Winter babies often feel like they’ve pulled the short straw when it comes to birthday celebrations. Winter birthday parties are just a bit more challenging to plan than birthday parties in other seasons, for a variety of reasons. Fortunately, we’ve got some cool winter birthday party ideas to help you pull off a bit of birthday magic! 

Winter Birthday Parties

Kids with birthdays that fall during the holidays can tell you that it doesn’t feel good to receive a combined Christmas or Hannukah/birthday gift. Everyone’s busy with holiday shopping, errands, parties, and travel, which means many invitees won’t be able to make it to a party. A lot of people are broke after the holidays, which also means that January and February babies miss out on the over-the-top birthday blowouts kids in warmer months may enjoy. The weather makes outdoor parties and activities all but impossible. And on top of all that, winter is cold and flu season, so winter birthday parties end up with a lot more no-shows than the average party! Even so, winter birthdays can be just as magical with a bit of creativity.

Roller Skating Parties

One of the best winter birthday party ideas is a classic—the good old roller skating birthday party! Our Chester, Virginia skating parties make birthdays (or any special occasion) a breeze, with invitations, skating admission, and snacks included in all packages. You can even opt for upgrades like pizza, table settings, decorations, and party favors to create the perfect event for your birthday kid.  

Roller skating is uniquely perfect for winter birthday parties because it’s indoors, it allows kids to be active and burn off some energy, and it’s a lot easier to social distance at our spacious skating rink than at most other indoor party venues. Add in the fun of gliding around to music with friends, the thrill of the wind in your hair, and the fact that skating is a great workout, and you’ve got an airtight case for a roller skating party!

Bestie Blowouts

Another way to get around the winter birthday blues is to plan a celebration with just one or two close friends. (Obviously hosting any celebration is dependent on the COVID-19 restrictions in your area.) When planning a small birthday party, it’s all about the details. What does your child’s perfect day look like? Here are some ideas:

• Mani/pedis, lunch from a favorite restaurant, at-home movie night 
• Roller skating, arcade games, and a sleepover
• Shopping day 

Crafty Celebrations

Another great option for an indoor winter birthday party is a crafting party! This can be fun with one friend or several, and you can do it at home or at a local studio space. Most towns have a paint-your-own-ceramics studio, “paint and sip” business, or maker space where the artistically-inclined can make something fun and creative to take home, whether it’s a ceramic figurine, canvas painting, or terrarium planter.

Thanksgiving is almost here, and you’ve probably been working on your holiday to-do list, from planning a menu, to shopping, to decorating. But there’s one more thing to prepare before Turkey Day arrives—Thanksgiving activities for the kids! With so much cooking, cleaning, and prep work to pull off a holiday feast, it’s always helpful to have some kids activities ready to go. That way they can entertain themselves and have fun, and you can get some pester-free concentration time to work. Win-win!   

Easy Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids

Board games, puzzles, yard games and toys, roller skating, and of course movies and TV are good ways to keep kids occupied, but why not add some creativity to the mix? These easy Thanksgiving crafts for kids can be adapted for a variety of ages, and are sure to keep your little turkeys engrossed for a while. 

Place Cards and Centerpieces

There are tons of cute, affordable ideas for Thanksgiving table crafts that kids can make, and the best part is that they get to help “set the stage” for Thanksgiving. Check out these cute Thanksgiving place card and place setting crafts: 

• Thumbprint turkey place cards
• Napkin origami or origami place cards
• Fall leaf turkeys made from real leaves and clothes pins
• Potato print leaves on butcher paper for placemats
• Decorated napkin rings 

If you have older kids or teens, get them to help the younger kids with the crafts, or task them with creating a Thanksgiving centerpiece. Let them “shop” the rest of the house for candles, vases, etc. to create a tablescape, and hunt outside for branches, leaves, flowers, acorns, and other objects that can become decor. 

Fall Wreaths 

Another great Thanksgiving craft is making wreaths to hang on the door or in a window. There are tons of wreath craft tutorials out there for all different ages and skill levels, like this clever turkey wreath from a paper plate, or this pretty papercraft Thanksgiving wreath. 

Gifts for Family and Friends

As we all know, the “official” holiday shopping season starts the day after Thanksgiving, on Black Friday. Let the kids get a head start with some handmade gift projects! This collection of kids’ crafts has tons of good ideas, from bookmarks to suncatchers.

Make Space for Creativity

Of course, in order for these Thanksgiving crafts to help keep the kiddos out from underfoot, you’ll need to give them their own space—preferably NOT in the kitchen or dining room—where they can create. It doesn’t have to be much, just a card table, some chairs, and a tarp or dropcloth to protect the floor. Add a wipeable vinyl tablecloth, and voila! You can set up your DIY kid’s art studio in your driveway, garage, basement, deck, bonus room, patio, or wherever else you can think of! Just make sure it’s safe for the kids and remember to check on them every so often if they’re out of sight. 

Happy crafting—and Happy Thanksgiving!

The pandemic may have put a damper on a lot of things so far in 2020—like weddings, graduations, birthday parties—but that doesn’t mean Halloween is cancelled! There are still ways to have spooky, socially-distanced fun and make some boo-tiful memories with your kids. 

Halloween Activities for Families in Chester

Fun on the Farm

When it comes to classic autumn activities near Chester, you can’t go wrong with a visit to a farm, orchard, or corn maze. Whether you’re looking to pick apples and drink cider, choose the perfect jack-o’-lantern carving pumpkin from the patch, or just have some fun with the corn maze and fall festivities, we’re lucky to have plenty of cool destinations nearby, including: 

• Ashland Berry Farm – This pumpkin patch boasts over 30 acres and 39 different varieties of pumpkins and gourds. It’s decorative gourd season, baby! Carve ‘em, paint ‘em, put ‘em on your porch. 
• Chesterfield Berry Farm – You don’t have to be a kid to enjoy visiting and learning about a real working farm, but it sure doesn’t hurt! If your kids love big trucks and equipment they’ll get a kick out of visiting this working farm. You can also go home with hand-picked pumpkins or farm-fresh produce from the Farm Market. 
• Gallmeyer Farms – Open from 8 am to dark every night through October 31st, Gallmeyer Farms is a fall wonderland you just have to experience for yourself. Admission is FREE with free activities also included, like kids’ pony rides and a hay bale maze. You can also purchase pumpkins, gourds, fall vegetables, honey, and autumn decorations like chrysanthemums and hay bales. 
• Believe it or not, there are too many pumpkin patches, apple orchards, and other autumnal entertainments to list here, so check out this list of fall fun farms. 

Fall Festivals

The fall season isn’t complete without some festival fun, and the Richmond area does not disappoint. There are tons of awesome fall festivals coming up this month, including: 

• Richmond Octoberfest
• 2nd Street Festival
• Multiple spooky walking tours of downtown Richmond
• The Richmond Folk Festival
• The Richmond Mac & Cheese Festival (Come hungry!)
• The Pecan Festival
• Gourds, Goblets, and Ghouls at Hanover Vegetable Farm
• Spooky S’mores and Creepy Campfire at historic Maymont
• Spooktacular Fall Festival at John Tyler Community College
• Sensory Friendly Fall Festivals with crafts, (non-scary) costumes, and treats for everyone (including non-candy treats), all designed with sensory-friendly fun in mind. 

Roller Skating Adventures

Of course, no roundup of fun fall ideas is complete without roller skating! If you know how to change your skate wheels to outdoor wheels and back, you can take advantage of the beautiful weather to go skate in your neighborhood or local park. Don’t forget to wear a helmet, knee and elbow pads, and a wrist guard. 

You can also join us for one of our upcoming skate sessions, from Thursday and Friday Family Nights to Tuesday skate classes to Christian Music Night. Want to get extra cool points from your crew? Book a private event and enjoy having the skating rink all to yourselves!

Parenthood is a full-time job in itself, so how are you supposed to find the time to plan your kid’s birthday party on top of it all? It would be nice to have an extra hour in the day… But on second thought, that would just be another hour of work, wouldn’t it? Well, we can’t take all of the parental stress off your plate, but we can help you with the birthday party planning. Keep reading to learn some time-saving hacks for planning a birthday party. 

Birthday Party Planning Hacks to Save Time

Choose a party package.

At Chester Skateland, we make birthday parties easy, breezy, and FUN! Just choose the birthday party package that fits your needs, and you’re set. Basic parties include free admission for 10 people, plus free skate rental, a snack, and a free admission pass for the birthday kid on their next visit. Upgrade your package for additional features like pizza, tableware, goodie bags, and other fun stuff. 

If you’re more interested in a private party, we’ve got you covered there, too. Just give us a call at 804-748-0379 to book your party and learn more. (Please note that due to COVID-19, there are some changes to our party offerings.) 

Let us handle the heavy lifting.

Even a “simple” at-home party can be a lot of work for parents, with clean up and decorating before the party, arranging for food and entertainment, then cleaning everything up afterward. Instead of making all that work for yourself, leave the party to us. Not only will you save time and stress, but you’ll also be able to actually enjoy your child’s party instead of being on hostess duty the whole time!

Keep it simple.

Despite what you see on Instagram and Pinterest, it really doesn’t take much for kids to enjoy a birthday party. There’s no need for countless games, entertainers, fancy tablescapes, elaborate cakes, or handmade decorations. One fun activity is plenty for a kid’s birthday party, which is why roller skating birthday parties are so popular! The built-in entertainment is plenty of fun to keep kids occupied for the whole party and then some. 

Send digital invites.

Speaking of keeping things simple, let go of your inner octogenarian etiquette maven and just send digital invitations. Most people will lose a paper invitation anyway, but it’s a lot harder to lose an email, e-vite, text, or Facebook event invitation. It will also help you keep track of RSVPs.

Ready to make the perfect birthday bash happen for your kid? We can’t wait to party with you! Check our party availability online and save the date for roller skating fun with your special kid. 

The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted a lot of things, but the disruption is especially hard for kids, who don’t fully understand why they may be missing out on playdates, recess, P.E. class, team sports, and trips to the pool, park, or playground. That makes it more important than ever to teach them these fun exercises for kids, so they can stay active and burn off the excess energy they’d normally get out of their systems from playing with friends. 

Fun Exercises for Kids

Family fun and fitness are our business here at Chester Skateland, because in addition to being fun, roller skating is fantastic exercise for people of all ages! Check out our schedule to see the upcoming sessions for the week, and remember to wear a mask. Masks are required by law at all times in our facility (except when socially distancing on the skating rink floor).  

Roller skating provides an aerobic workout that is good for the heart, strengthens the back, core, and leg muscles, and can even help increase balance and agility. Of course, life is busy and you can’t always get to the skating rink, so check out these exercises for kids to use on the days when a visit to Chester Skateland isn’t in the cards. 

Living Room Exercises

Even rainy days don’t have to keep your family from exercising. These 10 exercises for kids are easy to do indoors and can be done every day. Check out the video at the link if you’re not sure how to do each exercise. 

• Jumping jacks
• High knee jacks
• High step marching
• Ski hops
• Running man
• Windmills
• Forward squats
• Swing backs
• Scissor kicks
• Side squats

Backyard Exercises

If the weather allows, it’s always more fun to exercise outside! Researchers have even found that time spent in nature is beneficial to adults and kids when it comes to mood, stress levels, and mental health. The possibilities for backyard exercise are endless, but if your family needs some inspiration, these backyard exercise ideas can provide endless fun. 

• Make an obstacle course. Some people use pool noodles with wooden pencils stuck in the ends as stakes to create hoops for kids to crawl under, or hurdles to jump over. You can also use laundry baskets, sidewalk chalk, or even log slices to add some adventure. 
• Hang a basketball hoop, set up a volleyball or badminton net, or build your own soccer goal. 
• If you have a swing set or play set that your kids have outgrown, see if you can update it to be more challenging and age-appropriate. Replace toddler swings with regular sling seats, swap the ladder out for a climbing rope or net, add monkey bars or a trapeze rig so older kids can work on their upper body strength while having fun.

Birthdays are special, especially now that we’ve spent months not being able to gather with friends and family for in-person celebrations. Whether you’re still self-quarantining or have started to cautiously go out in public again, these are some thoughtful, budget-friendly birthday gift ideas to help you make the day special for the ones you care about most. 

Creative Birthday Gifts on a Budget

Flowers

Who doesn’t love flowers? This timeless gift is a classic for a reason, and is sure to bring a smile to anyone’s face. While ornate floral arrangements are nice, you don’t have to go all out and spend a fortune to have a florist deliver a custom arrangement. Just head to your local grocery store and you can find surprisingly beautiful flowers for $10 or $15. A simple bouquet of roses, tulips, or mixed flowers makes a lovely gift. 

If you want to get crafty, you can even buy a couple of different types of flowers and combine them into one large bouquet or arrangement. If you know their favorite flowers or colors, you can use that to help you customize the perfect bouquet for them. Need some inspiration? You can also get symbolic by choosing flowers with different meanings; for instance, red roses for love or sunflowers for friendship. 

If you don’t think the birthday guy or gal will be into a bouquet or arrangement of cut flowers, don’t worry— live plants also make wonderful gifts, whether you choose a cute succulent in a whimsical planter or a beautiful houseplant like pothos that they’ll be able to enjoy for months or even years to come. 

Personalized Gifts

As we mentioned above, you should use your knowledge of the person you’re shopping for to personalize their birthday gift. The great thing about this approach is that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to make it memorable and special. A framed photo of the two of you, a mug or shirt with their favorite catchphrase on it, or an engraved item like a money clip, flask, or business card holder can all show that you care (and that you took the time to personalize the gift) without busting your bank account. Some stores even offer free engraving if you purchase the gift item there. 

Thrifted and Vintage

If you love to go thrifting, vintage shopping, or yard sale hunting for yourself, keep an eye out for things that might make good birthday presents for friends and family, too! If you find an item that is in good condition and fits their interests, don’t be afraid to buy it just because it’s not brand new. A vintage or signed copy of their favorite book is sure to be a hit, as well as old vinyl by their favorite artists (if they have a record player). From barware, furniture, and housewares to clothing, sports equipment, and art, if you keep your eyes out, you may just find a hidden treasure that will knock their socks off. 

Fun Gadgets

Last, but not least, we have one of the simplest budget birthday gift ideas: Gadgets! A small, useful gift that actually improves the recipient’s life in some way can end up being a favorite, despite the modest price tag. Some of the best ideas include: 

• Quirky tea infuser that looks like a sloth, rubber duckie, or “manatea” 
• Multi-tool keychain or bottle opener keychain
• Nessie soup ladle
• Electric bottle opener
• Shower wine glass holder
• Cute/colorful phone charger, battery pack, phone stand, or wireless speaker 

We hope these affordable birthday gift ideas spark some inspiration for you! Keep in mind that we are open and booking birthday parties! Skating is a great way to have fun together while social distancing, so give us a call at 804-748-0379 to make a reservation.

After spending weeks under the stay at home order already—and no end in sight until at least June—many parents are wishing they could have a little social distance from their kids. While the lockdown has been hard on everyone, cabin fever is hitting particularly hard for families with kids, who just need to get some energy out, one way or another. Fortunately, just because P.E. class is canceled, doesn’t mean your kids can’t still be active and get some healthy exercise. Check out these indoor and at-home exercise activities to keep your kids moving, and hang in there. We can’t wait to welcome you back to Chester Skateland when the coast is clear. 

Exercise Activities for Kids During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Get Back to Basics

Hopscotch, hula hooping, riding bikes and scooters, roller skating, skateboarding, skipping, jumping rope, climbing a tree—there are so many ways your kids can get active right in your own living room, driveway, or backyard. Set aside some time every day for an “unplugged” activity session, even if it’s just a family dance party in the living room!

Follow the Leader

This activity is great because you’ll get a workout too. Be sure to include some calisthenics along with silly movements. For instance, stand like a flamingo, then do some jumping jacks. Other movements you can throw in include running in place, squats, lunges, hopping like a bunny, chair sits against a wall, toe touches, or pushups. 

Dance It Out

If your kids love the cool dances in pop and hip hop music videos, set up a “dance studio” (aka pushing the furniture against the walls) and have them follow along with one of the many choreography videos available on YouTube. Like roller skating, dancing is one of the most fun ways to get a workout in! 

Chill Out with YouTube Yoga

Speaking of YouTube, it’s also a great place to go for kid-friendly yoga! Check out Yoga with Adriene, We Heart Yoga, and Jessamyn Stanley for starters. There are also lots of great inclusive yoga videos to explore, like wheelchair yoga and body positive yoga. 

Keep on Rollin’

Roller skating is a wonderful full-body workout, whether you do it at a skating rink or in your driveway! Just because we’re temporarily closed due to COVID-19 doesn’t mean that you can’t still get your skate on—you’ll just need to change your skate wheels to outdoor wheels. Outdoor skate wheels are softer, with more give to absorb the bumps and rough spots you’ll encounter on sidewalks and paths. Remember to be safe and stay aware of your surroundings when skating outdoors, and be sure you’re practicing social distancing and wearing a face covering. 

We hope these ideas keep you entertained while we wait out the coronavirus. Stay well; once this is over, we will be so thrilled to see you back at the rink!

Quarantining and social distancing are hard enough for adults; for kids, they’re even more challenging. Imagine not being able to go to school, play with your friends, go to the playground, attend your soccer or baseball practice, go to your skating lessons, or even leave your yard—all while not really understanding why this is happening. We know that adults are struggling as well, with many people laid off from their jobs and others trying to figure out how to work from home while teaching their kids to use digital learning platforms. It’s a lot to handle, which is why it’s so important to make quality time with family a priority. 

You may be thinking, “Haven’t we had more than enough family time lately?” and you’re not wrong. But there’s a difference between existing in the same space and actually spending time together. The latter may help you all de-stress, and teach you to handle these unique daily challenges as a stronger team.

Fun Social Distancing Activities for Families

Go outside. 

It’s amazing how quickly cabin fever can set in when the whole family is home all the time. If you have your own yard (and your kids are old enough to follow the rules and stay in it), go outside and soak up some sunshine! A little vitamin D is good for you, and everyone can stretch their legs and get some energy out. Play a game of catch, hopscotch, or jump rope. Draw with sidewalk chalk and leave a message for your neighbors. Plant that herb garden you’ve been meaning to get around to, or spread out a picnic blanket and read books together. 

Connect online.

Just because you’re social distancing doesn’t mean you can’t be social. Schedule family chats with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, family friends, your church group or your child’s scout troop. There are lots of ways to do this, from Google Hangouts and Zoom to FaceTime and Skype. 

Get creative.

Novelty is your friend when trying to keep kids occupied. Try some of these ideas to use spaces in your home in unexpected ways. 

• Take all of the pillows off the sofa and create a comfy, cushy “screening room” on the floor. Hold a family film festival in which everyone gets to choose a movie, and don’t forget to make popcorn. For added fun, everyone can take turns giving their own made up Oscars speech or telling what their favorite thing was about each movie. 
• Set up dining chairs in a square, backs facing each other, and throw a sheet or blanket over the top to form a tent. Add a blanket and some pillows and tell stories while you “camp.” If you have the supplies, make some s’mores! 
• Help your child create a reading nook in their room or somewhere in the house. 
• Move your living room furniture against the walls and have a dance party, or do yoga. 
• Eat breakfast on the front porch and say hello to any neighbors you see. 

We can’t wait until this is over and we can see all of your shining faces at the skating rink, but until then, we hope these ideas keep you and yours entertained. Remember:

The wheels never stop turning, so we must remember to pick up our feet and skate forward—always!

Dear Valued Customers,

Tonight we will be joining rinks across our state and around our country in temporarily closing down for business under the new guidelines being implemented by the president, his task force and our nation’s governors. Promotions on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat have been suspended until further notice – that includes our podcast and newsletter.

For any further questions, comments or concerns, please call the rink at (804) 748-0379.

“The wheels never stop turning, so we must remember to pick up our feet and skate forward- always!”

The Chester Skateland Team

When you love to skate, you just want to share your passion with everyone—especially your kids! You already know that skating isn’t just fun, it’s also a really good way to get some exercise, strengthening your heart, legs, and abs; and best of all, it’s a low-impact activity that your kids will be able to enjoy well into their senior years if they want to. But when it comes to the details of sharing your hobby with your kids, you might need a little help getting it right. No worries, Chester Skateland is at your service! Keep reading to learn how to choose kids’ roller skates with our handy guide for parents.   

Choosing Kids’ Roller Skates

When can a child start skating? 

Many people don’t realize that kids can start skating as soon as they can walk! Of course, every child is different, so you’ll need to take your own child’s unique capabilities into consideration. Some kids take to skates like a fish to water at 2 years old, while others need a little more time to develop their balance, agility, coordination, and other gross motor skills. For many kids, 4-6 years old is the sweet spot when it comes to learning how to skate. Regardless of age, they should wear proper protective gear—knee and elbow pads, wrist braces, and a helmet.  

Which type of skate is best for new skaters? 

Most kids start out with quad roller skates, thanks to their more stable form. The wider distribution of weight makes it easier to control movement and balance. If your kid seems to be comfortable with the basics of roller skating on quads, you can let them give inline skates (aka roller blades) a try. Because all of the wheels are in a line (hence the name) some people find it a little harder to master inline skating.  

What size skates does my child need?

One reason many parents are wary of buying skates is because their kids’ feet grow so quickly. Any parent can tell you that keeping kids in shoes that fit is much easier said than done, so how can you possibly hope to keep up? 

First, measure your child’s foot. Skate sizes are the same as shoe sizes, for the most part. You may be tempted to buy a larger size for your child to “grow into,” but don’t. If the skate boot is too loose, your child’s foot will end up sliding around and chafing. Too tight, and your child could develop painful blisters or lace bite. 

For very young kids, you can consider buying the type of skates that strap on over tennis shoes, many of which are adjustable in order to grow with your child.