Best Toys

Kids love trampolines because they are fun to bounce on, parents like trampolines because they entertain the kids while providing them with lots of exercise.  They range in size from small living room sized versions to huge units that can take up the entire space of an average back yard.  The smallest ones are obviously less expensive and are easier to fit into a limited space.  They also remove the problems created by weather conditions because kids are bouncing in the house.  Some of these smaller units have a built in handle so that kids can bounce around even if they are young enough that their balance is not the best.  There are other versions without handles.

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The larger trampoline units can be as large as sixteen feet in diameter- large enough for several kids to jump on at once.  Clearly too large to be an inside toy, these are generally kept in the back yard.  Some are available with covers, which is a good idea to preserve the parts of the unit that might become damaged from constant exposure to the elements.  The price on these units can be prohibitive for some families on a budget, but those who are able to squeeze in this expense are invariably happy with their purchase and find it to be well worth the money.  The best trampolines, small or large, have padded covers over the springs to make sure that no one gets hurt or pinched by the springs.

Trampoline Safety

One of the most important things parents must do is to take care of trampoline safety issues ahead of time.  Each unit will come with an owner’s manual, and it is very important to make sure and adhere to all the manufacturer’s safety warnings.  These manuals will generally state how many kids can jump on the unit at one time, for instance, and will also give a maximum weight limit.  With the smaller, indoor models, there is generally only one child at a time allowed on the unit for safety reasons.

The larger outdoor models certainly pose the biggest safety risk, for several reasons.  One, if the springs are not adequately covered and padded, a child can get skin caught in a spring and suffer lacerations and pinch blisters.  This generally happens while the child is climbing onto or off of the unit, but it can happen if the child falls onto one of the springs.  The hooks at the ends of the springs can also pose a laceration risk, but this is also minimized by simply using a cover over the springs.  Second, the risk of falls is always an issue.  A child bouncing out of control can end up bouncing right off (or halfway off) of a trampoline and end up getting hurt.  Broken bones have occurred as a result of falls from the outdoor models, so it is best to caution children against getting too rambunctious.  While kids love to do flips on these toys, that can present an added risk of falls, as kids can flip right off and land on the ground.  Even a poorly timed flip that ends with the child landing firmly on the bouncing surface can still cause injury if the child happens to land on his head and neck, or if he lands on a joint the wrong way.  Another risk of injury is when there are simply too many children on the apparatus at once, since they can crash into each other with disastrous results.  The larger outdoor models are recommended for those who have fenced in back yards, so that neighborhood kids can’t come over and play on them while you’re not home.  The parents of a child other than your own who is injured on your property as a result of using your equipment, unfair as it is, can sue you for damages, even if you had not given the child permission to be on your property.  For this reason, some parents not only keep their unit behind a fence, but also require the parents of neighborhood kids to sign a release of liability before allowing other people’s children to jump on their trampolines.