Funderland & Coronavirus Concerns

Dear Funderland Guests,

As a family-owned and operated small business, Funderland has always strived to maintain an environment that is family-oriented, fun, and safe. As the current COVID-19 outbreak continues to develop, we are holding true to our commitment to safety by implementing the following:

  1. Frequent sanitization of rides including seating areas, lap bars, seat belts, etc.
  2. Frequent sanitization of commonly touched areas such as ride fencing, water fountains, etc.
  3. Frequent sanitization of eating areas and tables.
  4. Spacing of guests on rides so there will be a minimum of at least one empty seat in front of, behind, or beside guests that are not from the same riding group.

We will continue to monitor this situation as it develops and will follow all state and government regulation. Thank you for your continuing support during this time.

Fun Ways to Spend Valentines Day with Your Kids!

Valentines day is usually thought of as a day for romantic love, But as a day devoted to love, what better way to celebrate it as a day devoted to family? It doesn’t have to cost a lot or be an over the top celebration, just set some time aside to focus on your family and tell them you love them! Here’s a list of ideas that we’ve compiled that we think can help!

Spread The Love!

Everyone has at least heard of “The Painted Rock” movement. but if you haven’t, People of all ages are painting funny, sweet or inspirational rocks and hiding them for strangers to find. The goal is to spread joy or a little laughter for everyone. It’s a fun way to not only get involved with the community, but an easy way to get the family involved! Collect rocks with your little ones and have a Valentines day themed painting party! After you’re done, spread the love and hide them around town for unsuspecting strangers to find for a Valentines Day pick-me-up!

Surprise Hearts! 

Another way to make your kids feel extra loved this Valentines Day is to give them little surprises of hearts! Attack them with little homemade hearts that are covered with all the reasons you love them and cover their bedroom door, in their backpack and their jacket pockets! It’s always a nice little surprise to be reminded why you’re so great and that you’re loved, especially on Valentines Day.

Read All About It!

Personally, one of my favorite things to do near any holiday with my kid is to take a trip to the library and find as many themed story books as we can! We always have a blast reading themed stories and never fail to learn a thing or two! Plus, It’s free!

Funderland Valentines Day Cards!

Duh! I know it’s no secret that exchanging Valentines is a great way to spend Valentines day, but these are not your average Valentines! These printable cards (which you can find here) not only tell your little ones how much you love them, but it also comes with the opportunity to show them as well! It also acts as a coupon to buy one weekday wristband, get one FREE! That’s a full day of free riding for them during the week! Or if you happen to have plans that week, you can instead get four free tickets with a purchase of ten for a fun quick outing to start or end your weekend!

6 Tips for Teaching Your Kids to Be Thankful

  1. Saying “Thank You” and Meaning It!

The first step of course is to incorporate “thank you’s” into your kids daily word choice, but more than that it’s important for them to understand what they are saying. Words are just words, especially if you have to constantly tell them to say it. 

Talk to your kids about what it means to have the people they love and appreciate in their life and that it makes these people happy when you say “thank you.” Smiling and showing gratitude 

for their “thank you’s” shows them the positivity that can come from saying it, too!

2. One Good Thing – Focus on the Positive

Everyday before bed, ask your kids what the best part of their day was. If they can think about at least one good thing that happened everyday, they will see more clearly the goodness in their lives and be thankful for those things that bring them joy.

3. Surprise Them

When you give kids too many choices, they are always going to change their mind, and want something better. If you ask where they want to go for a weekend getaway and leave it open ended, you might end up being expected to take them to a magical castle in a foreign land or they won’t be happy. 

However, if you surprise them with a trip to see a movie they’ve had their eye on or a trip to a park (like Funderland!) when they aren’t expecting it, they will see it as a gift instead of an entitlement. 

4. Monitor Their Media 

Did you know that over $17 billion dollars is spent annually advertising to children? Kids these days are bombarded with ads to make them think they need the newest toy, leading them always wanting more and not being thankful for what they have. Limit their screen time, and when possible choose games or apps with less or no advertising. 

5. Lead By Example

This one is as simple as it sounds! Treat others with kindness and gratitude, and your kids will pick that up like a dry sponge!

6. House Chores for Everyone

Without chores, children just can’t understand what it takes to run a household– they will take clean laundry and dishes for granted. Have you heard the joke about the husband who puts things on a “magical coffee table” and the next day the items are always put away/cleaned, when we all know the magic was Mom taking care of the house? 

This seems silly for an adult to believe, but for children it’s not that far fetched. When they have to work for the things that make up their lives – clothes to wear, clean rooms to live in, dishes to eat their meals off – they will appreciate these things much more! Responsibility and Team work are the anti-entitlement! 

Parent Tips: Creative Ways of Teaching Your Child How to Be a Successful Student

If you’re looking for creative ways of teaching your child how to be the most successful student, look no further because we’re here to help you out! Here are five useful tips you should take into consideration, so check them out and get down to business!

1. Help them find their learning style

Knowledge acquisition is different for every child, which is exactly why you should help your kids find their learning style. There are seven different types you should bear in mind, and these are visual, auditory-musical, verbal, physical, logical, social, and solitary learning style. While some students learn using one dominant style, others rely on a blend of different styles that work best for them. As it isn’t a universal approach, make sure to help your kid figure it out.


2. Teach them about the value of education

Having a positive attitude towards education and emphasizing its importance is highly likely to motivate your kids to adopt the same attitude, which is exactly what you should strive for. This is a great start for your little ones as such a mindset can determine their educational success later in life. Of course, education begins at home, so be a good role model who understands how essential education is and influence your kids’ way of perceiving it.


3. Emphasize the importance of organization to boost their motivation

Proper organization is crucial when it comes to achieving success in school, which is why you should help your kids improve their organization skills in the first place. For example, you can design a learning space which can make your children feel like they’re in control and motivate them to learn. Removing any distractions is also vital, so take that into consideration as well and you won’t make a mistake.


4. Encourage them to pursue their interests

Improving academic performance can be done if you encourage your children to pursue their interests and subjects they enjoy most, as these will boost their motivation even more. So, if you figure out that your kids show a special interest in a particular subject, you should inspire them to gain more knowledge about a certain topic. Of course, you can always monitor their success in school through an effective student management system, so give it a try and always be informed about your children’s school achievements.


5. Celebrate their achievements and successes

When it comes to boosting your kids’ motivation, we can freely say that recognizing and celebrating their successes is undoubtedly one of the most important factors. Even the smallest praises can often make a huge difference and make your children feel happy and proud, which is particularly true for younger kids. For example, treating them to their favorite ice cream is a great way to keep your children motivated, so bear that in mind and you’ll do a great job.

As you can tell, there are a lot of important things you can do to help your child be a successful student. These five are certainly the best ones out there, so give them a try and you’ll see what we were talking about!

Written by: Isabel William

The Best Summer Family Day!

Enjoy the summer rays with your family and create some unforgettable memories with the kids! There’s so much to do this summer, so to help our Sacramento locals or anyone interested in visiting the area this summer, we put together the perfect schedule for a nice summer day with the family!

1) Breakfast

Start the perfect summer day off right! Make sure your family is fueled and hydrated for a day in the sun. You can either make a tasty healthy breakfast at home, like Toffee Crunch Apple Toast or Pancake Tacos that the kids will love to eat with their hands, or go out for a dine-in breakfast treat at your favorite local breakfast spot! La Bou Bakery & Cafe is a great choice that offers some yummy breakfast sandwiches, and options to please even the pickiest of eaters!


2) Funderland Park

Once those bellies are full, it’s time to bring the kids down to Funderland Park! Gates open at 10am all summer long, so you can get an early start and beat the heat. While breakfast is digesting and the kids are still full of energy, our Photo Ops are a great intro to the park, and an opportunity to get some adorable pics in!

Next, it’s time to jump into some rides. We have some great options for children that are just starting out with rides and might be more comfortable with something slower and parent friendly, like the Train, Backroad Buggies, or Carousel. Funderland also has great rides for older children that are ready for speed; Our Flying Dragon ride is full of twists, turns, and dips! The Crazy Cups are fun for all ages because you’re in control of your ride. The faster you turn the center wheel, the faster you spin!


3) Family Night In

Once the kiddos are tired out from a day of riding, winding down with some fun snacks and a family friendly movie is always a perfect end to the day. Depending what everyone’s in the mood for, you could get a classic movie, a comedy, or an adventure; anything that keeps the good vibes from the day going!

If you’re trying to cut the screen time down before bed, perhaps a family friendly board game like Sorry! or Clue would do the trick. Try introducing your kids to any of these classic games you may have played growing up! Either way, snacks are a great add on – whether you’re trying to stay healthy with some veggies and dip or go full snack mode with delicious, buttery popcorn. However you finish out the day, make sure to do it together and pick something relaxing for everyone!


Funderland Park Guest Appreciation!

Here at Funderland, we live for those special moments our park guests share with their friends and family. When your faces light up the moment you walk in the gates and see our antique carousel, or when the little ones feel the ride they are on begin moving, or looking at candid pictures together that mom just took – those are the things that fill our hearts!

Last month, we asked our guests to share some photos of their favorite times at Funderland, and the results were truly beautiful! Check out our awesome visitors!

Funderland Spring Open Interviews

Are you looking for as awesome, exciting job? Do you love working with kids and outdoors? A Funderland Ride Operator might be the job for you!

We are looking for outgoing, upbeat individuals to make our guests experience top-notch! As a team member, you’ll be welcoming parents and children to the park, helping children get on and off the rides safely, maintaining safety in lines and around the ride area, and encouraging a memorable, relaxed, and carefree day at the park for all guests!

In our search for exceptional new team members, Funderland will be hosting Open Interviews every Thursday in March from 2pm-4pm! If you meet the requirements in our Job Posting, we want to meet you!

Please print out an application form, fill it out, and stop by the park at the designated time! You can check in at the ticket booth, and we will be with you shortly to begin the interview.

Achieving New Years Resolutions

Did you make a New Year’s resolution this year? Most people did, and in case you were curious, these are the Top 10 Most Common Resolutions, according to the latest survey, featured on inc.com and goskills.com.

1. Exercise more
2. Lose weight
3. Get organized
4. Learn a new skill or hobby
5. Live life to the fullest
6. Save more money / spend less money
7. Quit smoking
8. Spend more time with family and friends
9. Travel more
10. Read more

Although we can’t help you shed those extra pounds or sort the shelves in your living room, we can definitely help with numbers 5 and 8!

It’s no surprise to us that many people are prioritizing “living life to the fullest” and “spending more time with family and friends.” Those truly are the most important things in life and we, at Funderland Park, are fortunate enough to experience our park guests enjoying time with their friends and family every day we open our gates!

If you want to get serious about setting and following a truly necessary resolution, why not consider getting a Funderland Season Pass? What better way to make sure you are blocking out time regularly to spend time with your family than to already have your pass purchased and ready for use! Having a year pass eliminates excuses for not going, and can actually help you save money (#3!) throughout the year, because you can spend time doing something that’s already paid for! Can you believe that if you come to Funderland Park just once a week this 2019 season using a Season Pass it would only cost $1.74 per visit for ALL DAY riding?! That sounds like some money saving to us!

Kids grow up SO fast, and we want to provide an opportunity for you to spend as many good times as possible with them!

Get your Season Pass Here: https://funderlandpark.com/season-passes/

12 Days of Christmas 2019

’Tis the season!

This year for our 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway, we will be selecting one winner per day to take home a 2019 Season Pass! The giveaway will begin on December 12th, and the last entries will be received on December 23rd by midnight. The final Grand Prize winner will be selected and announced on Christmas Eve!

There are 3 steps to entering each day:

1. Like/Follow our Facebook Page (if you already follow our page, you’ve got this one checked off!)

2. Let someone else know in the comments about our 12 Days of Christmas (if you enter for more than one day, make sure to mention someone new each time!)

3. Send us a Facebook message and tell us what present you’re most excited to give for Christmas this year! (this is only required for your first entry)

Each Day will have a new post and a new winner announced, so make sure you are always commenting on the most recent post!

The posts will appear with the most recent one at the top on our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/FunderlandPark/

We can’t wait to see our Funderland Community spreading Christmas joy to their friends and family! 🙂

If you do not have a facebook page, you can email us at [email protected] to enter.

Giving Thanks With Your Kids

Everyone knows Thanksgiving is a time to show how much you care for each other, but sometimes that can get lost behind planning family dinners, preparing for Black Friday, planning Holiday gifts, picking the right outfits for yourself and your kids to attend holiday events…

Let’s take a moment to bring it back to the basics. Here are a few simple activities to get you and your kids really thinking about what you are thankful for, and spending some quality time together.

1. The Gratitude Scavenger Hunt

Get your kids really thinking about all the things in their life they appreciate. From the things they love to the things that challenge them and make them better, from the things they see and interact with everyday to things that are brand new to their ever evolving young lives.

You can make up your own, or follow this premade scavenger hunt from our friends at Let’s Get Together – Download PDF

2. Plan a Family Trip

Schedule in some time to get out of the house and make some memories with your family! Kids crave your attention, and live for quality time with the ones they love. It can also be a lot of fun to show any out-of-town family around an age old Sacramento gem.. like Funderland! Funderland Park is open Thanksgiving weekend (Friday 11am-5pm, Sat & Sun 10am-5pm). If you want to extend the fun, we’re offering a discount on 2019 Season Passes right now for $20 off the normal price! You can check out details here.

Don’t forget to take those cherished candid photos!

3. Grown-Up Interview

There are probably a handful of adults that your kids spend a lot of time with, but don’t really know a lot about their lives outside of day to day interactions. As your kids grow, they will be ever thankful for the advice of mentors they’ve had to guide them through some of the toughest years. A light hearted interview can not only open up doors to more meaningful relationships, but can also be a lot of fun for your child to pretend to be a journalist on their own story!

Here’s some sample questions to get things started:

-Who was your best friend when you were my age? What did you play?
-Describe the house and town where you grew up?
-What was your favorite toy?
-What was your favorite game?
-What are some funny things my mom or dad did when they were a kid?

As always, we wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving from your friends at Funderland Park!

Fun Fall Crafts for your Family

It’s that time of year to get into some fall fun! Between the pumpkin spice everything, Instagramming fall leaves, and picking the perfect pumpkin, sometimes it can be easy to lose sight of the more important things, like spending time with your family. There are few things more fun to a kid than making crafts with their favorite people (that’s you!).

Here are some fun craft ideas to try with your little ones this season!

P.S. If you’re looking for some FREE crafts to enjoy with the kids, we will have a craft booth at our Fall Festival on the 27th and 28th!

Pom Pom Spider

Materials:

Instructions to Make:

1. Cut the pipe cleaners into 8 pieces that are the same length

3. At the end of the leg, fold the bottom of the pipe cleaner over to create a small knot so the beads do not fall off

4. Glue each leg to the body (black pom pom) with the tacky glue.

5. Attach the googly eyes- add as many eyes as you’d like!

6. Let the glue dry

Popsicle Stick Scarecrow Magnet

Materials:

Instructions to Make:

1. Start off by using Elmer’s glue to glue on your craft sticks, 7 of them, to your cardstock or cardboard. It really doesn’t matter what you use for the backing just as long as it is strong enough to support the sticks. Also, make sure that you cut your backing so that it’s not longer or wider than the popsicle sticks. Let dry!

2. This is the step the parent will want to help with. Hot glue a few strands of the raffia onto one craft stick for the scarecrow’s hair. I just cut a few pieces for each side. Once the hot glue is dry you can then glue the stick onto the rest of the scarecrow body.

3. We choose to paint the scarecrow at this point. If you think it would be easier for your kids to paint prior to attaching the hairpiece then you can do that beforehand. We just found it easier to paint afterward. Now that everything is painted you get to sit and watch paint dry. Luckily it’s just craft paint and it will be dry in minutes, not hours.

4. The next step is to paint on the adorable face. Depending on the age and painting skill level of your children you could always paint the face on for them or cut out pieces of felt or foam and attach with glue. We didn’t add anything to the hat but I think we might go back and add a flower as well. Just dress it up, however, you like it.

5. Attach magnets to the back of your scarecrow. I used two .75 inch adhesive magnets to hold mine up. That’s it, you are all done with your popsicle stick scarecrow.

Fabric Ghost

Materials:

Instructions to Make:

1. Cut your fabric into a square, about 9”x9”. You can cut them using regular fabric scissors, but realize the ends will fray eventually depending on the fabric. You can cut the fabric squares out using pinking shears to prevent fraying. (Plus, the zig zag edge gives the ghosts a unique look).

3. Draw short dashes around the edges of the fabric. (Or try other patterns or designs like polka dots etc.)

4. Flip the fabric over. Place a styrofoam ball in the center of the fabric, and gather it around the ball to form the head of your ghost.

5. Tie a piece of ribbon around the neck to secure. (For young children you can hold the ghost in place and let them tie the ribbon, or they can hold the ghost for you while you tie the ribbon.) 

6. Draw eyes on your ghost with a black marker.

7. Tie some clear string (illusion cord) around your ghost to hang from a decorative branch or anywhere around your house or classroom!

Fall Button Tree

Materials:

  • Pipe Cleaners
  • Assorted Buttons

Instructions to Make:

  1. take 3-4 pipe cleaners in a bunch and fold them in half

.

2. Twist the bottom to form the free trunk and spread out the “branches” on the top

3. Slide assortment of buttons onto the pipe cleaner branches for leaves. That’s it!

Check out some cool ideas on how to incorporate learning into the activity:

  1. You could add numbers to the trees and children try to put that many buttons on that tree.
  2. Children could sort by color and put all yellow buttons on one tree
  3. They could try to get every single button in the bin onto a tree branch.
  4. Older children could practice skip counting by putting two buttons on each branch, or three buttons on each branch.
  5. Patterning can be practiced by making each branch of the tree a different repeating pattern (red, orange, red, orange)
  6. Really strengthen fine motor skills by encouraging older children to actually “button” the button onto the tree branches (weave the pipe cleaner in one hole and out of the other in the same button)

Clay Pumpkin Keepsake

Materials:

Instructions to Make:

1: Roll the clay out, about 1/2″ thick. Let your little one press her hand onto the clay.

2: Use a craft stick to cut the shape of a pumpkin. Smooth the edges. Make a hole in the stem with a drinking straw.

Step 3: Let the clay dry for 24 hours.

4: Use acrylic paint to turn the handprint into a Halloween design. It can be a ghost, Jack’o’Lantern, Frankenstein, candy corn. Paint the rest of the pumpkin orange and the stem brown.

5: Thread a green ribbon through the hole in the stem.

Craft ideas brought to you by:
https://www.thebestideasforkids.com/halloween-spider-kids-craft/
https://buggyandbuddy.com/ghost-craft/
https://nontoygifts.com/handprint-halloween-keepsake-make-clay/
https://todayscreativeideas.com/popsicle-stick-scarecrow-magnet/
https://handsonaswegrow.com/fall-button-tree-quiet-bin/

Do you remember your first time at Funderland Park?

For decades, Funderland has brought smiles to families of Sacramento and it’s visitors. You might remember your first visit years ago, or even your kids’ first time not that long ago. We asked our park guests to help us celebrate their first Funderland memories with their kids, and the results were adorable! Check out this awesome trip down memory lane! If you would like us to add your photo, please email us at [email protected] or message us on facebook!

Enjoy!