Playground and Landscape Rubber Mulch

inflatable bouncer, inflatable water slide, bounce house

Caring for a Residential Inflatable Bounce House

Residential inflatables are the perfect answer to get your kids to enjoy playing outdoors anytime of year. In order to protect you bounce house so it lasts for a very long time and is used safely follow the tips below.

Follow the Safety Instructions

Your bounce house should include a set of instructions and a safety warning label. These guidelines will tell you tings such as how to blow up and properly secure you bounce house, as well as the weight limits and user restrictions. Make sure to follow these guidelines when setting up, using and storing your bouncer.

Prep the Location 

When selecting and prepping the area to blow up your bouncer consider the following:

  • Distance from an outlet – Since bounce houses are “constant air inflatables” they will need to be plugged in during use. If you need to use an extension cord make sure that it is rated for the appropriate amps (blowers are between 3.8 and 9 amps, depending on the unit) and is the correct length.
  • Level ground – It is best to set up your bounce house on a flat even surface.
  • Clear of debris – Choose an area free of debris or potentially hazardous objects. If there is small debris on the ground pick up as much as possible. This will eliminate hazards to the children and protect the bouncer.
  • Protective tarp – Lay down a tarp where you will place the inflatable. This will protect the inflatables from any debris that you may have missed which could puncture the bouncer.

Storage

When storing your bounce h0use there are some potential ways you could unintentionally damage the bouncer. Review the recommendations below to prevent such damage:

  • Make sure the inflatable is dry – It is very important for your bouncer to not only be stored in a cool dry place, but also for it to be dry wen storing it. Mold and mildew, which damage the fabric and lining, can grow if there is still water in the inflatable.
  • Do not drag – It is very important that you do not drag the bounce house to the storage location unless you are pulling it by the tarp it is on top of. This is important because dragging can cause rips or holes in the bottom as well as damage to the fabric you are using to pull.

If you take all of these steps and something still manages to happen to your bounce house don’t fret, there are ways to repair it. For rips along the seem use a wax tread and hook needle to sew up the rip, making sure to start about an inch before and an inch after the rip. For holes or rips in the bouncer fabric you can use tear aid patches available here.

Residential bounce houses are sure to provide your children with tons of fun if you take a little time to follow the simple steps above.

 

Trampoline Safety Tips

MagicCircle-12hex Trampoline

Trampolines make such great toys for children of all ages! Is it any wonder that all the kids from the neighborhood will often flock to the one house that has a trampoline in the backyard? Not only do kids love to play for hours on trampoline, but they also provide children with the necessary exercise for healthy weight management and mental development. Jumping on a trampoline is a form of cardio that will promote heart health, decrease the likelihood of childhood obesity and disease like high blood pressure and cholesterol.

However, even though trampolines are quite amusing and an excellent form of exercise, when used incorrectly, they can cause injury. So how do you make sure that all the children stay safe?

To make sure the activity remains fun and safe, follow these precautions:

Adult Supervision Required

All kids, no matter how old, should be supervised whenever they are on the trampoline. This is partially because they are always trying to one-up one another by attempting to do tricks. With proper adult supervision, potentially harmful behavior can be stopped before it gets out of hand. Plus, too many kids on at the same time spells trouble, so an adult can help keep the number to a reasonable amount. Even though the neighborhood kids may flock to your house, you’re there to make sure they don’t all enter the trampoline at the same time.

Protective Padding

Essentially, all trampolines are suspended mats that are held in place by metal bars and heavy-duty springs.  It’s essential because, without it, you wouldn’t be able to exercise your joints and muscles by jumping. Unfortunately, the metal parts pose a potential danger to the users. But there are easy fixes to cover the metal bars and ensure trampoline safety! While most trampolines come with this protective padding you can buy it separately or replace your old protective padding for added security. These mats are highly recommended for all trampoline models. Remember, before your kids climb onto the trampoline to always check the mats to make sure they are intact and in the correct place.

Safety Cage

Most trampolines come with the possibility of adding a cage or purchasing it with an integrated cage. Safety cages are so important to help protect your child when playing on trampolines. Keeping safety as the most important thing, some trampoline brands, such as Magic Circle Trampolines, come with protective padding and integrated safety enclosures. These integrated enclosures eliminate the gaps that exist with conventional trampolines because the cage is sewn directly to the mat.

Follow the Operating Instructions

Just like anything else, it is important to read the operating instructions and guidelines.  One of the most overlooked sections is the maximum amount of weight and users.  If too many people are on it at the same time, they can bump into one another (which is dangerous) or the excess weight can break the trampoline. Again, this also goes back to adult supervision. You are more likely than your children to read the operating instructions and make sure that the trampoline is properly used.

The operating instructions also explain how to keep the trampoline safe during all seasons and weather conditions. Take the necessary steps to protect it from UV rays, rain, snow and ice to keep it in optimal condition.

Safety First

Before any child goes onto the trampoline, perform a safety check. This entails circling the trampoline to make sure that all netting, protective pads and mats are in place and do not have any rips or tears. If you happen to spot damage, repair it immediately and in the mean time do not let anyone on the trampoline. Resume use only when all safety equipment is in place and properly working.

Don’t Use Near Water               

This should go without saying, but if you have a pool along in your backyard, you should make sure the trampoline is a safe distance away from the pool. Both a pool and trampoline provide children and adults with exercise and outdoor fun for hours, and are great to have available for your family and friends. However, they should not mix and make sure anyone who goes from pool is completely dry before doing so.

Safety is number one when it comes to your family. Keeping all the safety preventative care measures in mind, you should feel confident that a trampoline provides safe outdoor activities for the whole family!

Playground Safety Tips

MKY-4-SB-GR BirdsEyeView 300dpi1500

Playgrounds and swing sets have been a staple at every park, schoolyard and backyard across the country and with good reason! Playgrounds provide the ultimate place for children to get much needed exercise and socialization that are both highly important in developing minds and bodies.

We understand that as parents, you worry about the safety of your children at all times. Although safety and protection is number one when it comes to your family, you shouldn’t rule out playgrounds all together. There are far too many benefits, for both you and your children, to ban them. Going to the playground should be fun and stress free. With a few easy steps, you can feel safe and let your kids spend hours climbing, jumping and chasing their friends at the park.

In addition to equipping you with tips and tricks that ensure your child’s time spent on the playground is as enjoyable as possible, we will outline the advantages of allowing your little one plenty of playground time.

Outdoor Exercise Is Good

Children who learn to lead an active lifestyle early on tend to grow into adults who continue that active lifestyle throughout their life. The first step in assuring your children see exercise as a good thing is to make it look fun. Playgrounds ALWAYS look fun to kids, especially when they see other children having a blast.

By allowing your children to play on playgrounds you are providing them with the potential for hours of fun exercise! Even just allowing your child 30 minutes of playtime a day will greatly improve your child’s mental and physical health. It has been proven that kids who exercise will:

  • Less likely be obese
  • Decrease the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol
  • Improve mental well-being
  • Increase energy levels

Additionally, exercise strengthens vital organs and body parts such as:

  • Heart
  • Lungs
  • Bones

Outdoor play isn’t just good for your kid’s physical well-being, spending time outside playing also increases mental stability among children. The fresh air will provide a nice break from video games and promotes mental well-being. Also, you are doing your kids a service by allowing your children to play on the playground with other children. By playing in a social setting, they will learn to share, play in groups and build strong relationships with their peers.

Carve Out Time for You

Your kids aren’t the only ones who benefit from hours (or at least 30 minutes) spent outside but you do as well! Getting out of the office or house into fresh air will give you a peace of mind. You can use this time to read a book, catch up with neighbors or friends or even join your children on the playground!

If you decide to put a play set or swing set in your backyard, you can plant and garden, or catch up on other activities while you are outdoors keeping an eye on your children as they play just a few feet away! Remember though, adult supervision is very important when your kids are playing on outdoor play sets and other outdoor equipment.

Safety Matters 

As stated, we take safety very seriously and we don’t blame you for doing the same for your kids! When taking them to your local playground, you should do a quick check of the equipment to ensure the safest playtime possible. Things to check for on the playground:

  • Intact guardrails

All platforms that are intended for school-aged children, and which are 30 inches or higher from the ground, must have guardrails installed to keep the children from falling. If you notice that they are missing, please alert city officials immediately so they can have them installed. Be sure to keep an eye out for the platforms that don’t have rails

  • Broken swings

Of course, one of the most popular playground activities is the swing! Small children love them because they can finally see from way up high, instead of looking up from below! However, check the swing sets and the seats carefully before your child sits down. Their bottoms and their egos will thank you for it.

Most new playgrounds use rubber mulch or rubber tiles for safety surfacing. This material creates a safe landing pad for your child if the fall. The depth or type used is based on the highest point your child could fall from. The appropriate depth of safety surfacing for a playground is important both at parks and at your house. This could be the difference between a serious injury and a bruise if your child were to fall from the set.

Understanding Bounce House Weight Limits

Understanding Bounce House Safety Labels
Understanding Residential Bounce House Safety Labels

Each and every bouncer made by Kidwise comes with a safety label on the bounce house. This label indicates the minimum recommended age, maximum players, suggested height, and total weight limit. These restrictions are determined by factors such as the size of the unit, strength of the blower, and strength of the fabric.

The restrictions can seem conflicting at times. For example in the label above, the maximum users is 6 children but the maximum weight limit is only 300 lbs. This is a common gap with water slides due to the fact that the pool or landing area allows for more users to play safely without placing additional weight on the inflatable portion of the unit.

On all of the residential bouncers the maximum weight per child is recommended to be at 100 lbs each. This means that the inflatable portion of this particular unit can support 3 children and 100 lbs each. The remaining 3 children will have to play on the non-inflatable areas of the unit.