12 Tips for Trampoline Parks

Trampoline parks seem to be everywhere these days, and my kids love them. These springy playgrounds are a great way for families to have fun and burn calories, regardless of the weather outside.

Our family visited Get Air in Kaysville, Utah. Here's what you need to know before you visit a trampoline park.

Fill out the waiver in advance

Safety is an important issue at trampoline parks. One bad bounce or flip can result in serious and permanent injury.

Completing the liability waiver in advance gives you time to review it carefully, along with safety information on the park's website. Every person in your party needs a separate waiver. We took two of my kids' friends to Get Air and the online form made it easy for their parents to complete the waiver before our arrival. Nobody jumps without one.

You'll likely be required to view a safety video before you can jump.

Don't pay full price

Get Air in Kaysville costs $10 per hour for everyone over 46 inches and $5 per hour for everyone under 46 inches on weekdays. Prices are higher on weekends.

Check your trampoline park's website for family, group, military, Tuesday and other discounts. Groupon frequently offers trampoline park deals in our neighborhood.

Avoid peak hours

Beware of weekends, school holidays and other peak times. Trampoline parks are big, but only one person can use each foam pit at a time. It's harder than it looks to climb out of a foam pit – a few minutes per jumper. If three or four people are in line in front of you, 25% of your hour could be used waiting for a single turn. That's lame.

Uncrowded trampolines are safer, so there's another good reason to avoid peak hours. We visited on a Monday afternoon, and didn't spend much time waiting. We had plenty of time in the foam pits, the dodge ball court was wide open, and my son and his friend had “Little Air” to themselves much of the time.

Wear comfortable clothing

Skinny jeans are not good attire for jumping into a foam pit – at least on me. Wear clothing that lets you move and sweat a little. Athletic shorts, yoga pants and t-shirts are good choices.

Totally not necessary, but check out these fun trampoline tees on Amazon! These would be fun for a birthday party or family reunion.

Related: What to Expect at Kangaroo Zoo in Utah

Leave jewelry at home

Jewelry could be easily lost or snagged at a trampoline park. Necklaces, bracelets and dangly earrings should be left at home. We even left our wedding rings home, just to be safe. That's the last thing I want lost in the bottom of a foam pit.

Leave valuables at home or in the car

My purse, phone and camera were a problem at Get Air. I wanted to take photos and keep my phone handy, but I couldn't safely keep anything in my pockets. I set my purse to the side and carried it from place to place, but bringing personal items past the front desk is discouraged and not a secure option when jumping.

At Get Air in Kaysville, there are lockers near the front desk that are monitored by camera, but they have no locks. You can bring your own padlock.

Find out about socks

Socks are forbidden at some trampoline parks and required at others. On our first visit, we quickly lost a sock in one of the foam pits and decided to go barefoot.

We were required to purchase special grip socks for $2 from the trampoline park on a subsequent visit. They are washable and reusable, so they only need to be purchased once as long as we remember to take them next time.

Bring a water bottle

Trampoline jumping is a fun workout. Everyone in our group made at least one trip to the drinking fountains, which were away from the trampolines.

Arrive a few minutes after the hour or half-hour

At Get Air in Kaysville, the entrance fee buys you one hour in the trampoline park. That's enough to wear out almost anyone, but here's a tip to get a few extra minutes. Get Air uses color-coded wristbands to keep track of time. We arrived at 4:10 pm and were given green wristbands. At 4:30, everyone with pink wristbands was asked to leave. At 5:00 pm, everyone with blue wristbands was asked to leave. Our green wristbands were called in at 5:30. So, we actually jumped for nearly an hour-and-a-half by arriving just AFTER 4:00.

Adults can jump too

Sure, my husband and I were the only jumpers over the age of 25. Sure, I looked like a bouncing hippo. I also had fun and I got a good workout. Nobody laughed, pointed or seemed to care how unimpressive my trampoline skills are. My daughter even applauded when I managed a simple flip into the foam pit.

Keep little kids in their own area

At Get Air, children under 46 inches have their own jumping area. Bigger kids will be asked to leave and little kids are discouraged from jumping anywhere else, though they may not be stopped if they do.

My son's friend hurt his knee in the dodge ball court when an older jumper accidentally bounced him onto the pads. My son and his friend were happy to stay in the young jumpers zone after the accident.

Non-jumpers have space too

Not everyone who comes to a trampoline park wants, or is able to jump. Parents of preschoolers may need to supervise their children full time rather than purchasing their own admission. For these folks, comfy couches are available at Get Air in Kaysville, and probably at most trampoline parks.

Our family loved Get Air! Next time we see a good deal on Groupon, watch for the return of the bouncing hippo. I'm sure it will be a good show.

Allison

Hi there! I am the founder of Tips for Family Trips. I am a married mom of two children, ages 14 and 17, living near Salt Lake City, Utah. We took our first child on a two-week road trip when she was four weeks old and we have been traveling as a family ever since. We love to get out of the house to see and do fun things, both far away and in our own neighborhood.