Things to Do With Christmas-Crazed Kids in the East Bay

They’ve had more sugar in the last week than in the previous 11 months combined. They’re half deranged in anticipation of what waits under the Christmas tree. They are out of school and in your house. To the general madness of the holidays parents can add the task of occupying hyper kids in the first days of winter break.

JB Davis, East Bay Patch’s community editor, asked readers for advice on how best to meet this challenge. He received dozens of suggestions ranging from the wholesome to the devious. Let Patch know in the comments if you have an idea not included here.

Readers in Alameda want to keep it healthy and educational.  Carol Lynn Willer Featherstone wrote, “Outdoors anywhere.  It’s Alameda.”  Presumably it’s ok to take your kids to Alameda to spend time outdoors.

William Frantz thought the Naval Air Museum at the former NAS Alameda would make a good Monday activity and ConnXtance Rodriguez wrote, “The zoo.  The movies…Definitely not the grocery store.  Or a department store.”

San Leandro reader Chris Aman favored a quiet endeavor, suggesting “the library”, as a Monday activity while Nicholas John Blake figured a 9 hour road trip with antsy kids was the answer—he suggested “Disneyland!”

Union City reader Andrew Vera favored a preemptive strike against holiday sweets by taking the kids to the dentist and Christopher Perkins put in a plug for the Pacific West Gymnastics holiday camp.

Fremont Patch follower Kyle Conwell either wants to spoil the little ones or torment his mother-in-law.  He suggests going “tograndma’s house.”

Vanessa Hernandez wrote on the Newark Facebook page, “Fairyland-Winter Wonderland” and Judy Sousa suggested the kids go to “Park, do some activities like color, paint, play games. Maybe even take them to an amusement park if possible.”

Summer Armstrong wrote on the Castro Valley page, “Just don’t take them shopping.”

Lyndsey Hamile Bernardi, a Livermore Patch follower is staying home but has a plan for keeping her kids busy.  “Lyndsey Hamile Bernardi We will probably do arts and crafts at home. We have 4 so going out can be expensive!! So colored construction paper, paint, glitter and imaginations are what we use!!,” she wrote. Others in Livermore suggested ice skating—a season appropriate activity—and hiking.

Don Rocci had a suggestion that might keep the kids on Santa’s nice list.  He wrote, “Keep em home to clean the house, mow the lawn and pick up leaves.”

San Ramon readers favored outdoor activities.  Chuck Gracers thought, “The snow, or a hike at Mt. Diablo and a picnic” and Angie Grose Ochoa suggested, “The park!  Let them run and play out all of the energy.”

It was an easy question for Stephanie Fishkin Dark who wrote, “Why to the Walnut Creek ice skating rink of course!”

Danville reader Sandra Schurawel Finnegan felt she had an inspired idea when she wrote, “I got it!!! Rock n jump in Dublin!!! No matter what the weather, they jump on the trampolines and are exhausted after a couple hours:))”

Lamorinda reader Mandy Chivers listed a full day of activities.  In one post she wrote, “Teddy bear afternoon tea at Lafayette Park Hotel, ice skating in Walnut Creek” and in another she suggested, “Take them to see Frozen at the cinema or go for a walk around Lafayette reservoir”

Martinez reader Julee Johnson sees eye-to-eye with many parents.  She wrote, “Kids need to burn energy no matter how well they eat! Bounce Farm [in Martinez] is great. As are all the parks. If you want to get out of town Children’s Fairyland or the Zoo are also great.”

Berkeley reader Angela Anderson thinks circus camp at theKinetic Arts Center in Oakland is a good idea for keeping kids busy.  

El Cerrito Patch follower Catherine Ann has a great outdoor idea—“ Christmas Fantasy at Tilden...they are open Monday the 23rd, but it is their last day open. They are open at 5:30 - 8:30 that day.... so far I have taken the kids I know there and they had soooo much fun! Merry Christmas.”

Many East Bay readers also suggested a bike ride with the kids along the Bay Trail.