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5 creative ways to use an inflatable.

5 Creative Ways to Use an Inflatable at Home

5 creative ways to use an inflatable.

To some people the appeal of a bounce house is a mystery. Perhaps for lack of personal experience, some might wonder why it is that kids flock to something so simple. The primary objective in a bounce house is to bounce, which could raise some questions among the non-believers. “What’s so fun about that?” they might ask themselves. If you have ever experienced an inflatable bounce house while growing up, you probably get it.

Remember the excitement and curiosity that struck you the first time that you spotted a bouncy castle? From afar it’s a colorful palace that appears to be made up of giant balloons! Up close it’s a safe place to get silly, play games, and defy gravity all at once! Once inside, you’d quickly realize that bouncing was just the beginning. For children, this magical, giant balloon castle could open the windows and doors of your mind. Bouncing definitely happens, but it happens in between the fun and games that are inspired by the bounce house.

Bouncers are not just good for jumping up and down repeatedly, they inspire all kinds of creative play for children. If you’re not convinced that there is more to a bouncer than just bouncing, check out these 5 creative ways to use an inflatable at home.

Set The Stage!

1. Hold a Talent Show or a Dance Contest, using your inflatable as the stage.  Arrange a few chairs in front of your bouncer for the viewers. Short on playmates? Mom and Dad, or even a few stuffed animals and toys can act as the audience or judges as the little ones take turns showing off their stuff. With a raised bounce platform, an inflatable makes for an excellent stage. The Superstar Inflatable Party Moonwalk is big enough for one star on the “stage” or for a group performance. The soft bounce platform is great for gravity defying dance moves and the mesh walls allow for visibility from all sides.

2. Have a look-a-like contest. While everyone is inside of the bouncer, call out animals or their favorite characters to imitate. You can draw animals and characters out of a hat or make them up as you go along. One by one, call out a character or animal and give everyone playing time to do their best imitation. The bouncy element adds to the fun and also helps kids really get into character, especially when imitating jumping animals like a frog or kangaroo.

To add a competitive element, grant points to the best imitation each round. Have an adult or extra player stand outside to judge and keep score. The player with the most “best imitation” points at the end of the game wins!

3. Play Crack the Egg. Have everyone playing form a circle in the bounce castle, while one person sits in the center. The person in the center is the “egg” and must curl up into a ball, wrapping their arms around their knees. Using their powerful bouncing legs, the surrounding players bounce around the “egg” trying to get them to let go of their knees, thus cracking the egg.

4. Try some classic games like Red Light, Green Light or Simon Says. Many of us remember these classic games played outside with family or neighborhood friends as children. Both games call for a leader, while the rest of the participants follow the instructions given. In Red Light, Green Light the leader instructs players to bounce and then freeze. When the leader calls out “green light!” everyone starts bouncing. As soon as the leader calls out “red light!” everyone must freeze. Anyone who moves is “out” and the last player “in” wins!

Similarly, with Simon Says the leader is Simon and must speak in third person. When the leader says “Simon says bounce in a circle” everyone must bounce in a circle. The players should listen carefully because they only want to do what Simon says. If the leader simply tells them to sit down on the bounce floor, but does not include “Simon says…” it doesn’t count. Anyone to follow an instruction given without “Simon says…” is “out”. Much like Red Light, Green Light, the last person “in” wins!

Have an adventure in the world of make believe!

5. Play make-believe, using your inflatable to create the world around you. The coolest thing about watching kids as they play is how they can utilize their surroundings to create an entire world of make believe. Inflatables can help to set the scene for many epic adventures.

You’d be amazed to see how easily an adventure develops with an inflatable. The Misty Kingdom can easily become a fortress or a grand palace for your royal highnesses. The Pirate Blaster becomes home to the toughest swash-bucklers on the seven seas! The Rainforest Rapids means kids can spend their days exploring the canopy with monkeys, snakes and sloths! Because the only limitations in the world of make-believe come from within, the possibilities for play are endless.

Guided play is great, but for most kids all you need is a little inspiration. Blast Zone Inflatables are about more than just bouncing. They offer inspiration and an environment that encourages creativity and playfulness.

Recap:

  • Bounce Houses may seem like they only serve one purpose.
  • There is more to an inflatable than just bouncing.
  • There are many different games that can be played in a bouncer.
  • Game ideas include talent shows, athletic games, and classic games like Simon Says.
  • Inflatables inspire imagination and creativity.
excited bounce house

If Santa Brings a Bounce House…

If Santa brings a bounce house…

(Exploring what might happen if Santa brings a bounce house this Christmas.)

 

…your kids might be speechless.

excited bounce house
Is this real life?!

…the fast setup may not be fast enough.

impatiently waiting for a bounce house
Any day now, I want to bounce!

…tears of joy? It could happen!

Tears of Joy
I’m just so happy!

…you may get a peek at the elusive happy-dance.

bouncer dance
This is my happy dance.

…it might just be the Best. Christmas. Ever.

bounce party happy kids
Santa gets it! He just gets it!
grandparents-ultimate-gift

Bounce Houses: The Ultimate Gift for Grandkids

Just when you thought you were already the best Grandparents!
Just when you thought you were already the best Grandparents!

Grandparents possess a unique connection to their grandchildren. The unconditional love given by grandparents allows grandma and grandpa to develop the type of familial friendship with kids that cannot be recreated under another circumstance. Children need their grandparents. For kids, grandparents are friends, family and allies all wrapped together in one fun package. In addition to being the source of warm hugs and sweet treats, grandparents are an incredible source of advice, encouragement, and emotional support for kids.

Not all families have the luxury of seeing each other each day, but the relationship between grandparent and grandchild is magical. It’s the kind of relationship that doesn’t care how much time has passed, or what has changed since the last visit. It’s the kind of relationship that is all about love, sharing memories, and having fun together. Finding the perfect gift for your grandchildren is a great way to connect with kids, and to remind them that you are there for them even if you are not nearby in each moment.

If you’re looking for the perfect gift for your grandchildren, look no further. Bounce Houses are the perfect gift for grandkids! They provide the wow-factor essential with any gift presented to your grandchildren without being a huge nuisance to parents. With it’s simple set up and a distinct lack of complicated assembly parts, a bounce house is a quick and easy way to bring the fun!

Even if you’re looking for a toy that can be used at your own home, an inflatable can go anywhere. You can fold the compact Magic Castle Bounce House and store it under a bed or in a closet, breaking it out when your grandchildren come to visit. Suddenly, spending the weekend at grandma’s house just got better (if that’s even possible).

Bounce Houses have a Huge Wow Factor… Simple to set up… Easy to Store….

Swing sets used to be a favorite gift for grandchildren, and it makes sense. You want something that will keep kids active but more importantly, keep them entertained. With a bounce house, you get all of that and more. Not only is an inflatable an excellent way to trick kids into exercising while they play, it is also a great way to encourage kids to have fun. Kids are lucky to still have their brilliant imaginations intact, which is something that many adults no longer possess. With an inflatable, they are given the opportunity to put their magical minds to work while they play.

A bouncer like the Rock Crawler Bouncer and Ball Pit offers similar benefits to that of a swing set, without the headache of setting up such an elaborate play structure. Blast Zone inflatables can be set up in about 5 minutes, and the blower does most of the work for you. Even if you live farther away, a bounce house can be purchased and shipped directly to your grandchildren as a gift .

Whether it be the holidays, a big birthday, or no reason in particular, an inflatable bouncer is the ultimate grandparent gift. It even works as a collective gift to the family. Because of the portability of Blast Zone inflatables, they can be gifted to an individual or shared among cousins at family gatherings.

A bouncer is the kind of gift that excites kids because bouncing is fun, it brings the silliness out. One thing that you can be sure of, is that when a gift comes from a grandparent it becomes something more than a gift. Gifts from grandparents become memories that children cherish. Each time they bounce around, laughing and smiling widely, they’ll think of you.

Recap:

  • Bounce Houses are the Ultimate Gift for Grandkids
  • Inflatables Have a huge “wow factor”
  • Easy To Set Up
  • Easy to Store
  • Easy to Transport
  • Kids get exercise without realizing it
  • Share among extended family
  • Ship directly to Grand Kids as a gift
indoor inflatables blast zone

Bounce Away the Rainy Day Blues: A Guide to Using Inflatables Indoors

Bounce away the rainy day blues with Blast Zone!
Bounce away the rainy day blues!

Rain, Rain, Go Away. Or stay all day, we’ll still get to play! This is the cheer you’d hear if you had an inflatable. We get asked all the time, “can you put a bounce house inside?” The answer to that question is a resounding “Yes!”

Gone are the days where a rainy day meant kids sat at the window, watching listlessly as the rain poured down outside. We live in an age where modern homes are equipped with indoor entertainment. Television and video games may pass the time, but they don’t leave much room for expression. A mind is a terrible thing to waste. While consumable media may be a quick and easy means to an end, getting kids up and playing is an end in itself.

Children can sit for hours without realizing that there is rain falling outside because they are tuned into their screens and tuned out of the world around them. This is no way to sharpen their minds. As the rain starts to roll in, what kids need is true interactivity. If you give kids something awesome to play with, they will create a narrative to go along with it. They don’t need to be spoon fed a storyline the way they are with television or video games. They have the gift of imagination, something that many adults don’t have.

When people think of bouncers, they think birthday parties or community events. These are the bouncers of the past. Today, Blast Zone inflatables come in a wide range of shapes and sizes that allow for a multitude of different uses. One of the many uses being bouncing around at home. Maybe it’s rainy outside, or maybe it’s too hot to play outside safely. Weather conditions definitely play a big role when considering using an inflatable indoors, but perhaps the weather isn’t the reason. You don’t need any reason in particular to set up inside, all you need is a little space.

Rainy days are better with bouncers… Inflatables offer more creative freedom than TV or Video Games…

Making Space

When you’re considering setting up your inflatable indoors or thinking of purchasing a bouncer to be used inside, the first thing to consider is location. Where will you be setting your inflatable up? In a playroom? A basement? Living room? There are no rules! Just be sure to measure your area before hand to ensure that you have the space. We typically recommend at least one foot of extra space on either side of the inflatable to provide a little bit of wiggle room. Even when they are anchored, bouncers tend to move around a bit when they are in use.

In addition to the wiggle room allowed on each side, keep in mind that the blower attaches in the back of most inflatables (though some inflatables feature the blower attachment on the side). You should allow five to six feet of room behind the inflatable for the blower. When you’ve figured out how much available space that you have indoors, compare that with the measurements of the inflatable on our website. The Magic Castle and the Little Bopper are both compact favorites for indoor use.

You can find the inflated dimensions for each item in the “specs” section of the product page. Alternately, you may contact the Blast Zone support team for that information by calling 877-889-4685. Keep in mind that the dimensions on the site cover the inflatable, but you will want to add the additional 1 foot of space for each side plus the 6 feet of space for the blower when determining the fit.

Anchoring

Once you’ve determined where you will set up your inflatable and which bouncer is going to be the best fit for you, it’s time to set up. When setting up an inflatable, the primary concern is safety. Always make sure that your inflatable is properly anchored. When you’re using your inflatable in the grass, you can anchor it using the yellow anchoring stakes but on solid surfaces such as carpet you will need to anchor using weight.

Sandbags for indoor anchoring can purchased for a discounted price when they are added on with the purchase of an inflatable. Our sandbags can be filled with about 25 lbs of sand per each bag. You may not know how to anchor a bounce house indoors, but its as easy as connecting your bounce house to the easy-to-use sandbags.

Rain got you down? Bounce inside!
Rain got you down? Bounce inside!

Placement

Now that you’ve got your inflatable in it’s place and you’ve anchored your inflatable, you can finish setting up. You may have noticed that your setup instructions warn against setting inflatables up on carpet. The general reason for this is to keep you mindful of the surface that you are setting up on. Some carpeted surfaces can be very hard, such as industrial carpeting without padding, but most homes use a standard type of carpeting that is much softer. The main point of the precaution is to advise against using on hard surfaces.

If you feel you’d like additional padding around the entry way, you can also place a blanket, folded or otherwise, to your liking, underneath the entry ramp. Generally, we advise the use of common-sense safety practices at all times.  If your location seems unsafe for any reason, do not set up your inflatable there!  This would include very hard surfaces, area rugs that are not secured onto the flooring, obstructions, cramped spaces, etc.

Save your furniture from becoming a jungle gym!

Ready, Set, Bounce!

That’s it. You’re ready to have some fun. Simply attach and turn on the included blower and you’ll have an indoor bounce center right there in your own home! If you’ve found a dedicated spot for your inflatable such as a playroom, you can leave your inflatable there between uses. Simply switch off the blower and let it deflate until the next use. If you’re using common living areas for temporary bouncing, you can fold it up when you’re done and store it in a closet or under the bed. It fits neatly into the included storage bag so you don’t have to think about it when it is not being used.

Rainy days don’t have to put a damper on the fun, and your little ones can keep moving even when outdoor play is not possible. Kids get to expend some of that boundless energy, flex their mind-muscles and your furniture maintains its appropriate use instead of becoming a rainy day jungle gym. With indoor bouncing, everyone wins!

Recap:

  • Rainy days are better with bouncers
  • Inflatables offer more creative freedom than TV or Video Games
  • A wide selection means there is a bouncer to fit in most homes
  • Weighted anchoring and soft carpet surfaces allow children to bounce indoors safely
  • Having a bouncer means your furniture won’t become a jungle gym
halloween-bounce-house

5 Ways Inflatables Can Make This Halloween Happier and Healthier

Can you even bounce inside a Haunted House?
Can you even bounce inside a Haunted House?

Halloween is a festive favorite for many adults and children alike. What is not to love? You get costumes, pumpkins, and all things spooky, and let’s not forget candy, candy, and more candy! That is a lot of fun to fit into one fun evening. While some may rise to the occasion, not everyone has the time or the mind to make Halloween night an experience to remember. Fear not! We’ve got your back! We’ve found 5 ways to make this Halloween happier and healthier with the help of inflatables.

Make Your Halloween Planning Easier

While many find Halloween to be a great excuse to get creative with their costumes and decorations, it is also a lot of work! Sometimes Halloween falls on a Saturday, which provides a few extra hours to make some magic happen. This is a luxury only afforded to us every few years. We won’t have another until 2020! Can you imagine the stress that parents endure when Halloween falls on a school or work night? I bet you can, because it happened last year. When you have a bounce house at your disposal, you may be able to get away with skipping an evening of door-to-door candy collection. Set up the inflatable, dole out treat bags to your little ones, and call it a night.

Sure, you may still find yourself handing out candy for other kids but at least it’s from the comfort of your own home. You might even get a few trick-or-treaters who forget all about candy when they spot the bounce house, asking for a minute or so to bounce around instead. Having your own inflatable means hours of fun without leaving your yard.

A Great Addition to a Halloween Party

Even if you’re already planning to skip Trick-or-Treating, perhaps by planning to host a party at home, a bounce house can help take a Halloween party to the next level. A lot of parents have realized that inflatables are easy entertainment for parties. With Halloween being all about imagination and make-believe, your bounce house becomes an extension of the fun. At Blast Zone, you can find several inflatables with themes that can go hand in hand with several classic costumes, like pirates, princesses or even wild animal costumes paired with the Rainforest Rapids Combo.

Keep an eye out for those scary pumpkins this year!
Keep an eye out for those scary pumpkins this year!

Burn off those Candy Calories

Some might argue that while it’s certainly fun to eat your weight in candy, it may not always be the best choice, all things considered. Candy calories count, and they can definitely add up. This is especially true if Halloween night spreads into something more like Halloween week, like it does for so many families. Between Harvest Festivals at your local community center and classroom Halloween parties, the sweet treats really start to stack. Now you’ve got belly aches and spoiled appetites to contend with. With an inflatable, kids have a fun way to burn off some of the extra calories and sugar.

Kids Stay Safe

Halloween traditions vary by the community, but the most widely known is Trick-or-Treating. Each year, kids all over head out after dark to collect candy from their neighbors. It is a fun tradition, but with each passing year neighborhoods everywhere are experiencing dwindling numbers of trick-or-treaters. This is because many communities are resorting to hosting private carnivals and parking lot trunk-or-treat parties in an attempt to keep kids safe. These events can be made more fun with good planning and great entertainment. There is something to be said about being the family that brought the bounce house.

Is this where all the ghosts come from?
Is this where all the ghosts come from?

Adults Stay Sane

Halloween is fun for adults as much as it is for kids, but the reality is that a lot of the traditions were started for kids to have a good time. For a lot of parents, holidays and festivities are all about making sure that their kids have plenty of fun and fond memories to look back on. While creating these memories can be a lot of work, their smiles make the work worth it.

The grown-ups are responsible to make sure that it all goes off without a hitch. With a bounce house at your disposal, it takes away a lot of the guess work in making the evening filled with fun. While kids bounce around and work up a sweat, you don’t have to worry about how to keep kids warm in costume. Inflatables can also give you a few moments to relax and enjoy the sound of their laughter. An inflatable might make for a happier Halloween but best of all, the evening of Halloween is just the beginning. After the capes are hung and the make-up is washed away your bounce house will remain, ready to entertain.

 

bounce-house-fun-reaction-3

7 Things That Happen After You Get Your Kids a Bounce House

       1. WHEN YOU SHOW THE KIDS       

bounce-house-fun-reaction-3

       2. WHEN THEY TELL THEIR FRIENDS       

bounce-house-fun-reaction-4

       3. WHEN THE OTHER PARENTS REALIZE THAT YOU’VE JUST WON PARENTING       

bounce-house-fun-reaction-6

       4. WHEN EVERYONE WANTS TO BORROW YOUR BOUNCER       

bounce-house-fun-reaction-1

       5. WHEN YOU REALIZE YOU’VE JUST BOUGHT YOURSELF SOME TIME TO RELAX       

bounce-house-fun-reaction-2

       6. WHEN YOUR KIDS ARE EXHAUSTED AFTER SPENDING THE WHOLE DAY BOUNCING       

bounce-house-fun-reaction-7

       7. WHEN YOU REALIZE BEDTIME IS NO LONGER AN ARGUMENT       

bounce-house-fun-reaction-5

pirate-blaster-update-blastzone

Mail Zone: Blower Loudness, Concrete, and The Differences Between the Pirate Bay and Pirate Blaster

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People Often Ask:

How loud are Blast Zone Blowers?

blastzone-max-icon-2

Blast Zone:

blower-sound1

We often get this question, so we had an independent lab measure the decibel rating of our blowers, while attached to a bounce house, which is the most practical application for this test. Each measurement was taken 1 meter from different parts of the blower – The outlet nozzle, inlet, opposite side of inlet, and rear. We then averaged the ratings, which were similar in each position.  We did it this way because most people are concerned with the level they will perceive when using the product, rather than the specific rating of the motor itself.

Typically users are not this close to the blower, so the actual decibels registered by players would be lower, or substantially lower than these results. The average reading for the various blowers was 73dB, with a range of 67-83. The 67 dB reading is the blower used on smaller items designed for younger players, while the 83 rating is at the outlet nozzle of the blower we use on the largest Home Use Bounce House and Inflatable Water Parks, typically designed for older players, which also happen to be products where the blowers are commonly further from the entry or play area.

We usually tell people the sound of the blower is similar to a vacuum cleaner. Reviews of test results on a number of common vacuum brands ranged from 75dB to 90dB, so the more accurate answer is “Our Bounce House Blowers are typically quieter than a relatively quiet vacuum cleaner.”

The List Below Illustrates the dB level of common household noises.

60 Conversational speech
73 Average Blast Zone Home Use Blower
75-90 Popular Vacuum Cleaners

Now on to Inventing a vacuum bounce house that cleans the house while kids play!


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Anon Asks:

This is wonderful, do I have to worry about this getting holes in it if it is used on concrete?

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Blast Zone:

We get this question way more than we’d like.  Please do not use any inflatable on concrete or hard surfaces.  You need to worry about safety first and foremost, but yes, the concrete can also damage the inflatable!

BE SAFE and have a blast.


 

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Allie Asks:

Pirate Blaster Inflatable Water Park.
Question: What are the differences between this version (Blaster) and Pirate Bay?  I noticed it said improved design.  Thanks!

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Blast Zone:

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The Pirate Blaster is indeed an improved version of the Pirate Bay, in that it adds a couple features.  First, an “Inside Return” path is added to the inflatable water park, that allows kids to reach the climbing wall to the slide without exiting the water park.  This keeps grass and debris out of the splash area, since kids don’t have to get out and get back in repeatedly.

Second, the Blaster has a reconfigured pool that is a little more efficiently geared towards kid’s play habits.

As far as the other “improvements” – The Pirate Blaster was the first to feature a couple of upgrades to the design structurally that are more “Behind the scenes” but have since been applied to the Pirate bay, and are included on all Pirate Inflatable Water Parks sold since 2014.

So when deciding between the two very similar items, the Pirate Bay offers a lower entry price, while the Blaster adds the return path, updated look and reconfigured pool to the Pirate-Themed Inflatable Water Park

Have a Blast!

 


In our Blast Zone Mail Zone series, we answer good questions submitted by you,  our great customers.  Pardon us if we repeat ourselves occasionally.  Some questions are asked frequently, and worth answering more than once!

Blast Zone appreciates your questions.  If you’d like to submit a Mail Zone Question, please email us at mailbag@blastzone.com.  For immediate assistance, feel free to call us at 877-889-4685, or email us at service@blastzone.com

 

back to school bounce house

After School Cool: Using a Bounce House to Keep Kids Focused

 

It's that time of year! BACK TO SCHOOL!
It’s that time of year! BACK TO SCHOOL!

Back-to-School season is upon us. For many children, school has been in session for about a month. Now families are re-working their normal schedules to fit around the school day. Everyone’s day is a little bit different depending on what activities you may have lined up. While some parents may be working out a carpool schedule for after school sports, practices, or music lessons, others are working on getting their kids to finish up their homework and chores before dinner time.

Kids are human too, and they too can get a bit burnt out by a long day’s work. We’ve all heard James Howell’s proverb, “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” That might just be true! While of course, there are plenty of things that simply must be done each day, it is also true that breaking the day up with a little bit of fun can make a long day feel a bit shorter.

During the school-day, there is a reason that kids are given recess. They need a break. In fact, according to Larry Silver, M.D. kids who receive a mid-day break from school work display an improved ability to stay on task.

You might find your family somewhere in the spectrum between busy and bored, but we can help you find ways to entertain your children after school. Whether it is in between other activities or all afternoon, there are a lot of ways to offer kids a bit of distraction.

During the back to school season, kids are more restless and rambunctious than usual after focusing on their school work all day. By the time they get home, it’s been hours since recess and they’ve probably been sitting at a desk for quite a while.

If your schedules are tight, finding time for a bit of fun may be no easy feat. Getting kids to step away from what they are working on for even just a few minutes can give them the pick-me-up they might need. You can accomplish this by suggesting a brief activity to refresh their minds.

Taking the dog for a quick walk around the neighborhood (Fido wouldn’t object) is a great way to fill two needs with one deed. No dog? No problem. You can also try challenging them to a quick competition. Race them around the block or challenge them to a dance off (and don’t be too discouraged if they win).

For those days when going outside is not an option, you can still take a quick snack break or a few minutes of movement to stretch and shake out the day’s tension. Brain Den also offers an awesome selection of fun puzzles and brain teasers.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL-MCindoor
The Blast Zone Magic Castle is perfect for outdoor and indoor use!

If you have more free time in the afternoons a bike ride or spending some time outside bouncing on a bounce house is sure to be a welcome distraction, especially if you limit screen time for your little ones.

At first, a bounce house may not seem like a conventional form of entertainment at home but this idea is becoming a more common choice for families due to the easy set up and minimal clean up involved. You may have the impression that bounce houses are only for parties, but bouncers are a great way to get the blood flowing after school.

As the fall season approaches, using an inflatable at home makes even more sense. As the weather becomes unpredictable, a bounce house can be moved inside to avoid the elements. The Magic Castle Bounce House is great because it is big enough to excite kids but compact enough to fit in the house on a stormy day.

The “what” is typically not as important as the “why” when it comes to entertaining kids after school. Keeping them busy does help to keep them out of trouble in addition to supporting their growth in general, but giving them a little time to step away from work and have some fun each afternoon keeps them engaged and focused on the tasks thrown at them each day.

kids-exercise-infographic

Trick Your Kids Into Exercising with Inflatable Bouncers

Nasa seriously said that!
Nasa seriously said that!

If you’ve ever had to drag yourself into the gym after a long day, you probably know that it’s not always something that we want to do, it’s something that we need to do to keep ourselves happy and healthy. It’s not always fun, so you might imagine that some children probably hold the same sentiment toward the idea of exercise. Not only do the words “exercise” or “workout” hold negative connotations for some, but a kid that wants to get outside to go for a run each day is probably pretty hard to come by.

We have goosebumps after reading those facts!
We have goosebumps after reading those facts!

General childhood laziness aside, now more than ever there are so many fun things that can be done without moving a muscle. The right video game can keep children busy for hours and all they’ve used are their eyes and thumbs. With instant streaming, kids’ favorite TV shows and movies are available to them on demand. With an almost endless supply of digital media available at any given time, we live in an age where kids aren’t always out playing each night until the streetlamps come on.

Where were these bounce houses when we were kids!
Where were these bounce houses when we were kids!

Kids need their exercise just like adults do. Getting them active at a younger age helps to create healthy habits that will stay with them for life. While the perfect amount of exercise may be different from one young person to the next, the CDC recommends that children get about 1 hour of physical activity each day. Beyond that recommendation from the Center for Disease Control, the benefits of keeping kids active speak for themselves. Regular physical activity helps kids stay happy and healthy, just like it does for grown-ups. Exercise is a known mood booster and when they are having fun with it, physical activity can be a great way for kids to connect with their peers.

So how do we get kids to put down their devices and get active? You can try putting your kids on a fitness schedule, but where is the fun in that? Most kids don’t see a point in running a 5k if there is nothing cool waiting for them at the end of the road. The answer to this dilemma is to make exercise fun. Turn it into something that they want to do.  Sports are always a great option, but sports may not provide the year-round activity kids needs, especially in areas with “weather,” and some youngsters may be too young for, or just not into sports.

There is a cure after all!
There is a cure after all!

Enter: the Bounce House. With a Bounce House, Inflatable Water Park or Inflatable Combo your little ones get the exercise that they need without even realizing it!  In healthy Children, simply having fun bouncing around in an inflatable means that kids are using their muscles, potentially making them stronger, developing motor skills, and burning energy. It may help to elevate lung capacity, increasing their stamina. It could get their heart pumping and their blood flowing, potentially promoting cardiovascular and circulatory health. Above all, bouncing is fun! Rare is a person (young or old) who doesn’t enjoy a good bounce. You try bouncing and see if you can keep a silly smile off of your face.

With inflatable combos like the Misty Kingdom, the fun and physical activity go beyond just bouncing. Combos offering numerous activities, like jumping, sliding, climbing, splashing, hoops, etc,  provide different types of exertion, and keep kids occupied longer. 

From a parent’s perspective, one of the best advantages is that after an afternoon of bouncing, bedtime is no longer a hassle. You may even find your little ones ready to tuck themselves in after an exhausting day of playing in their bouncer. Your family getting enough exercise doesn’t have to be something to stress over. Set up an inflatable and enjoy the sound of their laughter as they play their way through daily exercise. With a bounce house, the hardest part is getting them to come inside for dinner.

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Trick Your Kids Into Exercising
labor day bbq blastzone

Throw an Incredible Labor Day BBQ

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Squeeze the last bit of fun out of your summer.

When you have a family, you have a million-and-one things going through your head at any given time. During the summer it can get especially hectic. The kids are on break from school, the days are longer, and the heat can drive everyone a little mad. Every now and then, it’s nice to plan something fun that everyone can enjoy. This is where BBQ’s come in.  Between getting your family dressed and fed each morning and hoping they’ve had a long enough day to sleep through the night, planning a BBQ is not always the easiest thing to accomplish. Don’t panic! We’re here to help. This guide will help you to plan an amazing end-of-summer BBQ that will make your neighbors wish they were invited.

Food

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Mmm. Grilled veggies.

When you’re planning a BBQ, the first thing that comes to mind is food. This is where we sometimes find ourselves stuck. A BBQ is all about the food. Your first mission is deciding what to serve. While making your decision on what to serve at your BBQ, think about your guests. Do any of your invited guests have a special diet or any food allergies to consider? Gluten free? Low Carb? Paleo? Vegetarian? The possibilities seem endless. All diets and special lifestyles can be accommodated for a BBQ, you just want to make sure that you will have something for everyone.

This also goes for kids. Do you have any picky eaters coming over? When entertaining, it’s always a great idea to have a few kid-friendly food items. Some kids love adventurous foods. Some kids will eat things like teriyaki chicken kebabs or spicy grilled pineapple, but many kids do better with very simple foods. Hamburgers or hot dogs are usually fail proof when it comes to kids.

At a BBQ, the meat is usually the main event. Go for quality over variety. Rather than having several options, decide on one or two different things to serve as the main dish, like pork sausage and classic BBQ chicken. This gives people choices without breaking the bank or requiring the use of multiple grills. Some other great and simple options would be meat and veggie kebabs, ribs, or keep it classic and serve up hamburgers and hot dogs for all!

Hors d’oeuvres, sides and desserts are also just as important to a BBQ as the main course. They help to balance out your meal and provide color to your table. Both are very important elements to hosting an unforgettable BBQ. Make your big day as relaxing as possible by preparing your side dishes and desserts the day before. When deciding on what to serve keep in mind that on a summer day, cold dishes go best with foods coming hot-off-the-grill. Using the freshest ingredients you can find will make even the simplest salad go off the charts in flavor.

Entertainment

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Blast Zone “Big Ol Bouncer” Bounce house will keep the kids out of your hair.

When you’re hosting a BBQ you may be busy flipping food on the grill, but there will always be time to take a breather. Even if you are keeping yourself busy, keep your guests in mind. You’ve invited them over, and should have some form of entertainment planned. Music is definitely a must to fill up any awkward silences or lulls in conversation.

If your back yard BBQ turns into a dance party, you’ve gotten very lucky! Just in case that doesn’t happen, have something fun available to your guests like games or even a few packs of playing cards. Don’t be too rigid when it comes to entertaining your guests. You will probably find that the adults at your party will entertain themselves by chatting with you or other guests. Because we never see our family and friends as often as we’d like, catch-up is usually one of the best games to play over a delicious BBQ dinner.

While we’re talking about entertainment, let us not forget about the kiddos! You have a few goals when it comes to kids. Keep them busy, give them options and let them have their space (this means the grown-ups get their space as well). With kids, you want to keep them busy because if they aren’t off doing their own thing, they might be looking for ways to entertain themselves. This can be dangerous around a fiery grill and possibly annoying to some of your guests. Having multiple options will come in handy because not all kids are the same, and they may not all be interested in the same activity.

Further, some children might find a given activity fun for a short time, but wind up feeling bored later. This is especially possible if your BBQ is going to be an all-day affair. Set up an area stocked with coloring books or arts and crafts, as well as interactive toys or areas to play sports and burn off some of that energy that we wish we could borrow as adults.

Inflatables are a great idea for BBQs. They give kids the freedom to bounce or slide all day long. If you have a lot of kids to entertain, the Big Ol’ Bouncer is a great choice as one of our biggest home-use bounce houses. You might have a hard time getting them out of the inflatable at the end of the evening, but getting them to sleep that night will be a breeze. Read our helpful guides to keep the kids safe when playing together on our bounce houses.

Having all of this set aside in a designated area will not only make clean up easier, it also allows you to designate the best area for them, keeping them far from areas that may not be appropriate. You don’t want kids suffering the blinding burn of BBQ smoke blowing right into their eyes, or eating up all of the strawberries you’ve spent the summer growing. This also gives kids the opportunity to mingle on their own and maybe make some new friends. A lot of kids like to be independent, and having their own space to play allows them to decide what they want to do with their time at your BBQ.

Timing

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Man look at all the steam. It’s hot in there!

With your food and entertainment all planned out, your final concern is with Timing. Making sure that the day unfolds smoothly isn’t as hard as it may seem. You can plan your backyard seating and prepare most of your cooking the day before. Put your meats in their marinades and prepare your hors d’oeuvres, sides, and desserts in advance, to be refrigerated until it’s time to eat. On the big day, get your tables and chairs set up out back and roll out your inflatable if you will be using one. Getting your inflatable set up earlier in the day allows you to get it going for the kids with the flip of a switch. You can roll it out flat, stake it down and attach the blower so that when your guests arrive, you can simply turn on the blower to start the fun.

Get your grill started before your guests are set to arrive, so that you can socialize and get your guests situated while it heats up. If you are cooking your meats low and slow, start early enough that you can serve up dinner BBQ about 45 minutes to an hour after guests arrive. This gives everyone time to transition from go-mode to relaxation mode. This is important for guests who have to make a long or inconvenient trip to your home. It allows everyone to get comfortable as well as ensuring that no one misses the boat if they are running a little late for any reason. Now that you’ve got everything mapped out, it’s time to enjoy the day. Eat and socialize and enjoy the warm weather, these moments are memories in the making.