Fun Things to Do at Home with Kids—Great America Style!
Danny Messinger
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Most of the Bay Area is stuck at home with kids, perhaps scrambling for something fun to do. We thought we’d help out with some amusement park fun to help keep your family entertained at home. Here’s a list of California’s Great America-inspired things to do with kids. If you try any of these, be sure to tag us on social @cagreatamerica so we can see how it turned out! We'll be sharing your kids' creations over the next few days.
Take a Virtual Ride on a Coaster
You might not be able to ride any roller coasters at Great America right now, but why let that stop you from getting the butterflies in your stomach and enjoying a thrill right from the comfort of your own home? Our Great America YouTube page has five roller coaster POV videos that show you a front-seat view from our most popular coasters. All you need is internet access or the YouTube app on your phone or TV, and you can send your kids on a virtual ride. (Bonus points for realistic screams!)
Dream Up Your Own Amusement Park
Break out those LEGO bricks, bust out your K’NEX or dig out some Magna-tiles, and help your kid construct their dream amusement park. Flatten some large cardboard boxes and draw paths for guests in between their imaginative rides. Then find household objects, or doodle right on the cardboard, to represent different rides, slides, shops, themed areas and landmarks.
Need inspiration for rides and waterpark slides? Here is the list of Great America’s attractions to get your kids’ creative juices flowing.
Draw Your Own Amusement Park Map
If you don’t want to transform an entire room in your house into a whole amusement park, have your kids draw or paint their own dream park on paper. Help your budding theme park designer along by asking a few questions:
- What’s the biggest ride there?
- What kind of water rides will there be?
- Are there rides for kids?
- Do you think there’s a water park?
- Where will people eat when they get there?
- Where is the park located? Is it on a tropical island, or in the middle of a forest? Maybe smack-dab in the heart of a big city?
- What will make the entrance special?
- What would people stop and take selfies in front of?
- Are there any special characters that call your park home?
Don’t be afraid to use the Great America map for a little inspiration!
Create Your Own Wild Ride
If tackling a whole park seems like too big of an undertaking, have your kids focus on creating one ride instead. They can draw, paint, or build their creation. Have them think about names, themes, colors, crazy loop-de-loops—anything and everything! Here are some supplies that might help you get started:
- Marbles or small balls for the roller coaster vehicles
- Masking tape
- Plastic or paper cups
- Scissors
- Supports, like paper towel tubes, books or boxes
- Rubber bands
- Toothpicks, popsicle sticks or wooden dowels
- Paper plates
- String
Do Some Coloring!
Here are some free coloring pages of the park’s iconic places and fun Great America activities. Click below to see the whole collection!
If you try any of these fun activities, don’t forget to share your masterpieces on social media and tag @cagreatamerica so we can see, too! We’ll share some of the many great creations we see out there.
Find us on:
Facebook @cagreatamerica
Instagram @cagreatamerica
Twitter @cagreatamerica
Stay healthy, Bay Area. We’re all in this together. I’ll see you on the midways soon!