Taking more than more one toddler in public has it’s challenges. If you’ve tried it you know it’s a gamble to do something fun with a happy outcome for all. My husband and I took our son and his best buddy, both of whom are two years old, to Skate North Incrediroll in Des Moines for their Tiny Tot Skate.
When we arrived, we were greeted by a very friendly and helpful employee. She was concerned about how small our boys were, because the smallest skate they have is a size 8. But since our son’s buddy is size 7, we thought we’d risk it and it turned out well.
She brought our skates and little “walkers,” or skate mates, made of PVC pipe for the boys to use while they learned to balance themselves. We were two of the three kids there so we basically had the place to ourselves, which is good, since falls and crying were both inevitable!
When I think of roller rinks, I think of where I went as a kid, when my mother would drop me off for a couple of hours to skate around with my friends. I fully expected a lingering stale cigarette smell and mildly sticky floors. Since we were with toddlers, we spent a fair amount of time on the floor and I was impressed with how clean the entire facility was. There was no 20 year old cigarette smell or even a weird concession stand scent. It didn’t even smell like dirty feet from the skates. It was a great experience.
The employee that greeted us was so encouraging and kind the entire time. As she was helping us put our skates and skate mates away as we were leaving, she mentioned that since the boys are so little, they may enjoy the event,”Bring Your Ride, It’s Toddler Time” from 10 to 11 a.m. on Wednesdays. Admission for that is $2 plus $2 for skate mates and toddlers can bring their riding toys and ride around.
This is one of those great events parents are always looking for. It’s geared towards young children, it’s a huge space with plenty of seating, and it’s indoors, which of course everyone is looking for this winter. We will definitely go back!
**Note: Tiny Tots is no longer a program that is offered, but take a look at all the other fun they offer on Wednesday’s.
Toddler fun on Wednesdays:
Bring Your Ride It’s Toddler Time: 10 to 11 a.m. Bring your push toy, bike, etc. and burn off some energy indoors! $2 admission.
Toddler + Family Buck Night: 4 to 5 p.m. Admission $1, roller skates $1, in-line skates and Skate mates $3 each. Open to ages 10 and under and older siblings with parental supervision. Normal Buck night is 5 to 8 p.m. and you have the option to stay at no extra cost.
Skate North Incrediroll is located at 5621 Meredith Drive in Des Moines.
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