Safety Trampoline

Product Description

Sensory 4

Skills

• Children gain proprioceptive input from jumping. They are able to feel their joints and muscles as they relate to each other.
• Core strength is increased as children hold on to the bar and jump.
• Jumping on the trampoline gives a child practice gross motor skills and helps hone balance and coordination skills.
• Spatial awareness is heightened with continual trampoline use and has been linked to enhanced cognitive development.

Play Ideas

• Play a game of, “Start-Stop” (similar to musical chairs). When the music starts a child begins to jump. When the music stops, the child must stop jumping. This can also help gradually increase stamina and duration by playing the music longer between stops.
• Sing the song, “Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed.” Each time a monkey falls off the bed, have the child stop jumping and step off the trampoline.
• Give the child verbal directions for how to jump – high, fast, slow. This activity also practices receptive language skills.

Adaptation Ideas

• If the trampoline helps calm a child, allow him to use it when he needs to self regulate.
• If a child is hesitant, have the child practice stepping on and off the trampoline, holding on to the safety bar, with you holding him at his waist. This will give a child extra support and a sense of security.

Social/Emotional 4

Skills

• Children gain proprioceptive input from jumping. They are able to feel their joints and muscles as they relate to each other.
• Jumping on the trampoline gives a child practice in body movement and helps hone coordination skills.
• Turn taking, waiting, patience and negotiation skills can all be targeted when more than one child wants to use the trampoline.

Play Ideas

• Give the child verbal directions for how to jump – high, fast, slow. This activity also practices receptive language skills.
• Sing a song using the bouncing as the beat.
• Play a game of, “Start-Stop” (similar to musical chairs). When the music starts a child begins to jump. When the music stops, the child must stop jumping. This can also help gradually increase stamina and duration by playing the music longer between stops. This activity helps children practice listening and responding to auditory cues.

Adaptation Ideas

• If the trampoline helps calm a child, allow him to use it when he needs to self regulate.
• If a child is hesitant, have him practice stepping on and off the trampoline, holding on to the safety bar, with you holding him at his waist. This will give a child extra support and a sense of security.
• Have another child show how to get on, jump and get off. Maximum weight: 80lbs.

Physical 3

Skills

• Core strength is increased as children hold on to the bar and jump.
• Jumping on the trampoline gives a child practice in body movement and helps hone coordination skills.
• Spatial awareness is heightened with continual trampoline use and has been linked to enhanced cognitive development.

Play Ideas

• Use the trampoline as a table for play. Place a toy on the surface of the trampoline and have the child kneel on the floor facing it. This activity can help children work on endurance during play as well as leg and core strength.
• Have the child sit on the surface of the trampoline and bounce him slightly.

Adaptation Ideas

• Give a child direct physical assistance by holding on his waist as he bounces.