Kids

The backyard should be a safe space for families to play and be active - but accidents can still happen at home. A study released today by the Journal of Pediatrics says that one U.S child dies every five days in a portable pool during the warm-weather months. Approximately 100,000 kids are sent to hospital every year in North America due to injury on a spring-based trampoline. Here are some easy tips to keep your family safe during the summer months:

• Lawn equipment is loud, making it tough to tell when children are nearby. Keep those under 12 inside until all motorized equipment is put away.

• Avoid putting play equipment close together. Springfree Trampoline recommends leaving 4ft of space around the trampoline to allow for safe use of the trampoline enclosure. Stationary play equipment should have a clear zone of at least 6ft in all directions.

• Make sure children stay at least four feet away from the barbecue long after the food is ready. Also, check for embers blown from the grill; they could scorch little bare feet.

• At pool parties, designate one adult to be the "water guard". Rotate the position among the adults at the party to ensure one adult is always responsible for watching the children around water.

• Sunscreen. It's the easiest thing to forget before running out the door but 2 minutes of applying sunscreen will help protect tender skin!

• Supervision is always required.

Be sure to leave us your tips in the comments and have a safe and beautiful summer! For more discussion, visit our new Facebook app on parenting issues: Hear It. See It. Speak It. www.facebook.com/springfree

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The Parent’s Choice Foundation has selected Springfree™ Trampoline as one of the winners of its coveted 2009 children’s toy awards, a huge honor that we are very proud receive.

Established in 1978, The Foundation is the nation’s oldest nonprofit guide to quality children’s media and toys and is trusted by parents for their objectivity, respect, and expertise in child learning and development, helping make informed decision about the right products for their children.

According to the Foundation, Trampolines were not usually recommended however the Springfree™ Trampoline’s unique design has changed history.

Although our judges are not in the habit of awarding trampolines, the Springfree™ Trampoline had so many unique safety features that they couldn’t deny. Our testers, ranging in age from six to sixty-six, found skills they hadn’t known, confidence that needed reawakening, and a hefty dose of much needed family fun. If your family has been thinking about a trampoline, this is highly recommended and worth serious consideration.

This Award reflects Springfree™ Trampoline’s commitment to safety and innovation and is a testament of parent’s belief in choosing the safest products for their children. Trampolines provide so many developmental and health benefits but until the Springfree™ Trampoline the benefits were outweighed by the risk.

For more information about The Parents Choice Foundation please visit…http://www.parents-choice.org/aboutpcf.cfm

I’m the proud mother of two very active and occasionally very naughty young boys. By the ages of 9 and 7 you think they’d be over the young naughty stage and start to take just a little more responsibility for their thoughts and actions. Well, one would hope and pray. Alas one Wednesday I received a phonecall from the school – my kids attend a rather proper Catholic school where nuisance is not easily tolerated – so you can imagine my horror when the head of religious education (also the deputy principal) rings me to advise my youngest darling has been involved in an “incident”.

At this point my mind is jumping between expecting the next sentence to include mumblings of his mutilated body dangling from some piece dangerous playground equipment and emergency services are on their way, through to the other extreme of him having thrown a chair at the teacher and has been duly expelled, sitting in the principal’s office awaiting my arrival.

Fortunately it was somewhere in between, but certainly the head of RE was not impressed. What had transpired was my 7 year old petal had gotten himself in a fight in the toilets and settled the matter by flushing the other child’s school hat in the urinals (are you getting the same vivid image at this point?). Trying not to laugh, I offered my profuse apology insisting I instill a suitable punishment and offer to purchase a new hat for the other child. Needless to say number 2 son was duly punished with the removal of Xbox, DS and Wii privileges for 2 weeks and removal of pocket money. Even removal of his most prized rewards had little impact on his behaviour or demeanor. Is it getting harder to find a suitable punishment for kids or is it just me? How do you find a punishment that works without resorting to “the strap” (what we got when I was a wee girl) ??

To those of you who have primary school aged kids – no doubt you could tell a similar tale of school yard goings on. If you have a similar story to tell, or a recommendation on punishment options – please share it with us…….

Blogged by: Tanya, Assistant Marketing Manager from Down Under and Mother of 2.

Friday 16 October 2009

The SF60 Oval Springfree Trampoline

Springfree™ Trampoline is recognised as one of the best backyard play options for kids in the Sydney Morning Herald (one of the most popular Aussie newspapers for those of you overseas).

Featured in the Essential Style lift out of the Sydney Morning Herald and in the papers online version, we’re described as the Volvo of trampolines.

We love journalist Stephen Lacy’s witty yet precise depiction of the safety benefits of the Springfree™ Trampoline, making for fantastic and entertaining read.

Essential Style paid tribute the Best in Outdoor Equipment with the Springfree™ Trampoline taking the spotlight for kids.

 

See the Full Article Here…

 

http://www.smh.com.au/news/domain/australian-capital-territory/more-fun-less-tears/2009/10/08/1254701093095.html

 

Erin, Communications Coordinator, Springfree^TM Trampoline Australia

Thursday, 8 October 2009

For any further info on Springfree™ Trampoline, please visit the Springfree Trampoline website.

Thanks for reading – until next time, safe jumping!