It may be appealing in the winter to stay inside and watch movies, play video games, or engage in other sedentary activities. And while we all like a good excuse to stay in and watch movies, the truth is that even in the dead of winter, children and adults can benefit greatly from moderate outdoor activity. Outdoor play keeps your family outside and away from viruses or bacteria that may have accumulated indoors over the winter. It means you’ll be less exposed to the nasty microorganisms that thrive in the cold. In addition, sunlight increases exposure to essential minerals such as vitamin D. Spending time outside can also keep your family healthier than staying indoors. Vitamin D has numerous health benefits, both short-term and long-term. The key to winter outdoor play is to dress appropriately, understand your boundaries, and choose activities in which your children can participate safely. A trampoline in the backyard can be very useful in situations like this one.
Suppose you decide to leave it outside during the winter. In that case, your trampoline could be a great motivator for your family to get outside and breathe some fresh air.
What about your trampoline? Can you hop on it during the colder months?
Trampolines are a wonderful way to stay active and have fun in the winter, but you must use them responsibly. If you live in an area with a lot of snow or strong winds, you may not want to leave your trampoline outside during the winter. Snow can break a trampoline, and strong winds can blow it all over your yard. If you live in a weather-prone area, you should probably disassemble your trampoline and store it indoors for the winter. However, if you live in a temperate climate, you may not need to store your trampoline when the temperature drops. Most trampolines will not break just because it is cold outside. The most serious problems have been getting wet when it rains or snows and being blown around by strong winds.
Preparing Your Trampoline for the Cold Season
Suppose you’ve prepared to put some effort into preparing your trampoline for snow and wind. In that case, you’ll be able to keep it in place and use it on days when inclement weather doesn’t keep you indoors. Likewise, securing your property against the elements won’t require much effort if you reside somewhere with mild to moderate winters.
When not in use, remove the frame pads and store them inside
If you remove the frame pads, the moisture from rain or snow will not be able to harm them. Because they don’t take up much space, they’re easy to fold up and store inside. If you don’t want to remove the frame pads, cover them with a weather cover to keep them from getting wet.
As soon as it is safe to do so, clear the snow off the jumping pad
Snow is heavy, so letting it pile on the pad could damage your trampoline. A broom should be able to clear away all the snow easily. Try not to use a shovel or snow blower. The pad’s surface can be damaged by a shovel or a snow blower that puts out heat.
Consider installing a weather cover on your trampoline while not in use
A weather cover can protect the jump and frame pads if you retain them. However, use caution if you choose to cover your trampoline. A trampoline cover can retain moisture on the surface, encouraging mildew growth. If you want to use a trampoline cover, remove it frequently to allow your trampoline to dry. If snow collects on the cover, remove it with a brush as if the jumping bed was exposed to the elements.
Use trampoline anchors to hold it secure
As the name implies, the trampoline is held to the ground by trampoline anchors, so it won’t fly around your yard when the wind gets up. If you live in a region with frequent strong winds, anchors are very important. You can purchase a trampoline anytime in a region with frequent severe winds. It would be best to do this before it gets too cold because the anchors need to be pressed into the ground. It is because the anchors go into the earth; thus, the ground has to be soft.
Check the frame, springs, and jumping pad regularly
It would be best if you inspected your trampoline to ensure that the winter weather did not cause any unexpected harm. If the damage is discovered early on, it will be easier to repair or prevent it from worsening. Please stroll around the trampoline before your family jumps on it, looking for areas that have worn down since the last use. Before you let your family jump, be sure there are no safety issues.
What to Expect When You Use Your Trampoline During the Winter?
Even though it may appear simpler to stay inside when it is chilly, children and adults may benefit from some outside activity. So, before you put your trampoline away for the season, consider why it would be best to leave it out:
Swapping Positions
Being cooped up all winter may be miserable. However, going outside for a little while each day might make you feel better and the cold more tolerable. In addition to making you feel better, receiving extra vitamin D from the sun and spending more time outside are good for your mood and overall well-being, especially in the winter. Both children and adults may relate to this.
A fantastic approach to exercise
Your body needs activity even when it is chilly outside. Even if it’s cold outside, kids need to be able to move around after spending the day at their desks in class. If they are appropriately dressed and spend a little time outside, kids should be able to play outside in the cold. Young children can behave better and burn off excess energy that would otherwise force them to jump on couch cushions or kick soccer balls down the hallway by switching environments and getting fresh air. It improves the parents’ emotional well-being and the kids’ physical health.
A Different Point of View
Things appear and feel different in the winter. When your child gets out, they will come up with new ideas and play activities to challenge them. They will see the world in a new light and discover new activities. Of course, it is a bonus of any outdoor exercise, but nothing tops a trampoline view. Furthermore, we all like activities that keep us from being bored.
Avoiding Injuries While Jumping on a Trampoline This Winter
Enjoying the cold is quite acceptable. Spending time on a trampoline outside has several health benefits. As with any outdoor activity, following the rules is essential for safe and wise play:
Examine the temperature
Even though it is perfectly safe to play outside in cold weather, children are less proficient at controlling their body temperature than adults. As a result, they do not always know when enough is enough. Younger children do not retain heat as well as older ones. Children of all ages should dress warmly to protect themselves from the elements. As a result, you must be aware of the weather outside. Keeping in mind that the wind chill may make it feel considerably colder than the actual temperature, knowing the wind chill for the day in your region is essential. “How cold is too cold?” you’re undoubtedly asking. Unfortunately, determining an accurate temperature threshold for “too cold” may be challenging. For youngsters in California, for example, 50 degrees may be excessively chilly due to a lack of appropriate clothing. On the other hand, children in Michigan may be able to withstand wind chills in the 30s in small doses if they are well covered with thicker clothes. We can only advise you to exercise good judgment and trust your parental instincts.
Examine the Prediction
When your children are jumping on the trampoline, ensure it is not pouring or snowing in addition to the outside temperature. If the trampoline becomes wet, it might rapidly become unsafe. The worst-case scenario is an injury caused by slipping on ice or snow. Therefore, you should not only inspect the trampoline’s surface for snow or ice left over from a recent storm, but you should also check the weather right now. Ice may be difficult to detect because it might mix in with the surface of the jumping mat.
Remove any snow or moisture from the trampoline’s surface
Before allowing children to use the trampoline, inspect it for any snow, ice, or water accumulated due to a recent storm. Remove any dark wetness to avoid slips and falls. Inspect the trampoline’s frame, pads, and springs for any damage since its last use. As previously said, please avoid using the trampoline while it is still pouring or snowing.
Dress conservatively
When it’s freezing outside, you might want your child to wear a hooded sweatshirt or scarf, but if they do, they could get wounded if they jump on a trampoline. Tight-fitting clothing includes a turtleneck to keep their necks warm and a detachable hat. Additionally, it would be best not to leap in boots since the rough soles might harm the ground. The quickest way to halt trampoline jumping is to destroy the jumping area.
Provide enough supervision
Yes, we get that it may be challenging to watch your children play outside when it’s cold. Still, winter weather is not an excuse for neglecting to provide sufficient adult supervision. You should join in the excitement on the trampoline if you’re becoming cold from watching your kids jump on it, or you should put toe warmers on your boots. On the other hand, kids should never be left unattended on a trampoline.
Realizing When to Stop
Even though winter is a great time for outdoor activities, it should be cooler than summer. Keep an eye out for indications of frostbite in your youngsters. Before bringing children inside, set aside a safe time for them to play. Winter blues may be relieved by a few minutes of outdoor leisure each day.
Observe trampoline safety rules
Always adhere to the safety regulations for trampolines regardless of the season. Never bounce on a trampoline that is damaged in any way. In addition, refrain from executing flips and other risky “tricks.”
So, leave the house and enjoy yourself!
Every parent seeks methods to keep their children entertained and active throughout the long, freezing winter months. A backyard trampoline might be a fun and effective tool for this. It’s a win-win situation for kids, teachers, and parents since it promotes outside activity, physical exercise, and sociability. Winter trampoline upkeep is time-consuming, but we believe having happier, healthier children is well worth it.
Have I still not persuaded you?