Etiquette for skating parties & parents?

Do you pay for the parents to skate too?

Re: Etiquette for skating parties & parents?

I've been to 2 and yes, they paid for parents because most kids couldn't go out on their own. It was for a kindergarten party. Very crowded and the had cones for kids to hold on to but that was about it so most parents went out. I believe they paid for 1 parent.

Message edited 1/25/2014 5:35:47 PM.

Re: Etiquette for skating parties & parents?

I went to one and None of hte parents skated. THey had a half hour lesson, and then the kids who could skate un assisted did, those who couldnt used those walker type things. All the parents remained in the stands watching!

Re: Etiquette for skating parties & parents?

Re: Etiquette for skating parties & parents?

Re: Etiquette for skating parties & parents?

The place on Hicksville Rd. has them.

Re: Etiquette for skating parties & parents?

It is for my DD 6th birthday party.

My DH payed college ice hockey, so he was going to be on the ice assisting the kids & giving a little lesson prior. We are only inviting a total of 10 kids, plus my DDs.

Whenever we bring our DD ice skating a lot of the kids use the wall to go around & they just sorta walk.

Is it wrong to say, "parents please plan to stay. If you choose you skate there is a $9 rental."

We just can't do potentially $100+ more, if all kids show & at least 1 of their parents wants to skate too.

Re: Etiquette for skating parties & parents?

I thought you were talking about roller skating.



No help with the ice skating but I would imagine it would be similarly difficult.

I think the problem in general with having a party at "a place" like this is that you end up having to pay all these extra fees, to the point where the birthday becomes ridiculous.

Re: Etiquette for skating parties & parents?

My DD has fallen in love with ice skating. It's crazy, but she lights up with the thought of it & all she talks about & wants to do. So she really wanted her party there.

The place said many parents say on the invite there is a rental fee for parents.

My DH sees no problem writing it. Would you think it's weird?

Re: Etiquette for skating parties & parents?

I never would have thought of a parent paying for me if I wanted to skate with my DD at a party. We did a roller skating party last year (my DD was in 3rd grade) and honestly, the thought to pay for the parents never crossed my mind. Only a couple skated, so I assume they paid for themselves. I do always get extra pizza for the parents and usually bring a veggie platter or something for them to munch on while the kids are at the party.

Message edited 1/25/2014 8:56:43 PM.

Re: Etiquette for skating parties & parents?

Ive been to two ice skating parties. Both times I skated with my daughter. Once they charged me and once the workers gave me the skates.

I didnt have a problem paying for myself. My six daughter could not have skated safely without me.

Re: Etiquette for skating parties & parents?

That is tricky I stayed away from these type of parties for this reason. I think at 6 yrs many still need an adult if they have never skated before. I know people who do skating parties...but they don't do them until like 8 or 9 bc more kids can skate by then. I think with younger kids it is hard to not pay if the child needs the adult bc they are afraid otherwise. As a parent personally I would be happy to pay if I needed to but I think many would gripe about it. It is the cost of throwing that type of party. This is also why I avoided movies at this age unless I want to pay for the parent. Skating is tricky. It isn't like a bounce party. What about not saying anything and only paying if a patent specifically asks about it. I would think that not everyone will want to. Would they give you a deal or could you get coupons or something to help defray any parent cost.

I was at a rink yesterday and had this discussion with a friend who was at an 8 yr old party there. They offered to pay for any parent who needed to skate but she said only one or two took them up on it. She mentioned no one really does them younger in our area because many can't skate so they need their parents. Not sure where your party is but the wall was tough yesterday bc the bigger kids were skating into them but it looked like all the kinds under say 8 or 9 did have an adult with them ( this was open skate time but they had three parties and skating lessons all going on at once.). Our rink does not have walkers, says they are a safety hazard and request all under 10 to wear a bike helmet.

Re: Etiquette for skating parties & parents?

I'm in NC, so it a rink here. It's a sports/hockey rink, so it'd your typical 1/2 wall & 1/2 plexiglass. The little ones just skate (LOL step walk) around the ice. My 3 yo will even go out & hand on the wall "skate" around.

I tried to talk my DD out of it. This is her only request a Frozen Ice Skating Party with her friends.

She wants an ice skating rink for her birthday....that's obviously not happening

It's a set price $9 for adults to rent. There is no group discount or anything. The place actually requires me to approval all rentals, so I don't get charged for ones I didn't want to authorize. That's why I want to avoid the parents freely trying to rent at our expense. Now if for some reason I don't hit my 10kid minimum, then I will offer the rentals to the parents.

Message edited 1/26/2014 12:23:26 PM.

Etiquette for skating parties & parents?

I personally would feel very funny not paying for the parents bc six years old is SO young. You say you want to avoid the parents "freely trying to rent at our expense" but tbh I would never WANT to skate, lol, I'd be forced into it with a six year old that needs help.

Re: Etiquette for skating parties & parents?

Re: Etiquette for skating parties & parents?

It could go either way. Some people would be bothered by it, but honestly, it's less than coffee money for the week.

DH recently took DS to a movies party and I'm almost positive he paid for his ticket and snacks.

He said that most of the parents dropped off their kids and it was a good thing he was there because no one was around to help the parents out with carrying all the popcorn/candy/soda and monitoring the kids.

Personally, it wouldn't bother me because I feel like DS is too young to be left unattended at a bday anyway. (He's 5).

And these are good friends of ours so even more reason why I could care less.

P.S. I haven't gone ice skating since I was a kid.... Do you HAVE to wear skates on the ice? Could you just walk around with your kid?

Re: Etiquette for skating parties & parents?

NO at UNited Skates parent can be on floor with child to help them better yet they have those skate mates to help the kids they were great. I reserved for the party and paid $5 for each kid who needed one.It was great

Re: Etiquette for skating parties & parents?

Re: Etiquette for skating parties & parents?

My DD has been to 1 roller skating party prior (however their school does a 1x a month skating fund raiser, so I think some have skated).

She actually found ice skating easier. She was falling a lot on wheels, not as much on ice. Even off the ice, it's easier to walk on ice skates than roller.

She so wants this party, but now I'm concerned other parents will feel bothered. IMO I love exposing my kids to new activities to try, but I can understand many haven't with ice skating. My DD are 3 & soon 6.


ETA: This rink doesn't have the walker things & the other in our area has a height max (which my DD is above), because too tall & it becomes more of a hazard with height or something. And you have to wear skates.

Message edited 1/26/2014 11:19:36 PM.

Re: Etiquette for skating parties & parents?

Posted by NewlyMrs

My DD has been to 1 roller skating party prior (however their school does a 1x a month skating fund raiser, so I think some have skated).

She actually found ice skating easier. She was falling a lot on wheels, not as much on ice. Even off the ice, it's easier to walk on ice skates than roller.

She so wants this party, but now I'm concerned other parents will feel bothered. IMO I love exposing my kids to new activities to try, but I can understand many haven't with ice skating. My DD are 3 & soon 6.


ETA: This rink doesn't have the walker things & the other in our area has a height max (which my DD is above), because too tall & it becomes more of a hazard with height or something. And you have to wear skates.

Re: Etiquette for skating parties & parents?

I had it on my mind all night after hearing here parents would feel bothered.
so I asked my DD this morning if her friends are excited about ice skating (she talked about it with them already ). She said yes.

Re: Etiquette for skating parties & parents?

Posted by NewlyMrs

I had it on my mind all night after hearing here parents would feel bothered.
so I asked my DD this morning if her friends are excited about ice skating (she talked about it with them already ). She said yes.

Re: Etiquette for skating parties & parents?

I would assume I'd pay for myself.

Re: Etiquette for skating parties & parents?

We just went to a skating party for a child turning 7. However, my DS and most of the others are 6 (and not even 6.5). My DS had only skated once before. It was an open skate. Parents were allowed to skate free if they wanted to. I would say only 3 parents did this. The rink had three instructors on the ice that were extremely helpful with the kids and would take out each child individually that couldn't skate and help them get started. My DS did not want me on the ice at all and he had a great time and did fine even though he never really skated before this - in fact, the same is true for 90 percent of his friends as well! So, I think if there are instructors on the ice as well it will be fine without the parents!

Etiquette for skating parties & parents?

I had an ice skating party for my daughter when she was about 9. I did not pay for parents to skate. A few chose to skate with their kids because they were afraid, but they did it on their own. Most of the girls who didn't know how just skated along the wall until they got the hang of it.