Oaks Park Preschool Skate (SE Portland)
While Oaks Park amusement park is only open in the summer, the roller rink is open year round. The rink hosts various skating sessions, but the session that best fits our lifestyle these days is the Preschool Skate on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings during the school year (starts October 1st for the 2019/2020 season).
The session is geared for folks 6 and under (and accompanying adults). It currently costs $7.50 a child. This includes skate rental and a snack and adult admission is free. It does also say that older siblings (aged 6+) can attend with a younger sibling, although admission price will apply.
Adults can choose to wear shoes or skates (no rental fees for adults) and can even bring a stroller onto the floor. The kiddos have their choice of the normal rental skates (you can request them to tighten the wheels a bit if that helps your little one) or strap-on skates that go over their shoes. The strap-on skates work well for the younger ones, there is even a dial at the bottom that allows you change the wheel settings from completed locked to freewheeling.
During the session there are a couple of 15 minute group lessons. These are optional and only take up a portion of the rink if your little one is not into it.
My children started going to the preschool skate when they were 2. I wouldn’t go with a child much younger than that. As is at almost 3 years of age, my kids are good for just a few loops of the rink (it is a large rink).
Cookies and milk are available for free in the snack area. This is a nice way to break up the session and give the kids a chance to sit down.
Chipper the Squirrel makes an appearance during the morning. My children have the must-hug-person-in-giant-creature-costume gene, so this is a big plus. But he’s only out there for a small part of the session, so if your child does not have the same affection for Chipper she won’t need to avoid him the whole time.
And in case you are wondering…Yes, the session does include a round of the Hokey Pokey.
Parking is plentiful and free. Check out the website for more details!
Sionainn is a single momma to 3 year-old boy/girl twins and lives in SE Portland.
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Lovely ..!! We’re making plan to visit on coming holidays – It’s really adorable
All I can think is ADORABLE!
My daughter tried real skates last time…I think the smallest size was around 7. She typically wears 5/6, so it was a little big but she managed pretty well.
It’s nice to know about another toddler skate. There’s one at Skate World in Gresham Thursday’s from 9:30-11 and sounds similar but is 3.75 (including parent’s ticket). Anyone know of the smallest actual skate size Oaks Park has? My daughter won’t wear the strap on kind and wears a size 7 or even smaller shoe. It’s nice that skate world has the small size skates.