Thread: Swingset or trampoline?

We have 3 kids ages 6-3-23 mos. and for awhile now I have been wanting to get them either a swingset or trampoline for the backyard.

Right now kmart has a good deal on a 12 foot trampoline with the safety net for only $229

They also have a good size swingset for $160.

The 2 oldest and I want to get the tramploine but my husband would rather get the swingset( or a motorcycle ).

To those that have had either one or both what are your experiences like? Which is the best choice? Do you need to move the trampoline indoors in the winter?

TIA Robyn

I don't know anything about trampolines. My kids had a swingset when they wee little. If they would swing a little high the legs would lift up so my husband just anchered them down so we didn't have to worry about it flipping over.

Trampoline Safety

To help you make and informed decision we have performed an online survey and compiled some statistics from the experts on safety.

Online Survey:

Super-Fun trampolines performed an online survey lasting nearly a full year. The intent of our survey was to find out if trampolines were safe when compared to other sports. We also wanted to find out what you can do to help ensure your kids are safe and happy when jumping on a trampoline.

Our online survey had a total of two thousand three hundred three (2,303) respondents.

Here are some facts based on our survey results:

The most common sports in order of preference are:

#1. Bicycling
#2. Basketball
#3. Trampolining
#4. Soccer
#5. Baseball/Softball
#6. In-Line Skating
#7. Gymnastics
#8. Football
#9. Skateboarding
#10. Snowboarding
#11. Ice Skating/Hockey
#12. Sledding

The average number of hours spent on these sports activities each week:

Trampolining 3 hours per week
Bicycling 2 hours per week
Basketball 2 hours per week
Soccer 2 hours per week
Gymnastics 2 hours per week
Baseball/Softball 2 hours per week
Football 2 hours per week
In-Line Skating 1 hour per week
Skateboarding 1 hour per week
Snowboarding 1 hour per week
Ice Skating/Hockey 1 hour per week
Sledding 1 hour per week

The number of serious injuries for each sport reported in our online survey:

Bicycling 62
Football 56
Trampolining 37
Baseball/Softball 37
Soccer 34
Basketball 25
Snow Skiing/Boarding 24
Gymnastics 24
Skateboarding 23
Ice Skating/Hockey 17
In-Line Skating 17
Sledding 11

Our observations based on the data presented in our survey:

Our respondents said they used their trampoline three hour per week on average. This means they use their trampoline 33% more often than riding their bicycle and 66% more often than in-line skating.

We believe trampolining is like any other sport, precautions and safety must be observed. It is clear that injuries can occur in all sports activities, based on our survey results trampolines do not appear to provide any greater potential for risk or injury. In fact we can clearly see that bicycling and football offer a much greater risk of injury. I don’t think I have heard anyone say we can’t let our children ride their bike because they may get injured.

Our survey also looked into some of the factors involved in trampoline accidents. As noted above there were 37 serious injuries. When we look at these injuries in detail this is what we observed:

Average number of children on trampoline with safety nets – 3
Average number of children on trampoline without safety nets – 3
Percentage of trampolines with safety pads installed – 66%
Percentage of trampolines with safety nets installed – 17%
Percentage of injuries with safety nets installed – 42%
Percentage of injuries without safety nets installed – 58%
Average number of jumpers when an injury occurred – 3
Percentage of injuries when jumping off the trampoline – 24%
Percentage of injuries from falling off the trampoline – 34%
Percentage of injuries with water on the trampoline – 12%

Based on the information noted above we can see that 42 percent of injuries occurred with a safety net installed but only 17 percent of the trampolines had safety nets. This information may indicate that more injuries actually occur when there is a safety net installed. We also see nearly 58 percent of the injuries were caused my jumping or falling off of the trampoline and most injuries occur when there are three people jumping at the same time.

We looked at this information to find out how we can improve trampoline safety and help to take away some of the “bad wrap” trampolining has been given over the years. We always thought trampolines can be safe and fun, now our trampoline survey clearly shows that trampoline jumping is just as safe if not safer than many other sports.

We can cut down the number of injuries drastically by limiting the number of children jumping on the trampoline at the same time. We can also reduce the number of injuries substantially by dismounting the trampoline properly.

We have compiled some statistics from the experts on safety to back this up.

Directly from the professionals:
According to a Failure Analysis Associates Inc., study of comparative risks in childhood sports and everyday activities, more injuries happen in the center of a trampoline than when someone bounces off and lands on the ground.

The risk of an injury requiring hospitalization from riding a bike is triple that of using a trampoline.

"You're several times more likely to wind up in the hospital from riding a bicycle than from bouncing on a trampoline," But they haven't suggested not riding bicycles."

"They do look like they're a lot of fun, she says. "But they're not toys. And I do think that a lot of parents and families look at them as a toy, the same as a swing set would be or a play house in the back yard."

Derek Hanson, head coach of the University of Calgary tumbling team, believes trampolines are good for kids, but he says if parents are going to buy one, they should take a course in trampoline safety first.

"Kids get hurt on trampolines," he says, "for one of two reasons, I think. Normally. There's obviously different exceptions. One is just more than one person on a trampoline. That's the number one rule that we teach. The other type of injury, I feel, is kids doing things that are above their skill level. Their friend can do a flip so they're going to try one without knowing the progressions. And I believe that's when they get hurt."

Hanson teaches kids those progressions, starting with bouncing while staying in the middle of the trampoline, then moving up to the different jumps and landing positions.

"So," he says, "those are all the basics that I would teach a child. And if they can't do all of those, I would not even begin the progressions for any kind of somersaulting skill where they would be flipping over their head at all."

If a child is on a trampoline with other users (especially if the other users are heavier than the child) as the other individuals come down and recoil back up, the child is coming down and their body meets this trampoline mat coming up with great velocity. There is a tremendous amount of energy transferred to that child's foot and ankle and leg. And that's a setup for injury."

Many people are surprised to learn that the majority of injuries–70 percent–happen on the bed of the trampoline. Only 30 per cent result from falls off the trampoline. So even if a parent is supervising a child, there's little they can do to prevent an injury.



Please watch for the following basic precautions:

1. Ensure that your trampoline is properly assembled in a level area with at least 10 unobstructed feet (3 meters) on all sides and a minimum of 20 unobstructed feet (6 meters) above the trampoline bouncing surface. The area directly below the bouncing surface must be kept clear at all times.

2. Perform the 'Stop Bounce' after every skill or sequence of skills, or whenever you deviate from the center of the trampoline.

3. Never jump off at trampoline, always climb off.

4. Keep your bouncing low and under control. Consistently land in the center of the trampoline.

5. Allow only one person on the trampoline at a time.

6. Do not leave children unsupervised on the trampoline.

7. Avoid bouncing for long periods of time and do not bounce when you are tired.

8. Do not use your backyard trampoline when under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

9. Ensure the spotters are always stationed around the trampoline.

10. Master the specified pre-requisites before attempting a new skill.

11. Do not attempt back flips (back somersaults), multiple somersaults or twisting somersaults on your backyard trampoline.

Dear Owners: be safe and not sorry. Common sense safety rules are a requirement in all sports. A trampoline used properly and sensibly is excellent recreation... for all ages.