Gross motor skills toys/trampoline?

[hillview]

DSs are 2 and 4. They have tons of energy. For winter I am thinking I could use something they could burn off energy. Is a trampoline a death trap (or ER trip)? Other ideas?
TIA!
/hillary

[brittone2]

My neighbors all have big outdoor trampolines and I'm not wild about my kids going on them even w/ the side netting. If I wanted one for my kids, I'd go with one of the fold-up ones with a handle. Only one kid can use it at a time, but IMO that's safer anyway. They usually run around $100.

[mytwosons]

We've never had a problem, but they always follow the rules: only one person at a time, and only jump on the black (not the blue towards the edges). BTW, we have one of those round jogger types - no handle.

[alirebco]

I personally wouldn't get one but I'm weird about stuff like that. Here's info from the CPSS about trampolines:
http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/085.html

[melrose7]

FYI-
We have a round one that comes with a handle and it was for my DD1 gross motor issues. We ended up taking off the handle because she was using it to lean on as she jumped and I was afraid she would flip it. The back legs were moving up a little bit as she jumped. Since we took the handle up she jumps fine. She can't get as high but I feel much safer with her on it.

[JBaxter]

If you get a trampoline make sure your homeowners policy will cover it. Ours will not.

[hillview]

thanks all -- I was thinking about the indoor trampoline with the bar you hold on to.

Failing that other ideas for what to have inside so kids can burn off energy?
TIA!
/hillary

[Mikey0709]

WOW - i could have wrote this post - - need HELP to burn off energy for a 2 and 4 year old boys. I was also thinking trampoline - but have heard too many horror stories.... wasn't even thinking homeowners insurance matters! What would i do without this board......

[mommylamb]

Last winter DS took a "class" at our local rec center that has a soft playroom. It was a great way to burn off steam in a safe environment. Then again, he could only do it for an hour and a half a week, but it was fun.

[kristac]

Our current energy burners-
Rody / hop balls
Honeybee hop

Concidering-
Hyperdash
mini trampoline/bounce house

[youngmommy]

DSs are 2 and 4. They have tons of energy. For winter I am thinking I could use something they could burn off energy. Is a trampoline a death trap (or ER trip)? Other ideas?
TIA!
/hillary

I'm ressurecting this old thread for ideas on the same topic.

I really love the looks of this:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Little-Tikes-7-Trampoline-and-Enclosure-Combo/13283345

The reviews are amazing!
I'm just not sure if I have room for it.
Plus, people keep telling me about the dangers of trampolines.
My girls are 3 and 6. Probably too big for a bounce house.
Anyway, most of the bonce house reviews I read say that they can easily get holes, which would almost certainly happen over here with my girls.

Any other ideas?

We live in an apartment, and I have an area in the girls room that I want to put a large muscle activity of some sort for the winter. They have way too much energy to be cooped up inside with no outlet :o)

TIA!!!

[JBaxter]

THis post is over a year old. Did you check the date when you did the search?

[hillview]

I am the OP. We ended up getting some plasma cars (2 of them) and some large bean bags which I let the kids jump onto from the couch. It works wonders.
/hillary

[youngmommy]

THis post is over a year old. Did you check the date when you did the search?

Did you read my post?

Quote, "I'm resurrecting this old thread for ideas on the same topic."

I didn't find any newer threads on the topic, and it isn't time sensitive material like a sale, etc.......

[youngmommy]

I am the OP. We ended up getting some plasma cars (2 of them) and some large bean bags which I let the kids jump onto from the couch. It works wonders.
/hillary

Ok, any recs on bean bags?
How do your kids like the plasma cars?

We have a scooter for each girl, just looking for other ideas along those same lines.
The girls have to ride the scooters in the hallway of our bldg in the winter, and we can do it sometimes, but want another large muscle activity for inside the apartment.

Any other suggestions or ideas are helpful.
Thanks!!

[athompson]

This is my dream for our basement:
http://kidsdreamgym.com/products-page/indoor-jungle-gyms/basic-jungle-gym/

It's NEVER going to happen though:rotflmao: We're not DIYers by any stretch of the imagination. The kit isn't too much, but it doesn't include any wooden parts.

What about these from Ikea?
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40054072
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00041048
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10041670

I have three high energy girls ages six, three and one and we have one of these in the basement that still gets tons of play (especially by the six year old).
http://www.amazon.com/Step-2-788600-Kangaroo-Climber/dp/B001639J0W

[youngmommy]

This is my dream for our basement:
http://kidsdreamgym.com/products-page/indoor-jungle-gyms/basic-jungle-gym/

It's NEVER going to happen though:rotflmao: We're not DIYers by any stretch of the imagination. The kit isn't too much, but it doesn't include any wooden parts.

What about these from Ikea?
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40054072
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00041048
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10041670

I have three high energy girls ages six, three and one and we have one of these in the basement that still gets tons of play (especially by the six year old).
http://www.amazon.com/Step-2-788600-Kangaroo-Climber/dp/B001639J0W

That "Dream GYM"
is freaking awesome!!!!

My older DD loves the monkey bars.
Perfect suggestion.
I *am* a DIY kind of gal, but I'm sure I would need some help to assemble this.
I wonder if my dad (who might be able to come visit us with my mom sometime during winter break) might help me do something like this........

Thanks so much athompson !!!

[athompson]

Let me know how it goes! Maybe one day I'll be brave enough to attempt something like this:)

[hillview]

Ok, any recs on bean bags?
How do your kids like the plasma cars?

We have a scooter for each girl, just looking for other ideas along those same lines.
The girls have to ride the scooters in the hallway of our bldg in the winter, and we can do it sometimes, but want another large muscle activity for inside the apartment.

Any other suggestions or ideas are helpful.
Thanks!!

The plasma cars are a hit. We take them out of rotation every few months to get the newness back. I sometimes set up obstacle courses for them or we do races.

We got two of these since they double as chairs and lounge /snuggle nests.
http://www.yogibo.com/ecommerce/yogi/yogi-max.html

Good luck!
/hillary

[karstmama]

we have had the little indoor trampoline for a year & have never had a fall or bump.

what does anyone think of balance boards?

[MommyofAmaya]

Not a trampoline, but a good indoor/outdoor activity. They nest for storage.

http://www.amazon.com/American-Educational-River-Stone-Set/dp/B000ANIVRG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1290524797&sr=8-1

[karstmama]

hey, they look great! thanks!

[wimama]

My DS has this Jump Smart indoor trampoline. It seemed safer than him jumping and falling off the furniture, which is what he was doing, last year. The trampoline was the one I felt safest with, but it is a pain to put together.

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3553708

We also have a hopper ball

http://www.amazon.com/Gymnic-Hop-45-Hop-Ball-Yellow/dp/B000NZW6BS/ref=sr_1_16?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1290528200&sr=1-16

A stick pony and a sit and spin FYI - Older Sit&Spins spin faster.

I am jamming these stepper in the top of DS stocking this year

http://www.amazon.com/Just-Jump-It-Stepper-Stilts/dp/B000ELSZRU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1290528883&sr=1-1

I eventually want to get him a plasma car and a little scooter like this.

http://www.amazon.com/Gamecraft-Safety-Guard-Scooter-Board/dp/B002T3GFZ0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1290528298&sr=1-1

My son's daycare had hopper balls and little scooters for bad weather days. We try to encourage DS being active in positive ways. Winter is very long here were we live. Much too long.

[WatchingThemGrow]

What about a bounce house? http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3987665

[vonfirmath]

We have a hopper ball we need to get blown up.

We are getting Cranium Hullabaloo this year to help with the burn off energy thing!

[happymom]

Just some food for thought...the OT's in my school recommend giving your child some heavy things to pull/push/carry to help them with body awareness and feeling more "grounded". This usually reduces the need for jumping on the bed or other more "wild" activities. Some examples would be- putting a bag of flour in a shopping bag and asking DC to carry it somewhere...putting one DC in a laundry basket and having the other DC pull him/her (supervised) etc.

This is not to say that children don't need movement, but when it seems out of control, this may help.

[youngmommy]

Just some food for thought...the OT's in my school recommend giving your child some heavy things to pull/push/carry to help them with body awareness and feeling more "grounded". This usually reduces the need for jumping on the bed or other more "wild" activities. Some examples would be- putting a bag of flour in a shopping bag and asking DC to carry it somewhere...putting one DC in a laundry basket and having the other DC pull him/her (supervised) etc.

This is not to say that children don't need movement, but when it seems out of control, this may help.

Great idea. I do often ask my DD to help me carry in groceries from the car when she's around and awake for that. (Usually I do my grocery shopping after the kids are in bed :o)

Another idea for those looking for indoor activities ofr their little ones:
My kids also really love playing with an inflatable queen size mattress. They prop one end up on top of the couch and slide down it, jump on it, roll down it, etc. Lots of fun.