What kid wouldn’t love to have a roller coaster in their backyard? Roller coasters are thrilling rides that test the limits of your fear and excitement. But designing one for kids might sound like another complex task. After all, wouldn’t the kids be worried about getting hurt? That doesn’t mean you can’t build a safe and exciting roller coaster as a kid-friendly design. Read on to know how to design roller coasters for kids that they will love while being safe at the same time.
Know your audience
The first step to designing a roller coaster is knowing your audience. When designing roller coasters for kids, you must keep in mind the age of your riders and their size. Consider the experience level of riders, too. An inexperienced rider might be afraid of riding an extreme roller coaster ride. You’ll want to consider your backyard. If your yard is small, you might want to build an indoor roller coaster. Building an outdoor roller coaster is the typical approach, but you can also use a garage or basement if you have space constraints.
Plan ahead
Once you’ve figured out your audience, you can plan for the roller coaster. First, consider the trajectory of the ride and what kind of angles it might take. You’ll also want to determine the size of your track. A standard size track for a roller coaster is 36” wide. You’ll also want to think about the height of the track. Ideally, you want the track to be between 36” and 58” off the ground. Anything higher than that can be a safety hazard for the kids. Keep in mind the space you have available. A standard track can be as long as 200 feet. You might want to keep the track shorter if you don’t have the space.
Build a safe structure
Once you’ve figured out the trajectory and size of the track, you can start thinking about the actual structure of the roller coaster. You can build the structure from wood, metal, or PVC pipe. If you’re building a wooden roller coaster, make sure the wood is treated with chemicals to prevent rot. If you’re building with PVC pipe, make sure the joints are screwed together for extra strength to prevent injury. Metals can also be used for roller coaster tracks, but make sure the joints are welded and screwed together. Also, keep in mind that the structure needs to be sturdy. You don’t want the structure to be wobbly or the track might tip over or bend while a child is riding. You’ll want to reinforce the structure with poles and supports.
Add Shapes and Slides
Once the structure is built, you can add shapes and slides to make it even more fun. You can add a small platform at the top of the track that kids can jump off. A rotating platform can also be added to the track. You can also add shapes like loops, corkscrews, and hills. Hills can be built with mounds of dirt or sand. Corkscrews are best built with PVC pipe. Slides can be added to the track to make it even more fun. You can add an end-in-end slide to the track. Or you can add a single slide for riders to go down on either side of the track.
Install Rotating Cars
Kids can sit in cars at the top of the track and then ride down on a rotating platform. The cars will rotate so they can enjoy the ride on both sides. You can install a rotating platform above the track so kids can ride in rotating cars. You can also install a rotating car on the track itself. You can add a rotating platform above the track or a rotating car on the track itself. The rotating car platform will rotate and bring the car back to the top. The rotating car on the track will also travel back up to the top so the next child can ride it down.
Add Scents and Lighting
Designing roller coasters for kids doesn’t have to be limited to the track and the car. You can also add scents and lighting to make the experience more exciting. You can add scents like coconut, strawberry, or caramel to make it more interesting. You can also add scents like vanilla or lavender for a more soothing effect. You can also add lighting to make the experience even more exciting. You can add lights along the track or even inside the track to make it even more interesting.
Conclusion
Once you’ve designed the roller coaster, you can begin building. You’ll want to make sure any structure is safe for kids to ride in. Make sure there are no loose ends or splinters left in the wood. The track should be sturdy and well-supported by poles, too. Once the roller coaster is built, you can begin testing it out. Kids will love the thrill and excitement of riding a roller coaster in the backyard. You can also design the roller coaster to be accessible for younger kids and those who may be too small for larger roller coasters.