OP here… I’m from the northern Midwest and my hubby is from New England (and we own a house in Maine) so we love laughing at you southerners who can’t handle cold or a single snowflake… my kids LOVE ice skating and so do their friends. My family has experienced broken bones from kids’ skiing accidents. We get that accidents happen but refuse to live in fear of normal winter activity! And, thanks for the advice on rinks (the point of my post). We’re close to booking!!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Make sure you have a few parents around. Ice skating parties are notorious for injuries. The two I've been to had kids fall resulting in one broken arm and the other stitches to face (chin meets ice)

This. Ice skating injuries can be horrific. Ask me how I know.

This is ridiculous. I've been ice skating my whole life and never seen that many injuries in one month let alone one hour. Do you worry about bounce houses? Because you can't go an hour without seeing an injury in one of those. Ice skating is a fun party - you can even hire someone to help out on the ice with it, and get those push things that the kids can hold onto. Fairfax Ice Arena has all that stuff, and Haymarket Ice Plex is also nice, but a bit far.

My son was invited to an ice skating party as a beginner when he was 8.
He liked it so much , he wanted to go again and again.
He plays ice hockey now and on weekends we go to Ft Dupont, Prince William Ice arena, Haymarket, Ballston, Bowie at old town,
Chevy Chase, etc.
When we see the parents who initially invited us (who's boy also is into hockey), we go "look what you did!!"

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents want to drop off their child at a birthday party and have two hours to themselves. Nobody wants to stay and assist with laces and beginner skaters. They do because they have to. Sure they put a smile on their face for the host, but inside they are pissed at this kind of party. Let me guess, OP, your kid loves ice skating and takes lessons? Please don’t do this.

Agree! Parents just want to drop their kids off and pick them out. They don't want to deal with stupid ice skates; who even comes out with those stupid birthday parties ideas like that?

Disagree. My kid can't skate, but if she wanted to try at a party I'd happily be there to help her as much as I could. I definitely don't mind staying for parties, I'll have plenty of time to myself when they're grown.

Who are these wimpy people who can’t handle a skating party?

My kids have been to several, and they’re fine.

Have fun, OP.

Anonymous wrote:Parents want to drop off their child at a birthday party and have two hours to themselves. Nobody wants to stay and assist with laces and beginner skaters. They do because they have to. Sure they put a smile on their face for the host, but inside they are pissed at this kind of party. Let me guess, OP, your kid loves ice skating and takes lessons? Please don’t do this.

Agree! Parents just want to drop their kids off and pick them out. They don't want to deal with stupid ice skates; who even comes out with those stupid birthday parties ideas like that?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents want to drop off their child at a birthday party and have two hours to themselves. Nobody wants to stay and assist with laces and beginner skaters. They do because they have to. Sure they put a smile on their face for the host, but inside they are pissed at this kind of party. Let me guess, OP, your kid loves ice skating and takes lessons? Please don’t do this.

How about not taking your kid to the party if you don’t want to help lace up the skates? If the birthday kid likes ice skating and wants a skating party let him/her do it! You don’t have to go.

I’m in Chicago so maybe this is more common of a party here. Most kids don’t take lessons but most seem to have a desire to get out on the rink. Also renting out a rink is one of the more affordable party options around here.

So, not helpful for the DC area

Chicago poster here - how is this not helpful? DC kids don't enjoy ice skating?

Whatever...OP, enjoy your kids' party!

We don’t care what you do in Chicago. Here in Dc no one likes an ice skating party.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents want to drop off their child at a birthday party and have two hours to themselves. Nobody wants to stay and assist with laces and beginner skaters. They do because they have to. Sure they put a smile on their face for the host, but inside they are pissed at this kind of party. Let me guess, OP, your kid loves ice skating and takes lessons? Please don’t do this.

How about not taking your kid to the party if you don’t want to help lace up the skates? If the birthday kid likes ice skating and wants a skating party let him/her do it! You don’t have to go.

I’m in Chicago so maybe this is more common of a party here. Most kids don’t take lessons but most seem to have a desire to get out on the rink. Also renting out a rink is one of the more affordable party options around here.

So, not helpful for the DC area

Chicago poster here - how is this not helpful? DC kids don't enjoy ice skating?

Whatever...OP, enjoy your kids' party!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents want to drop off their child at a birthday party and have two hours to themselves. Nobody wants to stay and assist with laces and beginner skaters. They do because they have to. Sure they put a smile on their face for the host, but inside they are pissed at this kind of party. Let me guess, OP, your kid loves ice skating and takes lessons? Please don’t do this.

How about not taking your kid to the party if you don’t want to help lace up the skates? If the birthday kid likes ice skating and wants a skating party let him/her do it! You don’t have to go.

I’m in Chicago so maybe this is more common of a party here. Most kids don’t take lessons but most seem to have a desire to get out on the rink. Also renting out a rink is one of the more affordable party options around here.

So, not helpful for the DC area

do you think DC snowflakes are more fragile?

Just wanted to say huzzah for ice skating parties!

We've done three for my January baby - starting in preschool. It's outdoor, but the downtown Silver Spring rink offers a short lesson at the beginning of the party window to teach kids the very basics, and they've got penguins to go around. Agree with an earlier poster that going early in the day is a good way to make sure it's less crowded.

We did have thick winter socks in fun colors as our party favor for several years, so anyone who didn't come dressed warmly had a back-up option (2 or 3 kids needed them).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents want to drop off their child at a birthday party and have two hours to themselves. Nobody wants to stay and assist with laces and beginner skaters. They do because they have to. Sure they put a smile on their face for the host, but inside they are pissed at this kind of party. Let me guess, OP, your kid loves ice skating and takes lessons? Please don’t do this.

How about not taking your kid to the party if you don’t want to help lace up the skates? If the birthday kid likes ice skating and wants a skating party let him/her do it! You don’t have to go.

I’m in Chicago so maybe this is more common of a party here. Most kids don’t take lessons but most seem to have a desire to get out on the rink. Also renting out a rink is one of the more affordable party options around here.

So, not helpful for the DC area

Gosh there are some strange responses on this thread. Ice skating is a perfectly nice birthday party activity for any age, if that's what the birthday kid wants. If I were hosting I'd remind folks to bring helmets and gloves for their kids and make sure that parents who want to join their kids on the ice are welcome to do so as well.
My preference would be for an outdoor rink since those feel nicer. Set out some hot chocolate, donuts and snacks for people when they get on/ off the ice. Cake at the end. Done!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tucker Road may be an option also.

Wow! I am ancient and had no idea that place was still around!

I think it must have been redone recently. The rink is new and quite nice!

Anonymous wrote:Parents want to drop off their child at a birthday party and have two hours to themselves. Nobody wants to stay and assist with laces and beginner skaters. They do because they have to. Sure they put a smile on their face for the host, but inside they are pissed at this kind of party. Let me guess, OP, your kid loves ice skating and takes lessons? Please don’t do this.

How about not taking your kid to the party if you don’t want to help lace up the skates? If the birthday kid likes ice skating and wants a skating party let him/her do it! You don’t have to go.

I’m in Chicago so maybe this is more common of a party here. Most kids don’t take lessons but most seem to have a desire to get out on the rink. Also renting out a rink is one of the more affordable party options around here.

Parents want to drop off their child at a birthday party and have two hours to themselves. Nobody wants to stay and assist with laces and beginner skaters. They do because they have to. Sure they put a smile on their face for the host, but inside they are pissed at this kind of party. Let me guess, OP, your kid loves ice skating and takes lessons? Please don’t do this.