The New Year is coming shortly, and this can be exciting for many people. A new year means new possibilities, new beginnings, and hope for the next year. The meaning behind New Year’s can mean different things to different people. For some, it can mean that a new year is beginning and can bring newer, positive changes. For a child, a new year means another year of life, growing older, and learning new things. No matter how you view a new year, it is a good idea to end one year and start off a new one the right way. And, what is the right way?
You want to start out your new year with fun and excitement. It is important that every new year starts positive and fun, because it sets the tone for the rest of the year. 2018 saw many challenges, but that doesn’t mean that the negative feelings of the past year need to follow you into the next. Participating in a fun activity is just what you need to start this new year right and remember all the important things in your life.
In this blog, we will be discussing some of the activities you can participate in to start your year off right. We hope, by reading this blog, you can get inspired by our list and begin this year with a sense of enthusiasm and excitement.

Go Bowling

Bowling is always a fun experience, especially for families. Whether you roll with bumpers or not, the game can be fun for all. Bowling can not only teach your children accuracy, but also how to take turns and engage in friendly competition. When you take your child to a bowling alley, they will be able to experience the fun of family events. Even better, bowling is extremely affordable, especially if you are looking for recreation for the whole family.

Go to the Movie Theater

Movie theaters are ideal because they can give you a quiet, dark place to get lost in a film. We suggest watching a heart-warming film or a comedy, however, as you want to maintain your positivity. Watching a horror movie or even a sad drama won’t make you feel quite as good when it is over.
Movie theaters can be a great place to get distracted from your day-to-day life and offer you something to be reflective on. For instance, if you like the film, you can think back on what you saw whenever you would like. Also, when you watch a movie with your family, it is an experience you all can share with each other.

Go to the Park

The park is a great place to go if you would like to take your child to play. Sometimes, starting your year off right is by doing something familiar or going somewhere you have been before. There is comfort in going to a familiar place, such as your local park. We do suggest, however, that if you and your children are headed to the park this January, you should bundle up. Winters in New Jersey can get cold!

Go Indoor Camping

It is much too cold right now to adventure off into nature. But, just because it is cold doesn’t mean you still can’t camp when you would like. Indoor camping is a fantastic way to start off your new year, in the comfort of your own home. So, what is indoor camping?
Indoor camping is when you convert your living room into your own campgrounds. Instead of pitching your tent up in the woods, you can do so right in the comfort of your living room. Not only is it warm in your home, but you can still access all of your essential snacks and games. The best part about indoor camping is that it is a special occasion and can be extremely fun. Best of all, you don’t have to make large expenses — except for the s’more ingredients, of course.

Indoor Trampoline Parks

Indoor trampoline parks are a great place to bring your kids to celebrate the new year. Not only will they be able to bounce their way into a new year, but they can spend their final moments of 2018 with you. Indoor trampoline parks offer a fun and exciting place for children to explore. Though 2018 might be drawing to a close, an indoor trampoline park might be the perfect way to end the year and start 2019.

Rebounderz of Edison

Rebounderz of Edison is here for your use. We have plenty of different attractions for your family to utilize at any time of the year. But, as 2018 draws to a close, ending it on “the right note” might be very much appreciated, especially if this year has been challenging for your family. If you are interested in bouncing your way into the new year, visit your local Edison Rebounderz today.

Why Children Love the Holidays

Directly after your Thanksgiving meal, there is a change in the air. Perhaps it is all in your mind, or maybe, there is something actually different ruminating around your home? Once the Thanksgiving turkey has been eaten, the winter holiday season can officially begin! With this, a new sense of holiday cheer can be initiated and children can bounce around with excitement. But why? What is so special about the holiday season?
In this blog, we will discuss what is so special about the holiday season, specifically for children. By reading our blog, hopefully, you can recall the cheer, excitement, and joy you once felt during the holiday season. Now, it is your kid’s turn to feel those emotions of holiday spirit!

What’s in the air? Snow!

There is something dazzling about snow. Its white purity can make even the most rugged of terrains look peaceful and calm. But snow does a lot more for us than just improve our surroundings aesthetic value, there is a lot more! For instance, the snow can bring on plenty of fun activities for children. Whether your kids want to skate at an ice rink or sled down a mountainside, the snow can provide plenty of fun activities for all ages. In fact, during the winter parents and children can come together and learn new lessons and partake in new activities. Skiing and snowboarding are both past times that parents can share with their families. As a child, the holiday season can offer opportunities to learn new things and participate in fun outdoor activities.

Holiday Treats

As a child, perhaps you can recall the anticipation you felt waiting for holiday treats. Whether it was your grandmother, aunt, uncle, mother, or father, someone in your family probably created a traditional holiday treat. For example, some families make gingerbread cookies, or fudge, or even unique pies. No matter what your family’s traditions are, there is typically a treat we all look forward to during the holiday season. Because of the anticipation of a few sweet treats, children will often look forward to the season with great excitement.

Holiday Decorations

Decorating your house for the holidays can be a tender moment for families. Together, you all can come together and decorate your home to celebrate the season. For children, decorating can be fun because it means they can all unpack interesting decorations and spread them throughout the house. As a child, the bright colors of ornaments, lights, and garlands can be enough to excite their holiday spirit. As a parent, you can enjoy watching your kids enjoy decorating and preparing for the holidays. No matter what holiday celebration your family participates in, decorations can be utilized. Because of this, no matter your religious beliefs, you and your family can enjoy family traditions.

Presents

Children love the holidays because it means they will receive presents. I mean, who could blame them? Free gifts with requirements to give gifts back — sounds like a good time! But really, the holidays are a wonderful time because children can earn toys that they have been anticipating for months. Parents can also experience the joy of seeing the look on their child’s face as they are overcome with excitement and happiness.
But, getting gifts is not the only thing to be excited about! For some children, just the ability to unwrap a present is exciting. For instance, they can anticipate what lies underneath their tree. Trying to determine what their presents are and unveiling them later is all part of the wonderful experience of the holidays.

Rebounderz of Edison, NJ

Though children may look forward to the holidays with great anticipation for sweet treats, snow sports, and presents, there are other things they can look forward too — like family time at Rebounderz! Though the holidays have a way of bringing family members together, Rebounderz welcomes families of all sizes to enjoy our trampoline park year round. Presents can be great, but a child can really appreciate the holidays when their family is happy and together to enjoy the season.

No matter what season, you and your family are always welcomed at Rebounderz. Visit our trampoline park today and spend the day jumping!

On average, American Halloween goers will consume 3.4 pounds of candy over the holiday. That amount averages to about 7,000 calories. Candy is deeply woven into American culture, but how much “treating yourself” is too much?
Today, America faces obesity epidemics for both adults and children. It begs the question, “Perhaps the way we celebrate our holidays has something to do with our weight issues?”
In this blog, we will discuss the over-consumption of candy and its effects on your child. To provide a fun alternative, Rebounderz of Apopka can offer you a different way to treat your children, without having them stuff their faces with sugar.

Is Halloween a Bad Thing?

In no way is Halloween a bad thing. In fact, Halloween is a great holiday to enjoy and decorate for. The only portion of the holiday that is “bad” is the fact that overcoming candy can be a poor decision in terms of your health. And, since the holiday is mostly targeted at children, candy consumption issues typically involve them. This means that kids are eating large quantities of candy and consuming copious amounts of sugar. Ultimately, it is up to parents to monitor and regulate how much candy a child will consume during the holiday. But then again, most parents aren’t available to watch their child 24-hours a day. Instead, the only thing they can do is make sure that children aren’t stuffing their faces with all of their Halloween candy in one night.

Why Are Children Territorial Over Their Halloween Candy?

If you have watched the Jimmy Kimmel special “I Told My Kids I Ate Their Halloween Candy” you will be able to witness the drama that ensues after that sort of statement. Tears, screaming, and a bit of attitude is shortly to follow a parent telling their children that they ate/threw away their candy. Most kids get upset about losing their candy because they don’t get much candy in their normal lives. This makes their Halloween candy that much more of a treat. However, there are other kids that get upset because they took the time and the effort to collect their treasure trove of sugary delights. The idea of losing their candy often sets off their tempers and causes parents to witness their child have a tantrum. But is throwing away their candy actually a bad thing?
Most children won’t be able to finish all of their candy anyway. And, half the fun of Halloween is being able to go house-to-house and yell, “trick or treat!” So, why keep all that candy around to sit on top of your refrigerator and potentially add to your child’s candy consumption. Though Halloween and candy be a great treat, sometimes it can be abused. Instead of the holiday being about fun and friendship, it becomes about how much candy can one child eat.
The best way to keep your child healthy for the holiday is to figure out a way to regulate how much candy they are eating. For one, you could always tell them that they can keep one half of their candy collection. The second half you can either throw away or give away. Ultimately, if an entire collection of candy is left in your house, you or your child will eat it. It is sometimes better to be wasteful than unhealthy.

Rebounderz of Edison, NJ

Though Halloween has its downsides, it doesn’t have to be all bad. The holiday is a great time to enjoy with your family, decorate, and dress up. The candy aspect of the holiday is only one portion of the day. And, even if your child does consume a lot of candy, there are ways to try and remedy the situation.
Rebounderz of Edison offers your child a fun and exciting place to jump and play for hours. Here, they can enjoy the holiday and even burn off some of the calories they ate from their candy.
Stop by your local Rebounderz today for a healthy treat during the fall season! This way, you can ensure that your child is getting the exercise they need to burn off their Halloween candy. At Rebounderz, we offer kids a fun way to exercise. Stop by our Edison location today.

Be a Ninja, Try Our Obstacle Course!

Obstacle courses are fun activities for people of any age. No matter if you’re seven or 70, everyone can find obstacles courses fun. Whether you are participating or just watching, obstacles courses offer a form of entertainment that is hard to beat. If you are living in Edison, NJ, your local Rebounderz has an exciting obstacle course for your to try out.
In is blog, we will be discussing the benefits of an obstacles course and what you local Edison Rebounderz has to offer you and your family!

About Our Ninja Warrior Obstacle Course

Our obstacle course is called a Ninja Warrior Course, after the popular television show, American Ninja Warrior. In the show, contestants compete to finish a physically challenging obstacle course. The contestant with the fastest time, wins! Our course has some similarities to the television show, but it is not nearly as difficult. For instance, our obstacle course doesn’t include a swimming pool or a 10-foot wall to climb over. Instead, our obstacle course features small obstacles that only offer slight challenges to our “contestants.”

The Ranges of Difficulty

What makes our obstacle courses special is that we have ranges of difficulty. This means that based on your skill level you can choose a course that is either more or less challenging. By giving our customers options, we can ensure that no one will try an obstacle course that is too hard for them. Obstacle courses that are diverse in difficulty give our customers more obstacles courses to try out to determine their agility level. At our local Edison Rebounderz, our obstacle course has a total of four lanes of difficulty. But what’s included in our obstacle course?

What is Included in Our Course?

Our obstacle courses are jam-packed with many different and fun activities. Specifically, our obstacles courses have quad steps, hanging doors, and a swing to cargo netting. But that’s not all! Some of our courses other feature include:

• Hanger with Pegs
• Slack LInes
• Warped Walls
• A Spider Wall

What separates the New Jersey Rebounderz from other locations of our franchise is that we have the first ever spider wall built into our warrior course. So, if you would like to challenge yourself to try our spider wall — visit our trampoline park!

Benefits

The benefits of our ninja warrior course are obvious — fun, play, and exercise. It is nearly impossible to participate in our obstacle course and not get your heart pumping. Children need daily exercise, but sometimes, they don’t feel like they need to and would rather stay inside. At Rebounderz, we make staying active a fun experience. Instead of wanting to stay indoors and play video games or dolls, children can get excited to be active and try our obstacle course.
Though it might not seem like a big deal, children that don’t get their needed daily exercise are at a greater risk for developing terrible conditions. For one, childhood obesity is a major epidemic in America, as children are not eating the right foods or staying active every day. Aside from obesity, children could develop slower cognitive and motor skills. Without activity, your child could grow unhealthy and sluggish. But, of course, not being active doesn’t guarantee these outcome, but it does increase your child’s risk of developing these problems.
Our obstacle course allows your child to stay active in a fun way. Because we are able to make physical activity enjoyable, this would be considered a major benefit, however, there are other benefits too! For instance, our obstacle course can teach your children about competition and good sportsmanship. How?
Obstacle courses only work if children use them fairly and share the space with each other. So, not only will your child have to learn patience when using the obstacle course, but they can learn how to share with other children. Obstacle courses are more fun when two competitors race through the course. This “racing” can also teach your child about friendly competition.

Rates and Requirements for Participation

Typically, our Edison Rebounderz is open Tuesday through Sunday (at varying times). However, on October 8th, our indoor trampoline park is opening its doors from 10 am to 8 pm. During this time, you can utilize our indoor trampoline arena, as well as our ninja warrior course. While our obstacle course can be fun for anyone, Rebounderz has some requirements for our contestants. You must wear athletic shoes in order to participate in our obstacle course, and must be at least 44 inches tall. Also, our obstacle course has a weight limit of 275 pounds. If you can make it within these parameters, you can participate in our ninja warrior course!

Edison Rebounderz

Come to our Edison, NJ Rebounderz today to experience our obstacle course. See your skill level and determine how fast you have get through our course!

Staying Active in the Colder Seasons

As summer draws to a close, we are becoming more aware that fall is just around the corner. Fall can be a great season; however, it does mean that colder weather is in our near future. Fall can be a difficult time to keep your children active, especially if you live in a colder region. Part of the struggle of staying active in the winter is bundling your children up enough, but still giving them the opportunity to play. Similarly to the scene in A Christmas Story, it is difficult to keep your children warm for the cold season and still allow them free mobility to around and play.
Though your bundling skills might not be that bad, the colder temperatures still pose a serious challenge. Most parents don’t want their children to play in the snow for too long. And, most children can’t handle being out in the snow for that long anyway, especially if they don’t have the right gear. This does not mean that children don’t need exercise in the chilly months. In fact, due to the fact that the colder months mean more time indoors, the need to keep your kids active is all the more serious.
In this blog, we will discuss some of the activities your kids can do indoors in order to keep them active.

Put on a Play

In the moments when it is too cold outside, it is important to entertain your children with something other than a television. A TV can be time-consuming and cause your child to become lazy. Staying all day on the couch won’t teach your child a new skill and won’t allow them to get their blood pumping.
One of the best ways to keep your child active and creative during cold days is by encouraging them to put on a play. The good part about theatrical plays is that they can be put on by multiple kids or just one child. Regardless of the number of actors or actresses, putting on a play can excite your child’s creativity and motivate them to act out their ideas.
By encouraging this form of communication and imagination, you can teach your child newer and better ways to share their thoughts and ideas. This can be a useful talent when they are older and want to create, share, and communicate with others. And, allowing them to act out their ideas will keep them active and give them a new perspective about their ideas. For instance, if they want to act in a play about jellyfish, they will have to think and act like a jellyfish; thus, giving them the opportunity to think about things different from them.

Play Hide-and-Go-Seek

Hide-And-Go-Seek is a timeless game for two reasons. One, it is a fun game that can be played with as few as two people. The second is the game has no ending point, which means it is literally a timeless game. You can play this game for hours, in almost any location. When it is cold outside, this is the perfect game to play with friends or siblings. And, because the game requires heavy movement and suspense, your child will get the muscle and blood movement they need to stay healthy. Hide-And-Go-Seek can be a great opportunity to teach your small children important skills, such as counting, hiding, sharing, and much more. Counting is obviously an important skill to learn, and sharing, too, is an essential lesson to teach your child. Hiding, though seemingly an odd teaching opportunity, can be useful. If your child knows how to hide they may be able to protect themselves later on in life. Hiding also eventually means giving up your location. For some parents, children can give them a scare if they hide and don’t show where they are hiding. By practicing hiding and revealing where they are, you can train your child to know that hiding from their parents is not okay other than when playing a game.

Going to A Rebounderz Indoor Trampoline Park

If staying cooped up in your home doesn’t sound like a pleasant experience for you or your children, Rebounderz is an ideal choice. At our Edison indoor trampoline park, you and your kids can bounce the day away. Here, your kids can bounce and play on our obstacle course for hours. With our attractions, your children can get the exercise they need without freezing in the cold. We offer a better alternative to staying active that doesn’t involve playing out in arctic weather.
At Rebounderz, your children will be able to learn how to share attractions with other kids, and possibly make a friend or two of their own age. Rebounderz is also a great place to let them play freely by themselves; on our obstacle course, they can let their mind run wild and pretend they are jungle creatures or secret spies. At Rebounderz, your child can imagine they are anyone or anything. Best of all, while they are using their creativity, they can exercise on our trampolines and courses. This activity can get their blood pumping and keep them healthy during the cold seasons.

Rebounderz of Edison

At Rebounderz, you and your family can enjoy an afternoon of fun and experience a memorable day with each other. As a parent, there are very few moments where you can give your child something they want and that is good for them at the same time. Rebounderz gives your kids a time they won’t forget and the exercise they need to stay healthy. Visit your local Edison Rebounderz.

Summer is in full swing and school doesn’t start for a while longer, but that doesn’t mean you have to wait to get your child ready for their first year of school. Take these months to make sure they’re ready for what will be asked of them in school. We’ve gathered five things all kids should know before they start school. Today’s entries will be more focused on behavior, while we’ll be diving into actual knowledge they should have in a future blog. At Rebounderz Trampoline Park, we’re passionate about kids getting active and having fun. Come to our Edison location to jump around!

Listening and Following Instructions

Whether it’s schoolwork or a classroom activity, children should be able to listen to and follow simple, two-to-three step instructions. Something you can do to prepare them for this is to give them easy tasks to complete around the house, like cleaning up their toys or setting the table. Two-step instructions like “Clean up your toys and put them in your toy box” and three-step instructions like “Set the plates, cups, and silverware on the table” helps them understand each step clearly.

Communication

Teachers are, unfortunately, not adept at reading minds. This makes communication key for your child. They should know how to effectively and clearly communicate their needs, both to teachers and other kids. Encourage your little one to speak in complete sentences of about five or six words, like “May I have some water?” Make them comfortable with talking about how they feel and what they need.

Self-Sufficiency

We’re not implying that your child should be ready to move out on their own — just some basic self-sufficiency skills. Things like being able to dress and feed themselves, as well as how to go to the bathroom on their own, will help them greatly in school and give them confidence in their own abilities. Help your kiddo practice dressing themselves and opening food packages until they can do it without your help.

Manners

For most children, school is the most time they will spend with other kids and non-family members. This makes it very important that they have a good grasp on proper manners. This includes sharing toys with others, taking turns, and saying “please” and “thank you”. Teach them this at home by practicing with board games to show them how to take turns.

Simple Stories

This goes alongside listening and communicating, but it also involves memory retention. Our memories are still forming and solidifying when we start school, so it can be tough to keep track of everything. However, kids entering school should know how to understand and retell simple stories. Practice this by reading together at home, then asking your child, later on, to retell what they remember. These stories don’t have to be longer than five-to-ten minutes long.

Getting ready to send your little one off to school can be pretty scary, but with a little bit of pre-planning, you can set them up for academic success. Physical activity has been heavily tied to development and success in school, so bring your kid to Rebounderz in Edison to give them a fun and safe place to be active. See you here soon!

-Slip n’ Slide

While you can get one at a store, you can go big and make your own. All you need is a long tarp and a garden hose to wet it down. This is a great summer activity because not only are you running around having fun, it also gives you a chance to cool down while you’re slipping and sliding. You can even make it into a game when you see how far everyone can go, marking distance with some flags.

-Flashlight Tag

If you’re having a late-night birthday sleepover or block party, break out the flashlights for an all-ages friendly game of tag. There are many different variations of this classic favorite that can brighten up a dark summer night. One of which involves only one person having a flashlight as the one who is “it”. Once they tag someone by shining the light on them, they pass the flashlight over. However, if you really want to make it crazy, start with one flashlight, then each person who gets tagged gets their own flashlight. The game will then continue until there’s only one person who hasn’t been tagged, who is declared the winner.

-Jump Rope Challenge

This game is best for kids who have a good grasp of multi-tasking and coordination. To begin, fill up some plastic cups with water. Each player will hold their cup and try to jump rope three times while spilling as little water as possible. The player with the most water left in their cup will be the winner.

-Sticks and Stones

If you have a big group of kids for a birthday party or some other type of get together, sticks and stones is a great way to get them excited while they burn some excess energy. Divide the group into two teams — sticks and stones. Have them line up facing each other, similar to a game of Red Rover. Set up a safe zone about 30 feet behind each team. Once you’re ready to start the game, call out one of the team’s names — i.e. “Sticks!” or “Stones!” The team that is called will chase after the opposing team, which is running for their safe zone. Anyone who gets tagged before getting to their safe zone will switch teams and then it starts again. The team that gets everyone on their side wins the game.

-500

This is a classic playground game that’s perfect for kids that love sports. One kid will get a football, while the others will group up about 20 feet away. The kid throwing the ball will shout out a number between 50 and 500, then toss the football to the group. The kid that catches the ball will get those points, but if they drop the ball, they lose those points. This continues until someone gets to 500 points and they become the new thrower.

These are just a few of the hundreds of fun games kids can play outside this summer. Keeping children active is incredibly important for their health and development, so it’s always good to have some ideas in your back pocket when your little ones have been stuck to the couch for too long. If you want a great place to be active, no matter your age, choose Rebounderz Trampoline Park in Edison! We’ve got plenty of activities that will get everyone up and moving in a fun way. We hope to see you jumping around here soon!

-Plant a Garden

When you want to teach your child about science and the ecosystem, there’s nothing better than planting a garden together. Whether you start with seeds or small plants, this is a great opportunity to teach your child how things grow, along with the responsibility required to keep it growing. Talk to them about what plants need to thrive: air, sun, water, and nutrients. Get a good mix of flowers and vegetables to show them the differences between them. Plus, this could foster a lifelong love of gardening and veggies when they get invested in their development.

-Make a Scrapbook

No matter if it’s about a family vacation or just some fun adventures, a scrapbook is a creative activity that engages many different aspects of your child’s learning. Let them take pictures, write short stories, color, draw, and decorate the scrapbook however they like to really see what they can do. If you go on a vacation, collect some things to go in the scrapbook, such as postcards, menus from restaurants you visited, and anything else you think would fit in well. You can make this an activity you do together or let them have free reign — either way it gets them away from the TV screen and working on something creative and productive.

-Cook Together

Teaching kids how to cook early on is invaluable, as it will ensure they’re prepared when they get older to eat healthy and avoid eating fast food every day. Grab a cookbook and browse through it together until your little one finds something they want to try. Take a trip to the grocery store so they can practice getting all of the ingredients they’ll need. Then, when you start cooking, teach them about how to find different measurements, techniques that will change the food, safety practices, and any other questions they may have about the process. Starting off with something small like cookies is an easy sell to kids and doesn’t get too complicated.

-Build Something

Hobby shops and toy stores have a lot of kits for building things, with everything from birdhouses to model airplanes ready to be put together in one handy box. Learning how to build something teaches kids how to follow instructions, helps them hone their motor skills, and gives them the pride and confidence of having something they’re building take shape. Depending on how old your child is, there will be a good kit for them. See what interests them and make sure its age appropriate. You can even find models of the solar system if your little one wants to learn more about the universe around us.

-Museum Trips

Museums are a font of knowledge and history just waiting to be uncovered. A natural history museum will teach your kids about a wide range of subjects, showing the incredible ways that science affects everything we do and everything around us. An art museum can foster a love of the arts and inspire your little one’s own creative endeavors. After taking a trip to the museum, talk to your child about what they liked, what they were interested in, what they want to learn more about, and what they were bored by. On the way home, make a stop at the library and pick up some books about the subjects they’re interested in to keep the learning going.

-Explore Nature

Summer presents a fantastic opportunity to explore the great outdoors and learn all about the local flora and fauna. Take a family hike, ride bikes on a bike trail, go camping — it all gives plenty of opportunities for learning about the environment around us. Print out some information about animals and plants that are native to the area and see how many your child can spot when you’re out and about. Not only will this teach them more about the world around them and their community, it will also help them avoid being sedentary during the summer.

There are so many different and exciting ways that you can help your child keep learning all summer long. Try to mix up the types of activities you do to keep them interested, but pay attention to what they are enjoying and what they aren’t grasping. Lean into the things they’re interested in to maximize their engagement in the activities and get the most out of these learning opportunities. Frame it as a fun activity instead of “educational,” because for many kids, that word and summer vacation just don’t go together. It’s not supposed to be homework; it’s a change of pace from the grind of the classroom. This is an opportunity to explore areas of interest that aren’t necessarily covered in general education, so let them lead the way with what they want to learn while providing them ample options to learn something new.

Staying physically active is a huge part of keeping kids healthy, happy, and learning. When you are looking for a place to beat the heat while your kids get some exercise, bring them to Rebounderz Trampoline Park in Edison. We know they’ll have a blast!

With less than a month left in the school year, many kids are already looking ahead to a summer filled with fun and excitement. While it’s great that kids get to take a break from school and enjoy summer days of running around with their friends, it’s important that they engage with the learning they’ve done through the past year of school. Many kids end up losing some of the knowledge they worked so hard for through summer break, which makes going back to school tougher to do, resulting in a month or so of struggling to get back in the swing of things. With that in mind, we’ve gathered some of the ways you can help your kid keep their mind active through the summer. When you’re looking for a fun way to beat the summer heat, bring your kiddos to Rebounderz Trampoline Park here in Edison!

-The Summer Slide

When a kid is in school, it’s basically like a full-time job, with work overflowing into their personal time when they get home. This makes it easy to understand how they can get burnt out over the course of the school year. Summer is a retreat away from long days spent in a classroom and coming home with a pile of homework that needs to be done. However, when kids make that full disconnection from education for a few months, they fall into a situation called the Summer Slide. For example, kids can lose up to two and a half months worth of math skills during summer vacation. Younger kids can lose a month or more of their spelling skills. This is why it is so important to engage your child’s education throughout these off-months.

-Summer Reading

Encourage your child to read through the summer to keep their brain active. This is a great alternative to spending long days in front of a TV screen or buried in a cell phone. Let them know this is a great opportunity for them to pursue their own interests that might not be covered in school. Take a weekly trip to your local library so they can pick their own books out. If you can come away from the library with at least one fiction and one non-fiction book, you’ll be engaging both sides of their brain. This is their chance to have a say in what they learn about, so let them know it’s ok to try reading something they aren’t that familiar with it. You never know what book might trigger thoughts of a future career!

-Creativity

Of course, it doesn’t all have to be book learning. Craft projects and other creative endeavors can have just as big an impact on your child’s brain function as reading a long book about long division. Teach them how to knit, paint, build models, put together puzzles, try photography, build or repair something… the possibilities are truly endless. Take an art class at the local community center together to make the activity a shared experience between you and your child. You can even just take a trip to the museum to show them the art on display. You’d be surprised what can get a kid’s creative gears turning.

We’re going to be taking a look at some of the other ways you can keep your child learning throughout the summer in another blog post coming next week, so keep an eye out for that. For now, we hope these ideas get you thinking about ways that you can keep your child engaged outside of school. One of the biggest things to consider through summer break is how much physical activity your child is getting. Bring them to Rebounderz Trampoline Park in Edison to get them moving around in a fun and safe way. We hope to see you soon!

We recently took a look at kid-friendly volunteer opportunities that can teach your child about empathy and giving back to the community. Those opportunities include:

• Senior center
• Animal shelter
• Food pantry and soup kitchen
• Children’s hospital
• Local library

Now, we’ll conclude our two-part series with a look at five more great places for your child to volunteer. After they’ve had a long day of giving back to the community, bring them to Rebounderz Trampoline Park here in Edison. They’ll jump around with a big smile on their face knowing they made the world a better place.

Parks and Playgrounds

For how wonderful parks and playgrounds can be, they are often ignored when it comes to cleaning and upkeep. Volunteering at the park can be as simple as picking up trash or pulling some weeds the next time you visit. If your local park is in need of some serious elbow grease, you can organize a large-scale cleanup project with the rest of your community. Talk to your local parks department — or whichever entity oversees the park you’re looking to clean — to get permission before setting up this type of event. They may even be able to assist in getting the word out so more people get involved. This is a great option because it gives kids a chance to see how they’ve helped the community directly.

Aquariums or Zoos

Of course, we’re not implying your child will be feeding the lions when they volunteer at the zoo. While some zoos have an age requirement of 18 years or older for their volunteer programs, others offer special teen programs. Visit your local zoo or aquarium to see what volunteer options they have available. Usually, teen volunteers will assist visitors, help with kid programs, and perform other day-to-day functions, such as sorting recycling. While they won’t be in direct contact with the animals, they’ll get a chance to see plenty of exotic wildlife from a safe distance.

Women and Children’s Shelter

This is a similar scenario to that of a children’s hospital, where you and your child likely won’t be interacting much with the residents. However, it is still a worthwhile opportunity to help someone in need. Give your local shelter a call to see what they might need help with. If you’re unable to contact them directly, a local service agency will likely have a volunteer project that you can participate in. Volunteering for a women and children’s shelter usually involves painting, basic maintenance, and other upkeep needs. Small touches that make the shelter feel homier can make an incredible difference to kids and mothers who are struggling.

Charity Walks and Runs

Less of a volunteer opportunity and more of a fundraising event, this is a fantastic way to get the whole family involved in giving back. Find a charity that you and your family have a connection to and get involved with a fundraising walk or run. For instance, if you have a friend or family member that has suffered from something like heart disease, cancer, or ALS, find a race that raises funds to fight those illnesses and register your family to participate. While it may be called a race, this doesn’t have to be competitive. Everyone can get involved, no matter how old they are or what their skill level is. Even little ones can get small contributions from friends and neighbors. Gathering small change to donate still teaches the lesson of giving back and can foster a lifelong love of charitable work. Older kids can go a bit further with their fundraising efforts by holding a car wash or bake sale.

Helping the Sick

There are many sick, injured, or elderly people who struggle every day to complete even the most mundane of daily tasks. Adults have a chance to help them out by driving them to appointments or helping out with something like grocery shopping. If you participate in one of these programs, check with the organization and person you’re helping about bringing your child along. Not only can a kid add some more excitement to boring errands, but it’s also another person they get to interact with when they might be lonely. However, it is important you get the approval from the person you’re assisting, as they may prefer a quiet ride without kids around.

With so many volunteer opportunities available for you and your child to participate in, we know that you’ll find the perfect event to teach your child about charity. When you show them another side of the world where people are less fortunate, it will make them grateful for what they have and foster a desire to lift up others who need a hand. If you’re looking for a location to hold a fundraising event, check us out at Rebounderz Trampoline Park in Edison. We’ve got plenty of activities to make everyone happy. We hope to see you soon!

Teaching your children about work ethic, empathy, and a sense of selflessness is one of the most long-lasting and valuable lessons you can pass on. Fostering a desire to give back doesn’t just help the community, it will also benefit your child through school and at home. If you’re looking to give your child an opportunity to volunteer, try one of these kid-friendly options. After you’ve spent a long day giving back to the community, why not come to Rebounderz Trampoline Park and jump around a bit? It’s fun for the whole family!

-Senior Center

Kids and grandparents go together like peanut butter and jelly. When you volunteer at a senior center, you give back to our elders who may not get very many visitors. Just because you’re volunteering doesn’t mean your child is expected to handle the medical needs of a senior, though. More often than not, it’s something as simple as playing games together or eating lunch. All it takes is some conversation and compassion to really make an impact.
Check with your local senior center to see what their needs are and what you can help with. While some centers have special volunteer days, others are able to take unscheduled visitors. Whether it’s through an Adopt-A-Grandparent program that pairs a child with a specific person or they spend time with everyone around, this is a wonderful way to help out. Who knows? Your child might learn about history from someone who was really there, which they can then take into their schoolwork.

-Animal Shelter

If your child loves animals, this is a fantastic opportunity for them to play with some puppies and kittens that are in need of some love and affection. Because this might be a bit much for really young kids to handle, this is a better option for teens. Young children often get attached to the animals and don’t want to leave without them. Most animal shelters have age requirements for volunteers for this reason, so it’s a good idea to check with your local shelter to see what their rules are. They may have certain tasks available for younger children.

-Food Pantry

While you may not have trouble feeding your family, others aren’t as lucky. Soup kitchens and food pantries present an opportunity to help the less fortunate when they’re in need. Small children may be better suited to help with a trip to the grocery store to find things to donate, but older kids can help serve hot meals to the hungry. Soup kitchens and food pantries can always use extra help, year round, so don’t relegate this to the holidays. If you’re dropping off a donation, ask another volunteer to tell your little one how much this helps families in need. When they see just how impactful their contribution is, they will likely want to keep helping as much as they can.

-Children’s Hospital

Learning that other kids aren’t as healthy as they are can be a tough but valuable lesson for children to learn. Many children’s hospitals offer programs specifically for younger volunteers to participate in. However, depending on the ailment, your child might not come into direct contact with a patient. There might be special projects that children can participate in, or you can shop for and donate toys or other supplies that are on the institution’s wish list. Other programs are geared toward teenagers, where they are interviewed to see if they qualify for the program. After they’re selected, they might deliver presents or play with the patients to give them a much-needed break from the reality of being hospitalized. In the end, these are still kids. Kids deserve to play and laugh, no matter what condition they’re in.

-Library

Volunteering at the library is perfect for kids that love reading. Most public libraries offer junior volunteer programs for children over a certain age where they can help out with some of the odds and ends amongst the stacks and shelves of books. This could mean they help sort books and return them to their proper spots or assist with toddler story time. Even young kids can help out informally by cleaning up the children’s area or returning books to where they belong. You never know what book might pique their interest while they’re helping out. It could spur a whole new love of science fiction or history, entirely based on the cover or title of a book they’re putting away.

We’re going to dive into five more kid-friendly places that your child could volunteer at in the near future, but we hope this has got the ball rolling on your little one’s potential philanthropic pursuits. After you’re done helping out in the community, bring your kid to Rebounderz Trampoline Park here in Edison. It’ll give them a chance to jump and play around after a day of volunteering in the community. We hope to see you here soon!

Everyone has gathered around the table. The lights are dimmed but candles illuminate the scene. Singing rings out and the person at the center of it all begins to blush. It’s birthday cake time! But you may be asking yourself, where did this tradition start? Were candles always a part of the celebration? We’re going to be diving into the history of birthday cakes and candles today. If you’re looking for a fun place to have your kid’s birthday party, check out Rebounderz Trampoline Park in Edison!

-History of Birthday Cakes

Would you believe birthday cakes have been around since the Middle Ages? It’s true! The first birthday cake is thought to have been made in Germany, where they would celebrate a child’s birthday. This celebration was known as Kinderfest, though you shouldn’t imagine this as a cake like we have today. When they first started, cakes were much more coarse and bread-like. They eventually evolved into a sweeter version closer to what we’re familiar with and took on the name of Geburtstagstorte.
It wasn’t until the 17th century that birthday cakes started to be decorated.They were made with elaborate designs and details with icing, layers, and decorations like flowers. This made cakes more expensive to make and relegated them to the wealthy upper class that could afford them. That changed with the 18th century when food and baking utensils became more accessible and affordable. That brought the price of cakes down, and the number of cakes produced increased as a result. With more people able to afford birthday cakes, the tradition spread to many more families and households than ever before.

-History of Birthday Candles

There are a few theories about where birthday candles came from, so it’s difficult to pin down their exact origin. One such theory ties it to Ancient Greece. Round cakes would be made in honor of the goddess Artemis, who was the goddess of the moon. Lit candles decorated the cake as a representation of the moon’s glow, while the smoke from the candles carried their prayers and wishes to the Gods who lived in the sky above them. Others connect candles to the birthplace of the birthday cake, Germany. It is believed that they placed a candle on the cake to symbolize “the light of life.”
A typical modern western birthday party is now celebrated with cake, candles, and a traditional birthday song. Most often, the candles are used to represent what age the person being celebrated is turning. The candles are then blown out by the birthday boy or girl, while they make a silent wish to themselves. Just like all good wishes, it won’t come true if you tell anyone about it!

From its origin as a coarse bread to today’s elaborate designs and decorations, birthday cakes have been with us for a long time. Bakers are constantly experimenting with new recipes, techniques, and flavors to create something unique or refine a classic. So whether you like red velvet with cream cheese frosting or you’re a fan of the classic yellow cake with chocolate frosting, you’re sure to find a delicious centerpiece for your special day. When you’re looking for the perfect place to have your child’s birthday party, come to Rebounderz! No matter what age you are, we have plenty of awesome activities for you, your friends, and family to engage in. Jump around in our safe trampoline park, take a leap of faith off the 14-foot tall JumpXTREME Tower, spring into the foam pit, test your might on the Ninja Warrior course, or dunk like an All-Star on the SlamBall court. Whatever you love to do, you can do it here. We hope to see you soon!