10 Tips for Taking your Kids to a Baseball Game

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Oakland Athletics in conjunction with Blog Meets Brand. All opinions are entirely my own.

Hey everyone! Summer is right around the corner, and that means being outside and spending time with my family and…BASEBALL!

I’ve always had an affection for the game of baseball. As a kid, some of my most fond memories is going to baseball games with my dad and grandfather, and I became quickly intrigued with the game.  Baseball has always been part of the backdrop to my summer in some form or another. From attending games to watching them on TV, it’s just not summertime without baseball.

Since my kids are getting older now, we have decided that it is time to get them excited about baseball. The middle two have seen (and are now obsessed with) the little league practices and games that are played in the park near our home.  I have shown them games on the television, and my husband has started to explain the game to them. But what better way to learn about baseball than to SEE a major league baseball game?

Luckily, I can use my experiences with taking my first born (now a teenager) to her first baseball game, with the middle two. But, if this is your first time taking your kids to a baseball game, here are a few tips to help you be better prepared to give your kids the best first baseball game experience. 

Tips for Taking your Kids to a Baseball Game

Get them excited. Start by getting your kids excited about baseball by watching the sport on TV at home. Once they have seen the team on TV a few times, get them excited about seeing them live. A friend recommended checking out a local game or two first as a “practice run” for the big stadiums.

Theme nights. Ballparks are always trying to capture the attention of new fans with exciting promotions and events. Check the schedule for special events like the Oakland A’s Marvel Super Hero Day and the Black Panther Bobblehead promotion on Saturday, May 5, 2018 (see below for more info). The first 15,000 attendees will receive this commemorative and sporty Black Panther bobblehead standing on the Oakland Athletics circle logo. A roster of upcoming promotions (like the Star Wars Fireworks on May 25) can we found at athletics.com/promotions.

Know the stadium.  Be familiar with the stadium and all the amenities available to you before you go to the park. For example, there have been major improvements the existing Oakland Coliseum club that have taken place the past two off-seasons. New amenities include Championship Plaza (new in 2017), Shibe Park Tavern (new in 2017), and The Treehouse (new in 2018).

Snag your tickets early. Book your tickets early so you can get aisle seats. This will make frequent trips to bathroom and food breaks so much easier. Pay particular attention to the gate entrance on your tickets, so you don’t park or get off the subway on the opposite side of the park from your seats.

Enlist help. Buy an extra ticket, for grandparents, an uncle, a neighbor, or friends that can help. The more, the merrier.

Watch batting practice. Get there early for batting practice. This is so much fun for kids to see. Here kids can see their favorite players and, if they’re lucky, may even get an autograph.

Take in the baseball culture. If you get to the park early enough, check out the stadium museum and look at all the statues and works of art honoring former players and coaches. 

Have a backup plan. If your kids start to get restless (like most kids eventually do), have a few items on hand that they can use to occupy themselves from their seats. Bring a couple of books, crayons, and paper as part of a “distraction pack.” Check out this Baseball Game Scavenger Hunt I created to keep kids busy and engaged in the game.

Take a stroller or carrier. If you have little ones under the age of two, give your arms (and your sanity) a break by bringing a stroller or carrier. Most stadiums have stroller parking (like a coat check for strollers), so you’ll have easy access to your stroller when your little one (or you) needs a break.

Leave early. Beat the rush out of the stadium by leaving before the end of the game. This is especially important if the game is running longer than usual or the little ones are getting tired.

Make baseball a summer tradition for your family, and they’ll start counting down to summer in January.

Black Panther Bobblehead Promotion

The Black Panther appears in “Avengers: Infinity War,” is in theaters on May 4.  The Oakland A’s have worked with Marvel to create an exclusive bobblehead commemorating the hero that has captured the world’s attention.

The Black Panther bobblehead comes in a specially designed box featuring the Black Panther in an action pose standing on the Oakland Athletics circle logo. He’ll be wearing his benchmark black costume with glow-in-the-dark silver outlines. Get your tickets HERE!

Get it Early

Want to get the Black Panther bobblehead before the game? This bobblehead will be given away on Free Comic Book Day (May 5) at comic shops everywhere. Stop by your local comic book shop in the morning or early afternoon on May 5th and get this bobblehead before attending the game.

To find out more about the Oakland A’s follow on Facebook, Twitter, and  Instagram

The Black Panther Bobblehead promotional game is on Marvel Super Hero Day—Saturday, May 5, 2018, at 6:05 p.m.  Gates open at 4:05 p.m. Get your tickets HERE!