Skating is a wonderful activity for the whole family. It’s a low impact exercise, so it’s a great activity for the young and old. Of course, teaching very young children to skate can be tricky, but with a little extra attention, children as young as 3 can learn to skate with relative ease.

Here are some tips to teaching young children how to skate:

• Be Patient – This one is probably a given for anyone with young children, but it’s worth mentioning. Skating on the rink can be intimidating for a small child, especially when they’re surrounded by much bigger people going much faster.
• Start with the Basics – When we say “basics,” we mean it. Try starting with falling and safely getting up. Most people don’t think of falling as something to teach, but once a child is comfortable safely falling and getting up, there’s much less for them to worry about.
• Get Help from the Professionals – Our Odenton skating lessons are designed for skaters of all ages and abilities. Children still learning to skate will fit right in at our Beginner Classes, which focus on teaching basic skills like balancing on skates, proper posture, roller skating safety, how to start and stop, and how to skate forward and backward. Skaters who have mastered these basics can move onto our Intermediate Class, which teaches how to roll on one foot, crossing, how to turn forward to backward and vice versa, and even basic figure skating and dance skating moves.

Our skating lessons are held each Tuesday from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The cost is only $5.00 and includes a quad roller skate rental. For more information about our Odenton skating lessons (or our private Advanced skating lesson), contact us at (410) 674-9661!

Spring break is nearly here, so it’s time to start planning a few fun family activities to do with your kids. Here are a few family-friendly Odenton “staycation” ideas:

• Explore the National Wildlife Visitor Center – Just because school is out doesn’t mean that your kids can’t learn something! The National Wildlife Visitor Center has a ton of wonderful things to do both indoors and outdoors. There are dozens of miles of trails which are great for horseback riding, hiking, and bike riding. Inside there are also lots of wonderful interactive environmental exhibits.
• Visit Be With Me: The Children’s Playseum – This is a cool book and toy store for children, but it is also an amazing experience for families, as the whole place is designed like a child-sized city. It’s a great way to spend the afternoon with your child, and a great place to pick up a new book to read together for a little spring break reading.
• Skate at Wheels Skate Center – Our Odenton skate center is the perfect place to spend your child’s spring break! Not only is skating fun for all ages, but skating also makes for an amazing exercise. Children are used to daily PE and recess, so without their normal scheduled physical activities, it’s easy to just spend the day on the couch watching TV. But thankfully, skating is the perfect remedy for being cooped up inside all day!

Check out our hours and upcoming Odenton events, and make your plans to spend a little family time at our amazing Odenton skate center.

Take your party to the next level with these party planning tips and tricks:

• • Choose a venue with built-in entertainment – Why worry about coming up with games or booking performers when you can host a party with the entertainment built right in? Our Odenton roller skating parties are a hit with groups of all ages, from small gatherings to blowout birthdays.

• • Give your guests plenty of notice – 3-4 weeks is standard for casual events, but if your party is going to take place around a holiday weekend, send invitations a little earlier. If you wait too close to the date, your guests may already have plans.

• • Go the extra mile with a theme – Who doesn’t love a theme party? If you’re planning a skate party here at Wheels, you can’t go wrong with a retro roller disco party. 70s, 80s, or 90s costumes are easy for guests to pull together from their own closets or the local thrift store.
  • Share the memories – Don’t let an Instagram-ready event pass without some great photos to remember it by! Create a hashtag like #LeslieKSweet16 or #RonTurns50 and make sure to print it on the invitations, tell your guests, and even make some signs to put on the party tables. That way they can tag their pictures of the event and you can see all the fun moments in one place.

So the next time you’re planning a party and need a fun and original Odenton party venue, we’ve got you covered at Wheels Skate Center. And even if you’re not planning a party, we have lots of upcoming Odenton events for you. Contact us at (410) 674-9661 for more information about planning a special event at Wheels Skate Center!

So it’s a new year and you’re looking to start exercising more, or maybe you’re looking to make exercising more fun. What better way to have a good time and get moving than to start roller skating at Wheels Skating Center in Odenton, Maryland?

Roller Skating Has Amazing Physical Health Benefits

• Cardio – Roller skating is a sure way to get your heart pumping and is much more exciting than going for a jog on the treadmill or hitting the elliptical. As a form of aerobic exercise, roller skating increases circulation and heart strength, improves overall heart and lung health, reduces the risk of certain diseases. It’s also easier on the joints than many other forms of cardiovascular exercise.
• Strengthening Arm and Leg Muscles – Because roller skating takes a lot of work from both your arms and your legs, it strengthens them. Pick up a pair of skates and you’ll be toned in no time!
• Improving Balance and Coordination – You may be familiar with the initial uncertainty about your balancing abilities the first time you put on your roller skates, but here’s the great news: the more you practice roller skating, the easier it gets because roller skating improves your balance and coordination skills.

In addition to a new entertaining way to keep fit, here’s an easy trail mix recipe that would be a tasty pre or post-rollerskating snack:

Personalized Trail Mix

A great way to get some extra protein in your diet is to make a trail mix. We’ll give you an ingredient list, but really, throw whatever your heart desires in the mix!

Suggested Ingredients

• 1 cup cashews, peanuts, or almonds
• ¾ cup raisins, craisins, dried cherries, or dried apricots
• ½ cup dark chocolate chips
• ¾ sunflower or pumpkin seeds
• 1 ½ cup popcorn
• ½ cup coconut flakes or banana chips for added sweetness

Put everything in a container, give it a good stir or shake, and you have the perfect healthy snack that’ll satisfy your salt cravings and your sweet tooth. Double or triple this recipe and store it in the pantry to last for a few days of snacking.
For ways to get involved with roller skating at Wheels Skating Center or to learn more, Contact Us.

The holidays are here and it’s time to check some gifts off your list! If you have any skaters in your life, these are some ideas that are sure to delight. In fact, if you love to skate, you might even want to consider sending a link to this blog to your own personal “Santa!”

Here are some holiday gift ideas for skaters:

• New Skates –  A new pair of skates is sure to be a hit. For the newest skates, check out Riedell and Southeastern Skate Supply for the latest catalogs and then contact our Pro Shop for help with sizing and current availability.
• Stocking Stuffers – Of course, you don’t always have to go as big as new skates. There are also lots of little stocking stuffers your skater is sure to love too. New wheels or bearings are always appreciated by serious skaters!
• Accessories – Skating is better with a little style. Socks, laces, or even a little skating-themed jewelry makes for a great gift idea for a skater.
• Skate Art – Deck the halls with roller skates! Art is a wonderful gift idea, and there are lots of great skating-themed pieces available online.
• Time with You! – Sometimes the best gifts are experiences, not things! Planning a day out together at Wheels Skate Center is a great unique gift idea for your favorite skating partner.

So visit our Pro Shop today to find the perfect gift for the skater in your life. Or even better yet, check out our holiday hours and make plans to visit our Odenton skating center with them!

It can be hard to get kids excited about learning. That why sometimes it is a good idea to teach kids using fun activities that they’re already interest in. That’s why National STEM Day is a great day to take your kids roller skating in Odenton!

National STEM Day, held annually on November 8th, was created to help teach children about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (commonly referred to as STEM fields). You see, many of the fastest growing occupations in the United States are STEM careers. This means that fostering a love of and interest in STEM fields can give your children a huge advantage in life. Unfortunately, the US’s STEM education is falling behind compared to that of other industrialized countries. Globally, US students rank roughly in the middle based on our children’s science, math, and reading scores.

Teaching STEM with roller skating is a perfect way to get your kids excited about learning.

Physics in roller skating is very important. Friction, acceleration, velocity, inertia, and centrifugal force are all vital components of roller skating. Accelerating, stopping, and moving are all only possible on roller skates because of physics. This makes roller skating a wonderful opportunity to teach your children about the importance of STEM.

So check out our hours and make your plans to visit our Odenton skating center in observance of National STEM Day. You and your family will get some great exercise, have tons of fun, and you will be helping foster a love of STEM fields in your kids!