make you feel like a million bats—er, bucks.

Killer DIY Halloween Costumes

Go Retro

One of the easiest ways to create an affordable, DIY Halloween costume is to shop your closet… And then fill in the gaps with a trip to your favorite thrift store and/or costume shop. Retro costumes work particularly well with this approach, for instance:

• Roller disco
  • Shiny, sparkly, and/or sequined clothing
  • 70s sunglasses
  • Headband or scarf
  • Rainbow knee socks
  • Bellbottoms or jumpsuits
• Carhop, soda jerk, or 1950s wild child
  • Cat-eye or horn-rimmed glasses
  • Saddle shoes, penny loafers, white Keds, black ballet flats, Chucks
  • Wiggle dress or skater dress, apron, tray of fake milkshakes and burgers
  • Short-sleeved button-down shirt, sweater vest, slacks
  • White coat or apron, bow tie, paper hat
  • Jeans, white t-shirt, leather jacket
  • Black capris or poodle skirt, boat neck sweater
• 90s 
  • Plaid school-girl separates a la Clueless
  • Jeans, tee, and flannel for a grunge look
  • Bucket hats, chokers, yin yang jewelry, aliens, daisies, flame print

Embrace the Classics

You really can’t go wrong with some of the classic Halloween costumes. After all, they’re tried-and-true for a reason! 

• All black clothes, a little face paint, and some felt can turn you into a bat or cat. Feeling magical? The same black clothes can make you a witch—all you need is a pointy black hat! 
• Pigtails + black dress + white collar = Wednesday Addams. Bonus points if you rope in a friend to play Pugsley with black shorts and a black and white striped t-shirt. 
• Clowns, scarecrows, “old version of yourself,” and zombies are also easy to throw together and can look super cute with a little creative makeup.

Get Crafty

The internet is your friend when it comes to making your own Halloween costume. There are literally thousands of DIY Halloween costume tutorials out there, but these are some of our favorites:

• Gumball machine using craft store pom poms
• Fruit using oversized, brightly-colored t-shirts and fabric paint
• Cacti using green clothes and white yarn—create a paper flower headpiece for some extra pizzazz. 
• RBG using an old graduation robe, white doilies or lace, and glasses

Whatever you choose to wear, we can help you throw an awesome Halloween party that your friends will love! Check out our tips for hosting your first Halloween roller skating party, and give us a call at 715-693-1100 for more information. 

2020 has been rough for everyone, but parents have been particularly tested this year by unusual circumstances. Working from home, working on the front lines, or looking for work are all stressful enough, but add in e-learning or unconventional school schedules plus a cooped-up kid, and things suddenly get a whole lot more challenging. With so much going on, many kids are having trouble concentrating, which makes homework even more of a chore. Fortunately, there are some simple ways you can make homework fun for your kids, and maybe even for yourself!

How to Make Homework Fun for Kids

Every kid is different, so some of these may work better than others for your kids depending on their ages, abilities, and personalities. Don’t be afraid to try new things until you find the homework tips that work best for your family!

Use positive reinforcement.

Positive reinforcement modifies behavior by rewarding good behavior as opposed to punishing poor behavior. It works with kids, adults, and even pets! Think about it, you’ve probably felt a lot more motivated at work when there was a commission, award, or some kind of benefit to be had. The threat of punishment usually only motivates people to do the bare minimum. 

The same goes for your kids. Think of ways to motivate that make them excited to do it. For instance, let’s say you have a family fun day once a week here at Rainbow Roller Rink. You track your child’s homework every day and for every assignment completed on-time and up to snuff, they earn an additional arcade token to use at the end of the week in our Game Zone. 

If your child is a visual or tactile learner, they might benefit from writing out their “to-do” list for the week and checking it off as they go. 

Do homework together.

One of the best ways to make homework more fun is to do it together! With younger kids, that might mean sitting with them and helping them do it; for older kids, just working in the same room with some good focus music will make the work go faster. You could do some “adult homework” like paying bills, clipping coupons, or reading a professional development book while your kids work, or tackle something like meal prep. 

Take it one step at a time. 

It’s well known at this point that people are more productive when they take regular breaks than when working non-stop, marathon-style. Try using “power hours” to get your kids to focus on a particular task. Set an egg timer or your phone for one hour, and when it goes off, everyone gets up to stretch, go for a short walk (or skate), play a quick game of catch outside, or eat a healthy snack on the porch.

It’s not unusual for kids to experience the back-to-school blues—anxiety and depression that can range from mild to severe. After all, there are a lot of changes to deal with at the start of a new school year. It’s the end of summer freedom and a return to structure and hard work. Kids will be in new classes, learning new things, with new kids and a new teacher. There are anxieties about measuring up, standardized tests, and report cards. And of course, you can’t forget about the social concerns—which lunch table to sit at, who to hang out with at recess, etc. 

But while those things are relatable to students (and former students) of all ages, the unprecedented events of 2020 add a new layer of stress to the back to school season. Kids today aren’t just worried about losing their homework; they’re also grappling with the global COVID-19 pandemic that has killed over 200,000 people in the U.S. alone. They may not be at high risk from the virus themselves, but even young kids know that their parents, grandparents, and other family members are worried and that something big is going on. 

That’s why it’s even more important than ever to pay attention to your kids’ mental health. Get proactive. Check out these tips to help you beat the back to school blues. 

How to Beat the Back to School Blues

Get into a routine.

Lack of sleep isn’t good for anyone’s mood, so one way to help your kids shake off scholastic depression is to ensure that they’re getting enough sleep. That means a regular bedtime for 

everyone in the household (earlier for younger kids, later for teens and adults), as well as limiting bedtime social media scrolling or mobile gaming. The more you abide by the schedule and lead by example, the easier it will be to get your kids to do the same. 

Make time for fun.

You’ve heard the old saying, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” Well, that’s as true now as it ever was, so it’s crucial to make time for relaxation amidst all of the demands of school, sports, clubs, and work. Roller skating is a great family activity to do in North Tonawanda, and it’s a fun workout to boot!

Look at the big picture.

Remember that grades aren’t the only metric for your kids’ success. In addition to their academic work, it’s important to pay attention to their social lives, sports and extra-curricular activities, how they feel about their teachers, peers, what they’re learning in school, etc. 

Talk about it.

If you’re wondering how to do all of that, well, that’s where this tip comes in: Talk about it! If your kids are younger, go ahead and get in the habit of talking with them about their hopes, fears, and worries. For older kids, it might take a little more for them to open up, but it’s still important to be curious and engaged about their lives. The more they feel comfortable discussing the day-to-day stuff, the more likely they’ll be to come to you about larger issues. Are your kids showing any signs of the back to school blues? Join us at Rainbow Roller Rink for a public skate session and lift their spirits!

Who would think that a child’s birthday party could generate so many etiquette questions? Parents, that’s who! If you’re a parent planning to throw your child a birthday party, there are plenty of etiquette questions you may be mulling over. This is one of the most common birthday etiquette dilemmas: Should the birthday kid open presents during or after the birthday party?

To Open or Not to Open: That is the Question.

Reasons to Open Gifts During a Birthday Party

There are plenty of reasons to open gifts during your child’s birthday party. To name just a few:

• Guests will get to see your child open their gift and experience the pleasure of their reaction. 
• Opening gifts at the party is a good chance for your child to practice being a gracious host. Make sure you discuss this with them beforehand—they should know to thank everyone for their gifts equally, not to insult or dismiss anyone’s gifts, etc.  

Reasons to Open Gifts After a Birthday Party

Of course, there are plenty of folks in the “Do not open gifts during the party!” camp, and they have some great points: 

• Watching someone else open a dozen or more presents is boring. It’s boring enough at adult events like baby showers. At a child’s birthday party full of sugar-hyped, fidgety kids, this part of the event can be excruciating!
• You have limited time together with your guests…Do you really want to use it on opening gifts instead of something more interactive and fun for everyone? Your guests would rather be roller skating, playing games, or almost anything other than sitting around watching your kid open gifts. 
• If your child isn’t old enough or socially mature enough to graciously thank each giver for their gift, you might want to avoid a public gift opening. Kids are nothing if not honest, so if the thought of your child saying “I don’t like this toy!” to the person who gifted it to them—in front of a party full of people, no less—makes your skin crawl, save opening the gifts for later. 
• Public gift opening can make some guests uncomfortable. If some families are able to give more extravagant gifts, the kids and parents who can’t do as much may feel embarrassed.  
• And finally, allowing your kid to open presents during their birthday party can result in lost or damaged gifts! Especially with younger kids, they’ll want to open the gift and play with it right then and there. This can result in arguments about sharing, losing parts or pieces, and even damage to the item.

Unfortunately, there’s really no solid “yes” or “no” to be had on this particular birthday etiquette question. You just have to go with what feels right for your family or take cues from the parties of the other kids in your child’s class. However you decide to handle birthday gifts, make sure to slow down, have fun, and enjoy the moment! We’re here to help you do just that with roller skating birthday parties in North Tonawanda. 

Birthdays are special, especially for kids. Hosting birthday parties is one of our favorite things that we do here at Rainbow Roller Rink. We just love giving our local families in North Tonawanda a fun place to celebrate and make memories! Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we haven’t been able to host parties for quite a while—but that’s no reason to give up on the birthday magic. Check out these creative birthday traditions to start with your kids, and get ready for some extra special birthday fun!

Creative Birthday Traditions for Kids

There are tons of ideas out there for kids’ birthday traditions, but these are some of our favorites. 

Birthday Interview

This could be written down in a journal or scrapbook, recorded on audio or video, or posted to social media. Come up with a list of questions to ask your child every year on their birthday. When they’re older, you’ll all be able to look back and get a kick out of their changing interests. Include questions like: 

• Favorite color
• Favorite food
• What you want to be when you grow up
• Favorite subject in school
• Favorite song/movie/game
• Best friend
• Favorite memory from the year
• Hidden talent
• Thing you’re most proud of
• Anything you can think of! The more you personalize it for your family, the better it will be.

Balloon Explosion

Don’t worry, no actual explosions are involved. But your kid might freak out (in a good way) when they see the balloon extravaganza you orchestrated while they were sleeping! There are several ways to do this. Some folks wait until their child is sound asleep before quietly filling the bedroom with a layer of balloons over the floor, furniture, etc. Others use saran wrap to create a “wall” of balloons in the doorway for the birthday kid to see when they open the door in the morning. You can also create a balloon curtain effect by tying ribbons to the balloons and hanging/taping them from the top of the door jamb. And for the “extra” parents, there’s the ultra-dramatic balloon avalanche from above!

Compliment Collection

Since this is all about celebrating the birthday person in question, why not tell them how you really feel? Have your family go around the breakfast or dinner table and tell the birthday kid what they admire most about them, or share a memory that made them proud of their child/sibling.
Another fun way to do this is to have people write a note to the birthday kid on a slip of paper (if you’re hosting an in-person party) or submit notes to you via email/social media. You can pass on the well-wishes or let your child read through the notes afterward to help them remember the party and the people who were there.