(**) Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning our company, JCHQ Publishing will get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through the links, but at no additional cost to you.
I recently had a chat with a few parents about their thoughts in placing a trampoline in the backyard. Surprisingly, they have quite a contrary view toward this playset.
There is no doubt that kids would love jumping and bounce on the trampoline. But on the other hand, some parents are concerned about its safety. There are some other considerations as well.
So last weekend, I did a bit of research to find out what are the pros and cons of buying a trampoline for a child. Hope this would be useful information to you 🙂
Interesting Things in this Post
What are the Health Benefits of Trampolining?
Good Cardiovascular Exercise
Although the kids might not realize, trampolining is actually an excellent a cardio workout. When I was researching online, I found on Wikipedia that there is a study from NASA about Rebound Exercise which state, [1]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebound_exercise
- “.. . for similar levels of heart rate and oxygen consumption, the magnitude of the bio mechanical stimuli is greater with jumping on a trampoline than with running…”
- “The external work output at equivalent levels of oxygen uptake were significantly greater while trampolining than running. The greatest difference was about 68%.”
- “While trampolining, as long as the G-force remained below 4-G’s, the ratio of oxygen consumption compared to biomechanical conditioning was sometimes more than twice as efficient as treadmill running.”
In simple terms, trampolining is an efficient exercise which could stimulate the blood circulation, and helps to detox the waste from the body. 10 minutes of exercising on a trampoline could be more effective than 33 minutes of running.
Improve Balance and Coordination
Jumping on a trampoline can undoubtedly increase a child’s sense of balance and coordination. They would learn how to position their body as they are playing on it.
I watched a couple of Youtube videos, where some teenagers can do stunning flips and rotations while jumping on a trampoline. Of course, I’m not advising to try it, as there could be a risk of doing these stunts, and these teenagers probably received proper training in doing so.
But I’m amused by how flexible their muscles are, and how well they could balance themselves. I’m sure these balancing skills could help a child in becoming a better athlete in the future.
Strengthen Muscles
© PixelRockstar.com
One common concern many parents have is “Are trampolining bad for the joints?”. Even though it does provide an intense full body workout for a child, it is a low-impact exercise.
When compared to playing tennis or running, trampolining could have a lower impact to the joints such as ankles and knees, as the jumping matt has already absorbed most of the rebounding shock.
Trampolining can help to strengthen different muscles of a child. For example, whenever a child jump, they would use the muscles of their hips, butt, and legs.
Furthermore, an Olympic coach of the British trampolining team, John Beer, also said: “Your core-stability muscles are almost constantly engaged to keep you stable and balanced, meaning a tauter, stronger stomach and lower back.” [2]https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2007/apr/07/weekend.lisabuckingham
Relieve Stress
Similar to other cardio exercises, trampolining can increase the amount of endorphins released by the brains, which could help to combat against stress, anxiety or even depression.
In fact, some studies show children with autism could benefit from playing on a trampoline. A mother stated that although his son with autism is not necessarily doing any fancy tricks on a trampoline, he does enjoy to focus on the up and down bouncing rhythm. [3]http://thetrampolinemom.com/can-trampolines-really-help-with-autism/
Furthermore, if your child has trouble sleeping at night, this could be an excellent workout to burn off some of their limitless energy. But of course, don’t make them play on the trampoline before they sleep, you should do so during the daytime.
Are Backyard Trampolines Safe?
Aside from cost and storage space, safety is really the primary concern for parents who are opposed to their child in playing on a trampoline.
It’s not surprising why they would show such concern because the American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend placing a trampoline at home or in the playground.[4]http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/130/4/774[5]https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-play/Pages/Trampolines-What-You-Need-to-Know.aspx
According to their study, children could get injured when they
- Land at the wrong spot (i.e., on the springs, frame or ground)
- Doing stunts
- Struck by another child
Injuries could include bruises, scrapes, cuts, sprains, broken bones, concussion, head or neck injuries. They mostly happen when more than one child is using a trampoline, and children under six years old are at higher risk.
Pros and Cons of Trampolines
© PixelRockstar.com
So after reading the benefits of exercising on a trampoline, and knowing the risks involved, I want to know more in-depth what do other parents really think about their child playing on this playset.
I found an article in “Today’s Parent” [6]https://www.todaysparent.com/kids/would-you-buy-a-backyard-trampoline/, where two parents shared a different view on this topic.
The first one is a father of two sons with age nine and five months. He is on the pros side on trampolining. His reasoning are:
- It is a great way for kids to have fun and learn physical skills to be fit
- For families who cannot commit to organizing sports (maybe due to costs or busy work schedules), trampolining could be a good alternative
- If the kids are reckless and do not follow the rules, then this might not be the game for them. But for those who are calm and responsible, we should allow them to use it
- Every activity can be safe or dangerous. It depends on whether the right supervision or guidelines are in place or not.
On the opposing side, a mother of two kids shared her view.
- Her four-year-old son is very adventurous and active, always crave for “higher and faster!”.
- Kids could attempt to do dangerous flips
- A US study that shows trampoline accidents have sent many children to the ER
- Numerous entities such as The American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Orthopedic and Safe Kids Canada have shown concerned about the risk of trampolining for a child.
- She rather her kid to be protected in a bubble than end up wearing a neck brace
- She is concerned about high-stakes, high-risk and hefty costs
Trampoline Dos and Don’ts
Now, I have a better understanding of the pros and cons of trampolining. If I were to allow my kids to play on it, what are some safety procedures I should look out for? Here are some safety tips for your reference:
- Adult supervision is always required
- Only one child trampolining at any given time
- Instruct the child not to jump too close to the edge
- No somersault or flips
- Do not jump off a trampoline
- Do not wear shoes while trampolining
- Do not go under the trampoline when someone is jumping
- To protect the toes and avoid slipping, wear trampolining socks
- A pair of good trampoline socks should have grip dots at the sole to reduce slipping. It should also be made with breathable fabrics.
- Purchase a trampoline with safety net enclosure
- Buy the trampoline with a well-reputable manufacturer
- Place a trampoline on a level surface and in an area of no surrounding hazards
- Make sure there is safety pad covering the edge
- Inspect the trampoline before every use and make sure it is in good condition
- Proper care of trampoline (>>Here’s an article on how to properly clean and care for a trampoline)
- Follow the manufacturer’s product instruction
What Should I know about Buying a Trampoline?
© PixelRockstar.com
Research about the Trampoline Manufacturer
The first step is to find a reputable trampoline manufacturer. Find out how long have they been in business, and did they receive lots of complaints.
Do not just rely on what they wrote on their own website. I find it the best and unbiased way is to look at their existing customers’ feedback on a third party website. You could check them out on the Better Business Bureau website.
If the playset is listed on Amazon, you should be able to get an idea of what the company and their products are like.
For trampoline, I would only consider products that have over 50 customer reviews, with at least four stars rating, and over 80% of customer reviews are positive.
>> Here’s a trampoline I like for your quick reference
Beside the positive reviews, I would also read over critics. I always love to see how a company handles the negative reviews. This could tell me whether they are a responsible manufacturer, who address their customer’s concern.
Of course, not all negative reviews are valid. Sometimes, I find it the critics are very bogus and unreasonable.
Research about the Trampoline
After you locate a manufacturer that you are confident with, it’s time to look into details about the trampoline.
Maximum Weight Capacity
Not only the trampoline needs to be age appropriate for your child, but you also need to make sure that it could withstand their weight. After all, even for children who are the same age could weight very differently.
Although some trampolines could withstand heavy weight, always avoid having more than one child exercising on it. Remember having multiple children jumping simultaneously on it is one of the main causes of injury.
Size
Then you need to measure how big of a trampoline is right for your backyard. Don’t just guess the area available in your yard, take out a measuring tape and get the exact figures. The last thing you want to happen is the trampoline arrive, and halfway through assembling, you find out it would not fit in your backyard.
Also, the spot where you place the trampoline must be a level surface, and clear of hazard in the surrounding.
Furthermore, you need to find out where you could store the trampoline during the winter. Do you have enough storage space in your garage? Or shed?
Design and Materials of Trampoline
The next thing I would look into is the durability of the trampoline. Is it made from materials that can withstand UV? Does the spring have a rust-resistant coating? A safe trampoline should have a high-quality net enclosure, and protection pad to cover the frame.
In addition, a trampoline with a thoughtful design should be easy to assemble and disassemble. Since I’m a visual learner, I would prefer there would be some video tutorials on how to put the playset together.
To make it more fun for the kids, some trampoline would have different features. I have seen one that is installed with a basketball hoop. I’m sure the kids would have lots of fun doing slam dunks on it.
Warranties
Regardless of how reputable a company is, there is still a chance they could send out defective products by mistake. Therefore, having an adequate warranty coverage could protect your investments toward the trampoline.
I have seen coverage period that ranges from 1 year to 3 years. The coverage period would vary for different parts of the trampoline. For instance, a company would provide three years of warranty for the frames, but only one year of other components.
One common term is that the trampoline would have to be used reasonably. You cannot expect to throw rocks at it, then request them to cover for the damages.
Some warranty requires you to winterize the trampoline, or else they would void the coverage.
Therefore, make sure to follow the manufacturers’ instruction and read over the terms and conditions of their warranty.
Home Insurance Policy
I’ve read that some home insurance company would increase the premium if you have a trampoline.
Although I haven’t looked into my policy yet, I wonder by how much of an increase is it going to be? Will there be any exclusion of coverage as a result of having a trampoline in my backyard? Should any injury or damage be arising from playing a trampoline, will that be covered?
You might also want to consult with your home insurance agent about these.
Price
Last but not least, the price could definitely be a deciding factor. Their prices could range from two hundred dollars to over thousands of dollars.
When you’re trying to decide how much to invest on a trampoline, not only should you consider your budget, you should also take into consideration how long will your child be playing on it.
For example, if your child will likely outgrow playing it within a short period, then you probably would not want to spend a fortune on it. Consider buying one that is durable where the child could play on it for the next few years, but of course, it has to be age appreciate at the moment too.
In Conclusion: Would I Buy a Trampoline for my Kids?
So going through all the above details, the general rule of thumb is to understand your needs, and know the ins and outs of the trampoline that you will be buying.
I believe whether to buy a trampoline would hugely depend on the character of the child.
I do agree on the different views of the father and mother mentioned in the Today’s Parents article. Yet, we cannot always protect our child in a bubble, but if we can tell a kid is reckless, and not ready to follow instruction, then trampoline might not be an ideal option at the moment.
As for me, I have two daughters. One is very responsible and careful. Even when walking on stepping logs, she would take baby steps to ensure each one is solid.
My other daughter is still going through the “Trouble Two” phase, she is definitely the adventurous type, and have a strong personality in doing things her way.
Given that, I will wait and see for now. I’ll re-evaluate whether my kids are mature enough to play on a trampoline safely in the next couple of years.
Disclaimer: This content of this website is for general information, and do not intend to provide any specific advice. Although we tried our best in providing accurate information, we cannot guarantee they are error-free. Information displayed on this website could be subjected to change. For any medical-related question, you should always consult with your family doctor. For safety or product related question, you should consult with the actual manufacturer or qualified technician. You should also check the laws of your local government.
Affiliate Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, we will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking on the link. Please understand that we include them based on our experience or the research on these companies or products, and we recommend them because they are helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions we make if you decide to buy something through the links. Please do not spend any money on these products unless you feel you need them or that they will help you achieve your goals.
Jacob is a father of two daughters. He loves spending quality time with them in the backyard. Playing sports, blowing bubbles, and planting are some the favorite activities Jacob and his daughters like to do together. He believes it is essential to spend quality time with them while they are still young.
References