There’s less than a month of school left for Lockport students, and that end-of-the-year excitement is already in the air. Kids, teachers, and parents are all ready to kick off the summer break, but before that long-awaited last day of class, make sure you have a strategy for how to avoid the summer slump. 

Dump the Summer Slump

If you don’t know what the “summer slump” or “summer slide” is, you’ve come to the right place. We’re going to share not only what it is, but also some ways to avoid it altogether!

What Is Summer Slump or Summer Slide?

According to Scholastic, summer slump/slide is a “regression in academic proficiency due to summer break.” Studies have shown that kids lose a significant portion of the reading and math skills they developed over the last academic year when they have the whole summer off. It’s a real world example of “use it or lose it,” and it’s particularly dangerous for younger kids, who are learning important foundation skills like math and reading that can affect their educational progress for years to come. Research also shows that summer slide disproportionately affects kids from low-income families. 

How to Avoid the Summer Slump

While summer learning loss is an important issue, there are plenty of ways you can help your kids enjoy their summer and avoid the slump. 

Make Reading Fun

One of the most important gifts you can give your children is the love of reading. Joining a summer reading program or kids’ book club (check with your local library) is a good way to encourage more reading without turning it into a chore. When you allow your kids to read what interests them, they’re more likely to become avid readers. If they haven’t found their niche yet, just keep taking them to the library until you find a book they can’t put down. For some kids, non-fiction books about animals or space are what grabs them; for others, it’s the ability to explore new and exciting worlds through fiction; and for others, the visual aspect of comics might be what holds their interest. In fact, comic books and graphic novels are a great way to get “reluctant readers” hooked on reading!

Incorporate Educational Content

Let’s face it, your kids are going to want more screen time during the summer than they are allowed to have during the school year. One way you can make this work for you (and them) is to provide educational content that’s actually fun and engaging. Add some of these educational shows to their Netflix queue or set them up with math games on the computer or tablet. 

Get Out and Move

One of the easiest mistakes to make is spending the whole summer laying around on the couch! Physical activity and new surroundings help keep kids sharp, so get out of the house and make exercise a fun part of your family routine. Roller skating is a great way to stay active, and it’s so fun your kids won’t even realize they’re burning calories, strengthening muscles, and improving their cardiovascular fitness. Come skate with us this summer at Rainbow Skateland! We can’t wait to see you at the rink.

Parenting is a tough job. Keeping your kids clean, fed, clothed, educated, and involved in a well-rounded mix of activities can be exhausting to start with, but on top of that, social media sites have made many parents feel like every day has to be a picture-perfect, magical childhood memory in the making. If Pinterest, Instagram, TikTok, and that one perfect cousin your parents won’t stop gushing over are making you feel a little (or a lot) overwhelmed, don’t worry. You’re not alone! Life doesn’t have to be picture-perfect to be special, but you can add a little bit of magic to your kids’ lives and keep it real with these fun, affordable, and memorable birthday traditions.  

Birthday Traditions for Kids

Family Fun Day

One of the most important parts of any family tradition is—no surprise—family! Spending time together doesn’t have to be a big production, and doesn’t require expensive trips or activities. Just carving out time to be together, relax, and have fun is what’s important. Make it a tradition to have a family fun day for every kid’s birthday. Let them pick an activity from choices everyone can enjoy: A nature walk, a bike ride, a movie, or a trip to the skating rink.   

Birthday Breakfast

Special birthday breakfasts aren’t groundbreaking, but hey, they’re classic for a reason! Make the birthday person whatever their favorite breakfast dish is: Pancakes with whipped cream, french toast with rainbow sprinkles, a plate of bacon and eggs arranged to form a smiley face, or whatever else you can dream up. Don’t forget to add a candle and let them blow it out for that all-important birthday wish. 

Birthday Party

Birthday parties are another area where the pressure has gotten ridiculous for parents to pull out all the stops. In reality, those over-the-top kids’ birthday parties you see on social media are often a lot less fun than low-key birthday parties. While we’ve hosted our share of blow-out birthday bonanzas and private events, there’s nothing wrong with a laid-back birthday party. All you really need to give your kid and their friends a fun and memorable birthday party is a fun activity (like roller skating), music, and some good food. When you book a party at Rainbow Skateland, we take care of all three! Our pizza and skating parties are a hit with local parents here in Lockport, and now that more people are getting vaccinated, parties are in much higher demand. Don’t wait too long to reserve the date you want; book a party online now. 

Wakeup Call

Want to ensure your kid’s birthday is special from the start? Choose one of these fun birthday morning surprises to start their day off with a big smile! Who wouldn’t love waking up to an avalanche of balloons?

You’ve probably seen jam skaters doing their thing if you’ve hung out at Rainbow Skateland or another skating rink for any amount of time. Jam skating is a type of roller skating that combines dance skating with breakdancing and gymnastics moves. Whether performing a choreographed routine or just grooving to the music, jam skaters are definitely the center of attention when they hit the skating rink!

If you’ve got your own jam skates and want to get into the hobby, these are some of the best jam skating moves to start off your repertoire. 

Jam Skating Moves

The Crab Walk

Start with your heels together, forming a “V” shape. Lift up your right heel while keeping the front of your foot on the floor, and swing your heel to the outside. You’ll want to transfer your balance to that toe. Next, pivot on your left heel, swinging your toe to the inside. Basically, you’re flipping the “V” from heels in, toes out to toes in, heels out. 

Next, pivot on your right heel, swinging your toe outward, and pivot on your left toe, swinging your heel inward. This will get you back into the original “V” position, but slightly to the right of where you started. Sounds complicated, but keep going! Keep practicing pivoting to each position until you’ve found the rhythm and can flow with it. Once you’ve got that down pat, try going the other way.  

Crazy Legs aka Toe Jam

This is one of the coolest moves you may have seen jam skaters performing at the skating rink, and it’s one of the most fun moves to use when you just want to flow and vibe to the beat of the music. To get started, position yourself next to a wall or even your kitchen counter so you can brace yourself with your arms while learning the elements of the move. And remember, before doing this move (and most jam skating moves) you should replace your toe stops with toe plugs. Otherwise you’re going to be tripping over them!

• Start in a neutral position, toes pointed slightly outward, knees slightly bent. 
• Move your right leg back, twisting your thigh inward and keeping just your toe wheels on the floor. 
• Move that leg back to your starting position, while going up on the toes of your left skate as well. As your right leg comes back even with the left, pivot both toes outward by turning your thighs outward.
• Continue bringing the right foot forward, transitioning onto all four wheels, while pulling your left foot back in the same movement as you did with the right foot before, twisting the thigh in.
• Practice going back and forth in this “S” pattern until you can easily flow from one foot to the other. As you get the hang of it, you can gradually pick up the speed. 

If you’re more of a visual learner, it might help to watch this move in action. Check out this how-to video to learn from a pro!

Practice makes perfect, so join us for one of our public skating sessions and jam out.

Your child has attended a birthday party or school fundraiser at the local skating rink, and absolutely loved it. What’s your next move? If you want to help your kid develop a lifelong love of roller skating, buying them their own pair of skates is a good place to start! Keep reading to learn how to buy the best skates for kids, with these tips from experienced skaters. 

Kids’ Skate Guide

There are so many kids’ roller skates out there that it can be a bit overwhelming. What’s a busy parent to do? Well first, take a deep breath. We’ve got you. Then ask yourself these questions to narrow it down until you’ve found the best skate for your child. 

The Eternal Question: Quads or Inlines?

If your child has some experience with both, and expresses a strong preference for one or the other, let that guide you. However, if you’re not sure which type of skate to buy, consider your child’s age and athleticism. Quad (four wheeled) skates are the classic skates that come to mind when most people hear “roller skates.” They come in tons of fashion-forward colors and styles, and many people like them because of the stability they provide. Balancing on quad skates is much easier than balancing on roller blades, making them a smart choice for young or beginner skaters.
On the other hand, some people love inline skates and wouldn’t have it any other way. If you’re buying for a teenager or a pre-teen, they may have the agility and skill to wear inline skates. Younger kids (or anyone who isn’t super confident on skates) may have trouble balancing on inline skates because the wheels are, as the name implies, in a line. In a way, it’s more like ice skating, requiring slightly more ankle and leg strength than quad skating. 

Finding the Fit

Is your kid growing like a weed? It can be so hard to keep up with the constant need for new shoes, so deciding what size skates to buy can be a little challenging. Fortunately, roller skates are one of those things that you can “grow into.” It’s fine to buy a size up from your child’s current shoe size. You should be able to get a good fit from simply lacing them more tightly. Don’t buy roller skates more than one size up, though. If the skates are too large to be adjusted properly with the lacing, the skate may cause chafing and blisters. Same goes for wearing extra socks or stuffing the toe with something—it’s a surefire way to end up with uncomfortable feet!

Once you’ve picked out your child’s new skates, get ready for the excitement to begin! Check out the schedule to find our public skating sessions, and bring your whole family for some active, action-packed fun at Rainbow Skateland!

Here at Rainbow Skateland, we get to be part of so many happy memories, and we love it! From kids’ birthday parties and school fundraisers to church groups and corporate outings, our skating rink is the place to go for fun in Lockport. But you don’t have to take our word for it. Check out what our customers have to say about Rainbow Skateland! 

Skating Rink Reviews for Rainbow Skateland Lockport

We have a 5 (out of 5) star rating based on 90 reviewers on Facebook, and we thank you all for letting us know how we’re doing! These are just a few examples of what people are saying about us. 

Great for Families

Great place to skate at! Brought back memories of when I was a kid and went there every weekend!! It was nice to take my boys there yesterday!!!

Wonderful music, friendly and helpful staff, and clean and smooth floor. I’ll be back with my granddaughters next week.

2 hours flew by. Kids were entertained. Parents even got on skates.

The staff was awesome during the teen skate last night. My daughter wanted to take a few friends skating for an early birthday party and from door, to skates, to concession, skate guard they did a great job! I can’t say enough? My daughter and her friends had a great time! Thanks Skateland!

My son (5 year old) and his friends had a very good time yesterday (we adults did too). Booking was very easy over the phone. Service was great! It was Super Bowl Sunday, so it wasn’t very busy, which was perfect for 16 little kids. Thank you. 

Perfect for Parties

I had my 30th birthday party there last night. I had such a fun time and all the employees were very friendly and helpful! All my friends and family really enjoyed themselves. Would definitely recommend anyone of any age to come here!!

We had my daughter’s 6th birthday party today, and I have to say the staff was amazing! Everyone was very helpful and Kerri was always paying attention to our table and if we needed anything. 14 kids skated, bounced and played games all had a great time today. Thank you!

We threw a birthday party here last night. I haven’t been to Skateland since I was a kid and it was such an amazing time. Makes me want to keep coming back, it’s really better than ever, all the employees are super great, they were all very nice and pleasant to be around. Thank you guys for an awesome night!

Have you visited us recently? We’d love to hear from you! Head over to our Facebook page and leave us a review letting us know what you enjoyed about your visit. 

Most people start off renting roller skates at the skating rink, but after learning how to skate, they soon realize that they actually want their own pair of skates. There are plenty of benefits to owning your own roller skates, from choosing the skates that express your style, to saving money on rental fees, and even being able to customize your skates! One of the most common ways to customize roller skates is to change your skate wheels. Keep reading to learn how to change skate wheels, and why you should know how to do it yourself. 

Changing Roller Skate Wheels

Why Change Your Skate Wheels?

At some point, all wheels will need to be replaced due to wear and tear. Just like the tires on your car or bike, your skate wheels will wear down over time, which can lead to a rough ride. As the surface of the wheel becomes uneven, you’ll start to notice some bumpiness and your skates may “pull” to one side or the other. If you look at your wheels and they’re worn down at an angle, have pock marks, or otherwise look worn out, it’s time to swap them out for new ones. 

Another reason to know how to change roller skate wheels is so that you can switch between indoor and outdoor roller skating! Skating on a smooth skating rink surface requires a much different type of wheel than skating outside on a bumpy street or sidewalk. Indoor skate wheels are typically harder, while outdoor skate wheels have more “give” to absorb the shocks from uneven pavement, cracks, twigs, pebbles, and other debris.

And last, but definitely not least, it can be fun to change up your wheels with different colors and looks! Skate wheels come in all sorts of colors, glow-in-the-dark materials, and even glowing versions with lights inside. 

How to Change Roller Skate Wheels  

Before you start changing your skate wheels, make sure you have a skate tool! If you’re going to clean your skates—never a bad idea—make sure to have paper towels, bearings cleaner, etc. nearby as well.  

• Use the skate tool to loosen the nut holding the wheel onto the axle of your skate. 
• Remove the nut and set it aside. (Don’t lose it!) Then remove the wheel. Now’s a good time to wipe off the various components like the axle and trucks. They tend to collect “gunk” over time, which is not only gross, but is also bad to leave on your skates.
• Place the new wheel onto the axle and screw the nut on “finger tight,” aka as tight as you can get it just using your fingers without a tool. 

Use your skate tool to tighten the nut. It should be tight, but not so tight that it keeps the wheel from spinning. Give all four wheels a spin with your hand and see if they’re all approximately the same tightness. If you haven’t tightened the nuts enough, you’ll be wobbling all over the place and can even lose a wheel or damage your skates. That’s just one reason why it’s a good idea to get in the habit of checking your skates before you lace up!

Ah, tweens: The age group of kids that are not little, but not quite teens. You could say they’re in between! While teenagers are notoriously hard to please (It’s hard to do anything right in your teen’s eyes when simply existing as a mom/dad is “like so EMBARASSING!”), the tween parent struggle is real. It’s an age when you can’t just let them plan their own party (they are kids, after all), but they’re definitely not going to be content with the same old clown and pony show. Planning a tween birthday party requires a little more thought, but don’t worry! With these creative tween birthday party themes, you can impress your almost-teenager and give them a party they’ll love. They might have so much fun they’re even willing to give you a hug in front of their friends. Miracle of miracles, right?

Tween Birthday Party Themes  

Roller Skating Glow Party

Roller skating is a great birthday party activity for all ages, but tweens will especially love the socializing, music, and of course, skating. Skating rink birthday parties give them enough freedom to do their thing and feel a little more grown-up, but you can still rest easy knowing that they’re in a safe environment. 

To throw a skating party that your child and their friends will really enjoy, step it up a notch with a Super Glow Party! Our glow party package includes all of the fun, value, and convenience of our other party packages, but also includes glowing and blinking cups, necklaces, table decorations, and toys. We’ve never met a tween that didn’t love a glowstick and our glow parties turn the fun up to 11. And that’s not to mention the TikTok potential! They’ll love it for the #aesthetic alone. 

Retro Costume Party

Speaking of social media, tweens love any opportunity to get dressed up in fun and outlandish clothes and take photos with their friends. Channel that into a retro costume party for your tween and their friends! 

This party theme actually pairs perfectly with roller-skating parties because there are so many iconic skating rink looks to be inspired by. Cher in full roller disco glory? Check. De La Soul bringing that early 90s hip hop style in “A Roller Skating Jam Named Saturdays”? Double check. Madonna, Beyonce, Jessica Simpson, Robbie Williams, et al bringing a distinctly early-aughts vibe to the roller skating music video genre? Yep, you got it—check! 

A Few of Their Favorite Things Party

Your tween’s birthday party should be all about celebrating them, so why not think of some ways to incorporate all of their favorite things into a birthday party? If they love gaming, organize a video game tournament party with their friends. Do they love to get crafty? Do a tween-friendly version of a “sip and paint” party. Choose the menu based on their favorite sweet and savory foods. There’s no law that cake is the only birthday dessert allowed. Why not treat them and their friends to some birthday boba tea, donuts, chocolate-dipped fruit, or rice crispy treats?

Finding the perfect party venue can be a hassle. There are so many factors to consider, and if you’ve already got a lot on your plate (who doesn’t these days?) researching event spaces can be downright stressful! If this all sounds familiar, don’t fret. Making it easy for our customers to throw fun, memorable events is our specialty. That’s why we’re one of the best party venues in Lockport, whether you’re planning an event for 5 people or 50 people. Regardless of where you end up hosting your next event, this party venue checklist should help you find the perfect fit!

Party Venue Checklist: How to Choose a Great Venue

What type of entertainment does the venue provide?

One of the first things you’ll need to decide when planning an event is what type of entertainment you want to have. That choice will affect most of your later choices, so consider carefully. Think about who you’re inviting and whether the entertainment will be appropriate and engaging for them. For instance, you wouldn’t want to host a family event for all ages at a bar or casino. Nor would you want to host it at a kids’ play place that only has activities for kids 12 and under.
Roller skating parties are popular for this reason, as skating is something people of all ages can enjoy. Kids as young as 2 or 3 years can start learning how to skate, and because skating is a low-impact form of exercise, many folks continue to skate well into their senior years! 
At Rainbow Skateland, we offer so many fun activities that there’s sure to be something for everyone in your group. In addition to our skating rink, we also have an arcade, laser tag arena, mini-golf course, and an inflatable indoor playground (playground only for kids under 54 inches).  

What are the inclement weather options at the venue? 

Another important concern when choosing a party venue is the inclement weather plan. How will your event be impacted by rain, snow, heat waves, etc? An indoor facility can be a great choice if you don’t want to risk getting rained out. Our parties are always fun, rain or shine!

What is included in the event rental?

When comparing event venues, it’s crucial to compare apples to apples… In other words, take into account ALL of the costs associated with hosting there, from catering to equipment rental to decorations. If a party venue includes entertainment, food, and decor, you should expect to pay more than you would for renting an event space that requires you to hire all of the vendors to complete your event.
Our birthday party packages are popular with parents because they include everything you could want for your child’s birthday while leaving the parent enough energy to actually enjoy the event. But kids’ birthday parties aren’t the only events we host.
If you’re looking for a fun event venue for a school, team, church group, or similar gathering, consider our roller skating parties. Skating rink parties are also great for adult birthdays, bachelor or bachelorette parties, work outings, fundraisers, and any other occasion where you want to have fun. 

Twins are double the trouble, and double the fun! But planning a twin birthday party can be a challenge; after all, you want both kids to feel special and celebrated on their special (shared) day. Fortunately, we specialize in birthday parties, so we’ve got the tips and tricks to help you serve up a double serving of fun. Keep reading to get inspired by 4 of our favorite twin birthday party themes, and book a party today!

Twin Birthday Party Themes

Peas in a Pod

If there were ever an occasion for a “two peas in a pod” theme, a twin birthday party is it! This birthday party theme is a great choice for those who want a gender neutral color scheme and unique decor without mass-marketed characters. Celebrate your sweet peas with white and green balloons, table decor, and food. Round paper lanterns in green are an affordable way to make a big visual impact on a budget. You can even use dried split peas as a vase filler for your floral arrangements! When it comes to party favors, there are tons of adorable ideas out there, but we love these crepe paper “pea pods” full of chocolate candy!

Gemini/Astrology

If you’ve spent any time on Instagram, Pinterest, or TikTok lately, you probably know that astrology is trending in a big way. The aesthetic of starry night skies, glitter, and mythological beings is perfect for a stylish celebration, so why not honor your twins with a gemini and astrology themed party? Use the Gemini symbol as a decor element and go for colors like black or deep blue accented with gold or silver metallics. When in doubt, just add stars! There are tons of cool, cosmic party decorations on sites like Etsy, from star lanterns and garlands to cake toppers and photo backdrops. 

Dr. Seuss

Who can resist the whimsical world of Dr. Seuss? Many of us grew up reading Dr. Seuss books, and sharing them with a new generation makes it all the more fun. Best of all, Dr. Seuss brought us the ultimate twin mascots: Thing 1 and Thing 2! 

A Thing 1 and Thing 2 twin birthday party is not only cute, but it’s also a smart choice for those parents who don’t want to spend hours compiling a Pinterest board and hand-crafting decorations. You can find Thing 1 and Thing 2 merchandise at major retailers from Party City to Amazon to Oriental Trading. Plus, who doesn’t love a classic red, white, and blue color scheme? 

Under the Sea

An underwater birthday party theme is the perfect, versatile option for twins of all ages and interests! If one twin loves sharks and the other wants to be a mermaid princess, they can both enjoy an ocean-themed birthday party.  A blue, green, turquoise, and purple color scheme can give you those underwater vibes, while strings of balloons become “bubbles” and crepe paper “sea weed” makes for a fun photo backdrop. And it’s easy to find plenty of shark, mermaid, pirate, or beachy birthday decor to complete your party, from paper cups and plates to goodie bags and party hats.

It’s a new year, and while the problems of the last year aren’t entirely behind us, it’s hard not to feel like better days are just around the corner. After months of just trying to survive, it’s time to thrive! Check out these family fun ideas to try out this year, and make some special memories with your loved ones. 

Make Some Memories with Family Fun Ideas

Get out and about.

With all of the pandemic restrictions in place, it’s easy to get lazy and just stay home all the time. While you certainly shouldn’t be engaging in any high-risk activities that could expose you or others to the coronavirus, it’s well worth the effort to override your hermit tendencies and get out of the house. There are safe ways to enjoy the local community, whether that means curbside pickup from your favorite neighborhood restaurant eaten at a park picnic table, visiting an outdoor attraction like a nature center or historical site, or maybe just getting out for a stroll to window shop or wave hello to the neighbors. 

Make celebrations special.

While COVID-19 has put a damper on in-person parties, it’s still important to celebrate special occasions with the ones you love. Make celebrations special by getting creative with virtual parties, socially-distanced outdoor shindigs, or even a drive-by birthday parade. 

Play tourist in your own backyard.

When you live somewhere, it’s easy to lose sight of all the things that make it special. They just blend into the landscape after a while. But instead of waiting for the next time you have out-of-town visitors to show around (after all, who knows when that will be!), why not plan your own “staycation” and create an itinerary of fun things to do in Lockport? Put your tourist glasses on and look around. Have you and your kids seen all of the major sights around town? Lockport has a ton of history to explore, from the Lockport Caves to the Erie Canal to the architectural gems of downtown. 

Move more.

Last, but not least, make it a point to move more this year! Adults and kids alike can benefit from not only the physical health benefits but also the mental health benefits of regular exercise. It’s much easier to resist the lure of Netflix when you find fun ways to be active, like roller skating, hiking, etc. 

When you’re looking for an active thing to do with your family, Rainbow Skateland is the perfect destination. Our expansive skating rink offers a weather-proof indoor activity that lets you burn off some energy and stretch your legs, no matter what the weather is like outside.  With affordable admission and public skate sessions, your crew will be having so much fun, you won’t even realize that you’re getting a full-body workout!