Brisbane's Kids

Trampolines – The Health Benefits For Kids

Did you have a trampoline in your back yard? We did. My sister, brother and I spent heaps of time on it. We especially loved setting up the sprinkler in summer so that we could jump while water rained down on us. How we managed to avoid serious injury with that stunt I don’t know. Our Tramp didn’t come with spring protectors or side netting.

I found out only a month ago that one of the main reasons mum bought it for us was to help me with my Asthma. I was a chronic asthmatic as a child which I’ve thankfully grown out of. I have since learned that there are so many more benefits of bouncing or “rebounding” other than just strengthening the lungs.

1.    Improves co-ordination and balance
2.    Helps tone muscles
3.    Leads to improved posture, and flexibility
4.    Strengthens the musculoskeletal system
5.    Improves timing
6.    Improves circulation, including lymphatic (helps rid body of toxins)
7.    Increases self-confidence
8.    It’s low impact, meaning the body’s joints aren’t under high pressure.

And that’s not all…

Each bounce or downward action places twice the amount of gravity on the body which means you don’t need to be bouncing for long to start feeling the exercise benefits. 10 min on the trampoline is apparently equivalent to a 30 min Jog. NASA scientists have proved that “rebounding “is 68% more effective than jogging.

So the verdict is to buy a trampoline and get the kids on it. Then get on it yourself. Apart from helping to lose those “mummy” pounds, rebounding helps increase bone density. The bones are put under some stress, enough for them to build themselves up to cope with that stress. So you’re helping to reduce the risk of osteoporosis.

I recently bought a fantastic trampoline on-line, then got another one for my neighbor, and sent another friend off to get another one for her-self. These are much better quality than store bought for less money. I’ll give you all the details in a part 2 post very soon.

© 2008 Brizzy Kidz.