Kid's Birthday Parties

Exercise is important for people of all ages, however, healthy habits are instilled at a young age and active children have a leg up on their peers, that is likely to continue into adulthood. A shift in our education system to requiring children to sit still for hours on end, the urbanization of land that restricts exploration, and a life of entertainment and education provided by screens has led to sedentary lifestyles becoming the norm, at a younger age. One-third of American children are overweight or obese and less than 25 percent of children get the recommended 60 minutes of exercise daily. This is a nationwide problem and the solution begins at each child’s home! Here are some of the top reasons why exercise is so important for kids.

Physical Benefits of Exercise for Kids

Healthy Growth and Development

Exercise promotes all of your bodily systems to work which helps improve the health and development of every organ. In children specifically, those who exercise have healthier, stronger bones, muscles, and immune systems! This means that their body is able to function optimally while avoiding illness and injury, allowing them to develop as they should.

Stronger Hearts

It is never too early to start helping your body prevent heart disease. A healthy young heart will more effectively feed oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body which helps with growth and development as well as cognitive enrichment.

Less Likely to Become Overweight

Being overweight or obese is not a concern of vanity, but a concern of health and overall well-being. Excess weight puts tremendous stress on the skeletal muscular system, so if a child is obese, they will not develop properly and will have life-long issues. Vital organs that have a cushion of fat do not work as effectively, and as we know children’s organs are still developing — early obesity puts children down a very dark path, health-wise. When children learn healthy weight management techniques as children, they are more likely to carry them on into adulthood.

Reduce Disease

In addition to helping build a healthy body and immune system, regular exercise helps ward off chronic diseases that aren’t caused by microbes, such as diabetes. Most people think of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, Type II Diabetes, and heart disease as adult conditions, however, these chronic diseases are becoming prevalent in younger ages due directly to poor diet and lack of regular exercise.

Positive Effects of Exercise in the Child’s Brain

Smarter

That’s right, regular exercise can make your child smarter! Exercise helps to transport oxygen-rich blood to the brain which helps with focus and memory development. Exercise also helps to settle and focus a busy mind by releasing energy, which helps children to absorb information. When we move and exercise, our neurotransmitters fire at faster speeds, which helps children retain the information they have learned and connect it to other relevant information.

Hormone Regulation

Regular moderate exercise helps feed your endocrine system the fuel that it needs to operate correctly. This includes regulating hormones that are responsible for energy, mood, sleep, growth, and puberty. Prevent hormones from getting out of whack with some regular exercise!

Mental Health Benefits of Exercise

Improved Mood and Outlook on Life

Studies show that exercise releases hormones in the brain that contribute to a more positive mood, which when instilled in young children, can help promote a more positive outlook in life in general. Research also indicates that exercise at any age helps reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression which can also help to an improved mood.

Self-Esteem and Confidence

Children who engage in regular physical exercise are able to see what they are capable of and see progress as they hone their skills, which helps build self-esteem and confidence. Participating in team sports also helps children develop healthy social skills, leadership, teamwork, sportsmanship, and empathy — all of which are skills that are useful throughout life.

The importance of living an active life and starting healthy habits young cannot be understated. When kids learn to enjoy exercise through play at a young age, they are likely to view exercise as fun rather than a chore they have to complete, which helps them be successful and form healthy, long-term habits. For a fun exercise opportunity, take your youngsters to a trampoline park for hours of healthy rebounding. For a trampoline park near Jenison, check out Rebounderz of Grand Rapids!

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!

A History of Playing Games

In the first part of our blog series we demonstrated how play is vital for a child in many ways, both physical and mental. Playing with others their age allows them to learn how to communicate with others and learn the technique of conflict resolve.
Games are typically played at birthday parties because they inspire joy and laughter. In this blog, we will continue to delve deep into the rich history of humanity’s favorite childhood-games.

Bobbing for Apples

Though you might think the game, “Bobbing for Apples” is an old game, it is a lot older than you might think. For example, Bobbing for Apples can be traced back to the Ancient Romans! In fact, the game can be found as far back as when the Romans first invaded Britain. The game was actually a combination of the two cultures: Roman and Celtic. Originally, “Dooking” was found in United Kingdom. When the Roman invaded they took on the celebratory game and added apples.
After the game was widely enjoyed, it developed into a tradition in the Roman Empire during their annual celebrations. The tradition was that young unmarried people would try to bite into a barrel full of water and apples. The first to bite into an apple would be the next one allowed to marry. Later, in Ireland, the Celtic traditions believed that if you caught an apple and slept with it under your pillow, you would dream of your future spouse.
Today, the game has changed to be innocent. Instead of a game to determine marriages or spouses, it is an innocent game to determine who is the best at bobbing for apples! Although this game was once extremely popular, today, the game is not as popular — for a few important reasons. For one, Bobbing for Apples can be a dangerous game if more than two people are searching for apples. But how? Well, in older versions of the game, players were blindfolded and bound in order to prevent cheating. However, depending on the age of the children playing, they are more prone to accidental drowning or suffocating. Second, because Bobbing for Apples requires multiple parties diving their faces into water, sanitary issues have arisen in the past. Because of these two reasons, Bobbing for Apples has become less popular at modern-day birthday parties.

Egg and Spoon Race

The earliest recording of the games was documented in September of 1894. The game was originally used as a game during the celebration of the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria. Specifically Egg and Spoon Races were seen during 1897, which was the height of their popularity. At this time, due to the mass immigration to America, many have claimed that the game started in the New World. However, this is untrue, as documented evidence has identified England as its origin. However, since so many English ancestors migrated all over the world, this game became widespread.
In the original days of the game, it was constructed by carrying a wooden egg on a wooden spoon. Only in modern times was the egg changed to a raw egg.
The object of the game is simple; try to win a race with an egg on a spoon. Though seemingly easy, this game is dependent on balance and patience. If you try to run with the egg, you will drop it and lose. However, with patience and cautious steps, you should win. The Egg and Spoon game is a perfect way to teach patience and wisdom.
Egg and Spoon games once were allowed in school. However, due to salmonella scares and accidental ingestion of the egg’s contents, parents, as well as the schools, forbid students from participating in the games on school grounds. However, the game doesn’t always have to be played with a raw egg. Wooden eggs are easily obtainable and make the game even more of a challenge.

Tug of War

The game “Tug of War” dates back as far as Ancient Egypt. In fact, in almost all Ancient cultures, such as Burma, India, Japan, Korea, and South America, there is some variation of this game. Though all these cultures play this game, they used different ways of performing the game. In Ancient Egypt, the game was played with two central players tugging on each others arms, with the help of their teammates behind them.
In Greece during 500 BC, the Olympics featured this type of man-on-man sport. During that time however, the game was seen as physical training for battle with neighboring countries. In the Olympic Games from 1900 to 1920, Tug of War was featured as an actual competitive sport. In this version, however, there was a rope that conjoined both teams. The object of the game was to pull the rope hard enough, to where the opposite team would be pulled over the boundary line. The last team to win the gold medal for Tug of War was Great Britain in 1920. The game was discontinued from the Olympics but was carried on through a separate Tug of War Association.

Rebounderz

At Rebounderz, we encourage physical activity for children, by offering them a place to play at their heart’s content. Our indoor trampoline parks are a great place to bring your children and celebrate their birthday. If you are interested in giving your child the best place to enjoy their birthday, Rebounderz would be it!

When you’re putting together a birthday party for your kid, there’s a lot that you have to consider. Planning out activities and games might seem like a lot of work, but we’ve gathered some of the best birthday party activities that you can put together easily. Not only that, these are all affordable options, so you don’t have to worry about breaking the bank to put on a party that everyone will enjoy. If you’re looking for the best place to hold your kid’s birthday party here in Edison, look no further than Rebounderz Trampoline Park! Our birthday parties are always a hit with kids and adults alike.

Keep in mind that all of the activities that we’re about to dive into are all incredibly customizable. Make alterations to them as you see fit so that they match with what your child’s interests are, what you have available to you, and whatever the theme of the party may be. Without further ado, let’s look at some fun kid’s birthday party activities!

-Treasure/ Scavenger Hunt

This is a great way to kick off a party and get everyone moving. Whether you draw out a treasure map or you create a scavenger hunt list, you’re providing an activity that gets kids to think critically and examine their surroundings. If you’re holding a large party, put everyone into teams and make it a race to see who can find the treasure or complete their list first. A small toy or snack is a great reward after running around on the hunt for treasure!

-Three Legged Race

A classic birthday party game that is still tons of fun. Kids will have a blast with this and parents won’t be able to stop laughing! All you need is something to tie each team’s legs together and some space to run. If you really want to kick it up a notch, add in some cones or other obstacles that the racers have to maneuver around.

-Charades

The best part of this game is there is no age limit on who can play. This makes it wonderful fun for kids and parents who are attending, as it is a chance for everyone to interact together. All you need is some scraps of paper with topics written on them to spur everyone’s imaginations. Feel free to adjust the rules of charades to accommodate young children that are still learning about more abstract concepts. They might not be able to get their point across silently, so giving them some leeway with hints can help them enjoy the game without getting frustrated.

-Tug of War

Another easy game to play with minimal supplies, tug of war only requires a rope long enough to handle everyone playing. When setting up for a tug of war, it’s important you divide the teams evenly so everyone has a chance to win. If you’re dealing with a wide range of ages in your party guests, it’s a good idea to make sure that it’s not a team of big kids against little kids. Not only would that make for a lopsided game, it will surely lower the morale of the little ones playing. Instead, when little kids get to be on a team with the big kids, it’s an exciting moment for them!

-Marco Polo

Just because you aren’t at the pool, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy this classic pool game. With a good amount of space and a blindfold, you can make a landlocked game of Marco Polo, which will be a hit with everyone. Blindfold your “Marco” and kick the game off with a countdown to let the others run and hide. You can even alter the game to have the kids give hints as to where an object is, and have them shout out clues like “warmer” and “colder” to the blindfolded searcher.

-Obstacle Course

You can set up a pretty cool obstacle course in your backyard with items you have on hand. Otherwise, you can come to Rebounderz and let the kids loose on our Ninja Warrior obstacle course. If you are looking for activities that get kids up and moving, there’s nothing better than this. They’ll have the chance to run, jump, climb, and swing as they try to overcome the obstacles and reach the finish line.

-Hot Potato

Here’s another easy game that just needs an object to act as the “potato”. You can get really creative with this one and adapt it to whatever the theme of your party is. Gather everyone in a circle and have them toss the object around. You can set this to music as a way to let people know when someone has been eliminated.

-Musical Chairs

Musical chairs is another fun game that everyone can play, and all you need is some chairs and some music. Set out a circle of chairs, with one fewer than the number of people that are playing. Start the music up and have everyone begin walking around the chairs. Once you stop the music, everyone has to find a seat. Whoever is left standing is eliminated, a chair is removed from the circle, and the game continues until only one person remains.

-What’s in the Bag

This is a fun guessing game to play when you’re trying to wind down. Place an object in a bag and have the kids take turns trying to guess what it is only by feeling it. This is great practice for helping kids learn new ways to identify objects, describe what they feel, and form an idea of what the object is within their mind. If you’re not sure if the little ones will be able to avoid looking, you can use the blindfold from your game of Marco Polo to make sure everyone has an even playing field.

-Simon Says

No matter where you’re holding your party, you can play a game of Simon Says. This classic game teaches kids about listening skills and following instructions. For a fun twist on it, change the name from “Simon” to something that fits your party’s theme. For instance, at a pirate party, it could be “Captain Says.”

-Tag

Tag is one of those timeless games that can be changed and adapted to fit many different circumstances. Whether you’re playing with classic rules, freeze tag, TV tag, or any of the other variations, everyone will have fun and get involved. The best part is, there are no supplies required for this game.

There are many more fun and easy birthday party activities that we’ll dive into in the future, but we hope that this gets your creative wheels turning. Customizing a classic game to fit your child’s interests or the theme of the party can be an easy way to make it memorable for everyone. Another way to make a birthday party memorable is to choose an awesome location with plenty to do. Lucky for you, Rebounderz Trampoline Park is located right here in Edison. Our birthday parties are a hit with kids and adults alike. With our safe trampolines, the exciting JumpXtreme Tower, and thrilling Ninja Warrior course, we’re sure we have the activity that will take your kid’s birthday party up another level. We hope to see you here soon!

The Origins Of Play

When it comes to birthday parties in the United States, they tend to go very similarly; there is a birthday girl or boy, guests, a party, some games, and a cake. This type of annual celebration has been around for centuries and still carries over to the generations of today. In ancient history, birthday celebrations were directly linked to practices in paganism. Because of this, many people did not celebrate their birthdays until much later in history. However, during the 1700s birthdays were recognized, which later picked up popularity in the 1800s. During the late 1800s, children were given more opportunity to play and eventually developed games to play at these celebrations. In this blog, we will discuss some of the past birthday party games, how they came to be, and how they have adapted to modern-day.

Pin the Tail on the Donkey

In 1887, a craze swept the United States, called “Donkey Party.” This, of course, later came to be known as the game, “Pin the Tail on the Donkey.” The original game was created in the East North Central region of the U.S, specifically in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is thought that the game originated from central American farm life; country children would often think of new and fun games to entertain themselves with. Because the game is centered around a donkey, it is thought that the game must have begun on a farm.
The game was played much like it still is now, with one player who is blindfolded and spun around. Once they are spun at least three times, they much attach a pin to the picture of the donkey. The closest player to the actual tail is the winner. This game is both fun, quick, and exciting for most children. Because of its appeal to all — not just children — the game spread from Milwaukee to New York and Washington DC later that year.
What makes this game so shareable, is that it requires no formal translation. The joy of the game can be translated to any language or culture. Because of this, the game has managed to stay relevant at millions of birthday parties.

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Duck, Duck, Goose!

“Duck, Duck, Goose” is a beloved child’s game that has withstood the test of time. Whether you remember playing it, or your children remember playing it, this game has been around for generations — and for good reason! Not only is the game fun, but it allows children to exercise. Part of the intrigue of the game is the suspense of wondering who will be the ‘goose’ in the sequence. Children like to gravitate towards this game strictly because of the suspense.
It is not entirely known when the game was invented, however, it had been trailed back to Swedish roots. The earliest written reference to the game is mentioned in 1919 in a children’s book. Though it would appear to be invented this early, the game had been well known for decades, so this is not an accurate origin date. Evidence shows that the game has long been a child’s game, as it has a wide range of imitate it all over the work. For example, “Duck, Duck, Goose” has been adapted by many different cultures such as in America, where the version is called “Duck, Duck, Grey Goose.” Also, in Afrikaans, games such as “Vroteier”, has a shared resemblance with the game, which clue historians that perhaps the game isn’t originated in Sweden at all.
No matter where the game started the principle of the game is the same. A group of people sit in a circle. One person taps their heads saying “Duck” or “Goose”. Once a “Goose” has been chosen, that selected player much chance the person who chose them around the circle. If the chosen Goose tags their selector, they win and are able to sit back down.

Red Rover

The game of “Red Rover” may seem like a harmless children’s game, but the whole activity can use a bit of strategy. It is believed that this game is a way to teach children both teamwork and strategic warfare. The game is comprised of two separate teams, all linked together by their arms. Each team must strategically figure out how to break through the other teams link. The first team to break, will mean a victory for the other team. Much of the game is about determining the other team’s weakest link in the chain. Because of this, it is important for the leader to know and understand who that weak player is and how to avoid to many losses before the game is officially over.
The game typically begins with the saying, “Red rover, red Rover, send (insert name of player) right over,” and then the called out player must detach from their team and run towards the other team’s link. If they cannot break the link they join the opposite team, which only makes their link stronger.
This game has been said to have started in the 19th century in United Kingdom. Many have thought that they game was a way to educate children about warfare and the use of strategy to break the solidarity of the enemy. From the United Kingdom, the game eventually spread to America, Australia, and other parts of the world. For example, in Russia, the game is called “Ali Baba”, while in Hungary it is called “Send a King, a soldier.”
Though today’s version of this game isn’t used for military purposes, it is an important game to teach children. When a child knows how to play Red Rover, they have a better understanding of teamwork and leadership. However, the game can just as easily be mindless and fun. Many believe, because the game has such strong ties to learning and history, the game has managed to survive for centuries.

Musical Chairs

The origin of “Musical Chairs” is unknown, however it has been played for centuries in many different countries. It is not entirely known where or how the game began, but the fun has last many years. Even today, the game of Musical Chairs is seen in elementary schools and pop culture. Movies have often referenced the game in period pieces, such as Amadeus and Evita. Musical Chairs, though it started as a game is often used as a metaphor for a power struggle, in which the outcome is unknown.
The object of Musical Chairs is that a group of chairs are placed in a circle, facing out. A song is played as the game’s participants walk around the circle. Once the music stops, each player must find an empty. Anyone without a chair, is then eliminated. This game goes on until only one chair is left between two players.
Though the origin of the game is unknown, the original name of the game was “Trip to Jerusalem.”

Rebounderz

At Rebounderz, we are happy to encourage games and playtime. We believe, that playing together makes children both healthy, physically and mentally. By playing with other children, leadership and teamwork skills can be improved and honed. Part of our business is encouraging children to play and learn from others just like them. If your child wants a fun playground to play in, our indoor trampoline park is the perfect place. At our park, they will be surrounded by children their age, where they can play freely all afternoon.

We will continue this blog series, so stay tuned!

We recently started compiling a birthday party checklist to make your party planning easier than ever, though we still have a few more entries to tackle today. We’ll be looking at the final touches that you can put on your kid’s birthday party to make it a day to remember. One great way for a memorable day is to pick a location that has fun built-in. Here in Rohnert Park, there’s no better place for a birthday party than Rebounderz Trampoline Park! We have awesome birthday party packages that will make your little one’s special day a blast for everyone, parents included! Without further ado, part two of the birthday party checklist.

-Food and Drinks

As we covered before, much of the decision for what food you serve will come down to what time the party is held. Whether you end up choosing lunch or appetizers, there are plenty of kid-friendly options available to you. There’s the old standby of pizza, pretty much every kid likes chicken tenders, or you can even go with some mini-corn dogs. Finger foods are always the best option as they’re easier to prepare, serve, and clean up after than more involved meals. It’s incredibly important that you get information from parents regarding any food allergies their child may have. Include this question on your invite to help your planning and avoid any health emergencies. If your party has a theme, try choosing foods that will fit in with the theme.

With drinks, it depends on age and activity. For younger kids, juice or water is usually the best option. When they get older, iced tea, lemonade, or soda are popular choices. For summer birthdays, you can have snow cones or milkshakes for a fun treat to beat the heat.

-Party Favors

Here’s an item that gives you a lot of freedom to work with. You can either go with store-bought tchotchkes and favors or you can make your own. This is where you can really bring a party’s theme to life. If it’s a space adventure party, you can find little toy ray guns for everyone to play with. A swimming party can have goggles and pool toys. Whether you try to go specifically with the age range of your guests or you go more general to appeal to a wide range of ages, there are so many options available to make this a party everyone enjoys. A goodie bag with snacks, candy, toys, stickers, or craft supplies gives everyone a present they can take home and have fun with. You can also set up a box with different party favors, give each guest a bag, and have them pick out a few things to give them a choice in what they get.

-Entertainment, Activities, and Crafts

This entry on the checklist can take many forms. Entertainment can range from hiring a balloon artist, selecting a location with activities (like Rebounderz Trampoline Park), having a movie party, or renting a bounce house, just to name a few. If you end up going with outside entertainment for the party, it’s a good idea to match it with the theme of the party. That is to say, if you’re having an under the sea themed party, a performer in a Spider-Man costume wouldn’t fit in too well. Keep in mind any additional items you may need for the entertainment when you take care of this checklist item. Some other options for entertainment include scavenger hunts, karaoke, craft projects (like making slime), or a cookie decorating station. Ask your kiddo what they would want to do with their friends for their party to get more ideas.

-Games

Everyone loves to play games, no matter what age they are. Choose some games that tie into the theme of the party to get everyone involved and having fun. If you’re having a pirate party, play a game of “Walk the Plank”. Mark off a plank shape on the ground with tape or chalk, blindfold the participants and have them try to walk across the plank without stepping off. Whoever gets to the end or gets the furthest without falling can win an eyepatch or toy pirate hook! Even if you don’t have a particular theme, there are plenty of games that you can play that are fun for everyone. You can always lean on old standbys like “Pin the Tail on the Donkey” or “Musical Chairs”. At Rebounderz, you can have everyone run the Ninja Warrior obstacle course, awarding a prize to whoever does the best. Depending on the age range of the party guests, you should find something that is engaging but not too intense. It’s all for fun, after all!

-Music

Whether you make a CD yourself or you buy a party CD, music can kick a party up a notch. You could even tie the music in with the theme of the party. A pirate party complete with jolly sea shanties can bring everything together in an exciting and unique way. For young kids, you can find CDs that have songs which double as games like “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes” or “If You’re Happy and You Know It”. Older kids will likely have music they enjoy, so putting together a playlist of their favorite songs will really give them a customized party that is suited to them. Music is often the X-factor that, when it’s missing, it can make a party feel incomplete.

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That concludes our two-part look at making a kid’s birthday party checklist. Whether you follow this to the letter or you make your own adjustments, we hope it helps you avoid the stress that party planning can cause. With a little bit of preparation and creativity, you’ll be able to put together a birthday party your little one will remember for years to come. Before you get started, check off the location on your checklist when you book your party at Rebounderz Trampoline Park right here in Rohnert Park. Our birthday party packages are awesome, with set up, clean up, and a dedicated party host there to help everything go smoothly. We hope to see you soon!