If you have a child born during the winter season, you may already know what a challenge it is to plan their birthday parties. The winter is often very cold, icy, and not appropriate for outdoor play. So, how can you still plan a fun birthday party in the winter? In this blog, we will go over some party ideas you can browse through. Hopefully, by reading this blog, you will get inspired to plan a truly unforgettable birthday party for your child.

Ice Skating Party

Since it is the winter, you have the opportunity to use the weather to your advantage. Because of this, you can plan an ice skating or hockey birthday party for your children. Because it is cold outside, they can use the weather to participate in fun winter-time sports. Ice skating is an incredible pastime that requires patience and balance. With an ice skating party, you can get every one of your guests to participate in a fun and easy activity. And, best of all, ice skating involves more physical activity than you would think. Because of this, your children can unknowingly get the physical exercise they need.

The downside of this type of party:
There are downsides to this type of birthday party that are hard to ignore. For one, if you have a birthday party in an ice rink, you have to be used to the cold temperature inside. Because the ice rink needs to be kept at a certain temperature to keep the ice frozen, your guests may have to bundle up for the entire duration of the party. Not only that, but ice skating can be a bit tricky to get the hang of. If your party is filled with ungraceful participants, falls are bound to happen. And, if you have smaller children, tears may be inevitable.

Movie Party

It is hard to go wrong with a movie party. With this type of birthday party, your little one and their closest friends can enjoy a movie of their choosing. Not only can this type of party be entertaining for everyone involved, but it can give your guests a memorable experience. Movies can give your children something to enjoy, talk about, and remember forever. Better still, depending on the film, a light comedy can put you all in a good mood and uplift you for the entire day. Even better, since movie theaters are heated, you and your guests can have a warm, comfortable place to sit away from the winter cold!
As a parent, movie parties are a great choice because they require your children and their friends to sit and enjoy a film for roughly two hours. This means, you can sit and relax, while they have an enjoyable time watching a flick. Watching a movie at your local theater also means that you won’t have to host your child’s party at your house and clean up their mess. When children have birthday parties at your house, something is bound to be broken, stained, or dirtied. At your local movie theater, you are not responsible for cleaning up your child or their friend’s messes. This can help parents calm down and reduce their stress greatly. Limiting stress can be enough to make movie parties a win-win for parents.

The downside of this type of party:
Though movie parties can have a long list of benefits, there are just a few downsides to them as well. For one, movie parties can be expensive. When you plan this type of party, you have to expect to feed each of your guests with popcorn, soda, and any other concessions they want. Then, you may have to expect that one of them will have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the movie. If you are planning to have a movie party, generally, you will want another chaperone to accompany you. Obviously, you can’t leave any of the children alone, especially if only one needs to use the restroom. Because of this, having another adult with you can be helpful. Both parents can work as a team to ensure all the children are fed, safe, and enjoy the movie.

Slumber Party

Slumber parties are great for parents who don’t want to spend large sums of money at a local movie theater. Though a movie theater party has its perks, it can be very expensive to execute. Because of this, slumber parties can be a better choice for families with many children. For one, slumber parties can make friends feel closer together and enjoy their time more. As stated, movie theater parties can be a bit isolating, as children can zone out and watch the film. If you would like your child to have a birthday party with more interaction, slumber parties are ideal.
At a slumber party, you can plan out many different fun activities for your little guests. From nail painting to fun games, your slumber party can be anything you want. Better still, you can theme your child’s slumber party, so that all the games and activities involve participation. And, since all the activities are in your home, they don’t have to be wild or extravagant. In the winter, you want to have parties indoors in order to keep children warm, safe, and entertained for long periods of time.
Slumber parties can allow your child to have a fun afternoon and night to enjoy with their friends. Not only can they have fun playing, eating, and chatting with their very best friends, but they can stay up late. Generally, slumber parties mean that bedtimes don’t apply, or at least, they are a lot later. This can give your child a sense of freedom and an extra special treat just for their birthday.

The downside to this type of party:
We mentioned this a bit in our previous paragraph, but parties hosted at your home can get messy. Parents are generally the ones that have to clean up the mess and try to get their home back in order once the chaos has subsided.
Slumber parties can also be a bit problematic because they require your constant attention. For one, parents not only have to prepare their home for the party, but they have to think of fun activities to entertain all the guests. If there aren’t enough activities, the guests can grow bored and not have as good of a time.

Indoor Trampoline Park

At an indoor trampoline park, you and your guests can gain a warm place to play and stay active. At Rebounderz, we have activities already set up for you and your guests. This means that you won’t be responsible for researching fun activities to entertain your child’s friends for two hours. Instead, all you have to do is visit your local Rebounderz. And, if purchasing individual tickets for your guests seems like an expense you are not looking forward to, Rebounderz has birthday packages that you can take advantage of. In our birthday packages, you and your guests can receive one to two hours of play time, arcade time, pizza, and so much more. Instead of stressing out about planning your child’s birthday, Rebounderz provides you with everything you need in one location. And, since all of our attractions are indoors and heavily padded, your guests can enjoy our park away from the cold and completely safe.

Rebounderz of Rohnert Park

If your child has a birthday in the winter season, it may be a good idea to check out your local Rebounderz. Here, you will find endless activities for a price you will love. If you are looking for a location for a winter birthday party, you won’t find anything as convenient and as entertaining as our Rebounderz indoor trampoline park. Contact us today to reserve a birthday party room.

Breaking Bones: How to Avoid It!

Your bones are the essential structure of your body. Without strong bones, your body wouldn’t be able to run, jump, stretch, or even stand. Because your bones are so essential to your life, when they break it can be devastating to your life. For one, breaking a bone hurts — a lot! Bones aren’t meant to be broken, which when they do, you can suffer massive amounts of pain.
In this blog, we would like to discuss how to prevent severe injuries, such as bone breaks, on trampolines.

How to Bones Break?

At Rebounderz of Rohnert Park, we keep our indoor trampoline park extremely safe. Not only do we limit how extreme jumpers can be at our park, but we also take the time to pad each of our attractions. This added attention to safety makes our park that much more safe for our little customers. However, as you might know, accidents can happen always — even with every precaution in place. With this being said, broken bones can happen when you least expect it.
But how to bones break?
Bones can break for three main reasons:

• Bones Stress
• Impact Fractures
• Weak Bones

Bones Stress: Bone stress occurs when too much pressure is applied to a bone in the same spot. However, the consequences of this stress won’t appear until much later. As your bone is stressed continuously, it will weaken and develop small cracks. Though you won’t be able to feel these cracks, the bone will be extremely weakened and vulnerable. The cracks will develop as small imperfections at first then grow to become a large fracture and then become a full break.

Impact Fractures: Impact fractures occur suddenly when the bone is hit hard with enough stress to break the bone. Impact fractures are the most common type of break and seen when people are exerting themselves too harshly. Any athlete that participates in contact sports is likely to know what an impact fracture feel like.

Weak Bones: Certain illnesses can cause your bones to grow thinner and weaker. When your bones lose their strength, they are much more vulnerable to fractures and breaks. And, worst of all, weak bone break don’t need to occur when you are being heavily active or in an accident. Even if you are just participating in everyday activities, your weak bones can break. If you know that you have thin bones, you need to be careful about how heavily you exert yourself. When bones are fragile, they are most likely to break, but also take longer to heal.

The Most Common Bones to Break

Different bones are more fragile than others. For example, your clavicle, which is the top bone that connected your arm to your ribcage and is the most commonly broken bone in the human body. The clavicle, or collarbone, is the most vulnerable bone in your body and is, unfortunately, one of the hardest bones to heal. Though your hyoid bone is the weakest bone in your body, your clavicle is the bone that takes much of the impact of your body. If you are hit or are impacted by something hard enough, your clavicle could easily fracture. Even newborns that pass through the birth canal can easily break their clavicle.
The second most common bone you can break is your arm. Your arms are used to brace yourself, especially for impact. On a trampoline, it is natural that you would want to put your arms out to keep from hitting your face on the trampoline. However, when you brace yourself with your arms, you are focusing the weight of your body and the impact of your fall on your arm bones. If you are going to land, it is best to do so with a rolling motion. If you do this, the weight and impact of your fall can be distributed throughout your body, rather to just one bone.

How to Handle Impact?

On a trampoline, the best way to land is on your bottom. With tissue and strength of your lower body is much stronger and can handle your fall. You should never try to land on your hands or even on a single leg. When it comes to using a trampoline, you want to do so safely. After all, who wants to spoil all the fun by breaking one of their bones?
To prevent breaks, make sure that you are using Rebounderz trampolines the right way. And, to ensure that you will not injure yourself, be sure to refrain from flipping, landing in unique ways, and jumping too high. Rebounderz is about having fun in safe ways, but there are ways to abuse our trampolines in ways that could potentially be harmful.

Rebounderz of Rohnert Park

Though breaks can happen, if you are careful, you won’t be at risk of an injury. Rebounderz of Rohnert Park is here to provide children a fun and safe place to have fun. To ensure that you are safe while at our park, please respect our safety protocol at all times. Stop by your local Rohnert Park Rebounderz today!

Boredom is healthy for your kids!

We have all felt that nagging, empty feeling like there is nothing to do. The feeling is annoying, but little did we know boredom is actually healthy for you — especially for your kids! Yes, in fact, Gallup polls have found that one in five parents strongly agree that boredom is actually good for their kids. But why?
Well, the common idea is that boredom is necessary to appreciate when you are busy. However, there are other theories to why boredom is good for children. In this blog, we will discuss why boredom is actually a good thing for your kids.

Ideas about boredom

Some people believe that in boredom, we can appreciate when we are busy with things to do. Others, however, view boredom as a sign that they aren’t doing enough in their lives. The following are reasons why boredom is a benefit to your child.

Boredom encourages imagination and creativity.

Boredom can be a device children use to exercise their creativity. When kids are bored, they are able to think imaginatively to occupy their time. This can be extremely beneficial, as children with active imaginations are happier and generally, healthier. Though you should not try to make your child bored, you should also feel the obligation to fill their time. Allowing them to create and imagine when they are bored in necessary for helping them build a healthy mind.

Boredom develops problem-solving skills.

When children are bored, they will often complain to their parents. However, it is not completely your job to fill your child’s every waking moment with something to do. Sometimes, it is good to do nothing so that your child can build important problem-solving skills. They can build these skills by realizing that their parents aren’t going to entertain them and that they will have to learn to entertain themselves. Typically, when children decide to entertain themselves, they will choose to do things that are good for them. For instance, they can lay down for a nap, paint, play, and even write a story. All of these activities are healthy for them, and the best part is, they have decided to do it for themselves.

Boredom develops new skills.

While your child is bored, they will decide to partake in activities to occupy their time. This can mean that they use this time to develop current or newer skills. For instance, while your child is bored they can grow interests in other skills, such as art, music, and sports. Through boredom, children can find other things that interest them. When children dully look at a television screen, they aren’t improving their skills set. Allowing your child time in the day to ponder and think of things that interest them can be extremely beneficial.

Boredom helps children form stronger bonds.

When you’re bored, you are more likely to do things you don’t normally do. For instance, when you are bored, you may decide to call a friend or spend time with someone you haven’t seen in a while — children are no different. When children are bored, they are much more likely to contact their friends and even their family. This can help your child build lasting relationships with their friends and family.

Rebounderz Rohnert Park

Of course, though boredom does have its benefits, not many of us enjoy feeling bored. If you and your child are having an uneventful day, stop by your local Rohnert Park Rebounderz. We have plenty of exciting attractions to help fill your day and give you the dose of cardio you need. Visit our indoor trampoline park today!

Bullying, unfortunately, is a very real part about growing up. The strong will often prey on the weak or innocent. Because this is a fact, many kids grow up feeling alone or ashamed. Bullying can lead to low self-esteem, anxiety, and even depression in young children. The happiest childhood can easily be overcast by bullying and constant teasing. Really good moments can be poisoned by a mean-hearted joke, a rumor, or even physical bullying.
Rebounderz takes bullying very seriously, and as it is National Bullying Prevention month, we would like to shed some light on the subject of bullying in America.

Bullying Happens More Than Once

Though bullying can have lasting effects in just one incident, bullying is rarely ever done once. Most times, bullies choose to tease other students two or three times a month. Though the bullying can range from small comments to severe physical torture, even once, it is never acceptable.
Unfortunately, in America, bullying is very common. As much as 17 percent of students report being bullied two to three times a month and the bully is never punished. Over 3.2 million students in America are the victims of bullying each year, which means millions are struggling without any hope of being heard. Though Rebounderz is just an indoor trampoline park, we recognize that bullying is an issue in the United States. Because of this, we have a no-bullying policy in our park. We encourage cooperative play and jumping times. Anyone caught bullying could have their jumping right revoked, and if bad enough, asked to leave our trampoline arena.

Consequences of Bullying

The Victims: Victims of bullying can find that they are not as motivated to go to school, participate in their passions, and even hang out with friends. Isolation is, unfortunately, a primary symptom of bullying, as victims will feel insecure and outcasted. Because of this, victims can back themselves “into a corner” where they don’t feel comfortable to be themselves. Being constantly bullied can make victims want to skip school to avoid situations where they could be victimized. For instance, over 160,000 teens reportedly skip school every day to avoid being picked on by bullies.

The Bully: Bullying is often a side effect of being bullied, ignored, or abused in some aspect outside life. Bullies tend to feel victimized in their lives themselves, which makes them feel like they need to bully others to regain control over their own dominance. Even the sweetest person could become a bully if they feel pressured to show dominance over someone else. Even though bullies can be rotten, there is generally always an explanation for their behavior. Regardless of why they bully, bullies tend to behave poorly to others to achieve something, either to make friends or to show power and control. However, when kids bully, it typically results in the opposite. Kids are less likely trust a bully to be their friend, which often leaves the bully to be in complete isolation for most of their school years.
Bullies tend to bully to gain control or power, but this isn’t definite either. When kids bully, it shows that something is very seriously wrong, either in school life or home life. Bullying alerts others that something is fundamentally wrong in a child’s life, especially if they think physical and verbal abuse is the way to get what they want.

Who Can You Reach Out To?

By 14, 30 percent of boys and 40 percent of girls will talk to their peers about bullying. That means most kids will silently take being bullied and teased in silence. They can easily fill with hatred and loathing and have no outlet to relieve their frustration. In many cases, kids don’t want to snitch on others to tell a grown up that something is wrong. But, by staying silent, the issue is never resolved, which mean the bully is never punished.
If your child is being bullied, they should absolutely tell their teacher or a grown-up. Bullying should never be tolerated in schools. But, unfortunately, even when bullying is happening every day, teachers are only able to intervene four percent of the time. That means the rest of bullying situations are never addressed.

Why Are Kids Mean?

Children are naturally mean, whether they mean to be or not. So, why are kids mean? Well, younger kids can be mean because they have not yet learned shame or how feelings and emotions work. However, older children between eight and 18 are mean because they are angsting about their lives. Puberty and adolescents, in general, are stressful times, which means bullying can be prevalent.

Rebounderz Rohnert

At Rebounderz, we have a no bullying rule. You can come enjoy our trampolines and other attractions, but bullying at our indoor trampoline park is never tolerated. Rebounderz is a place to have fun and enjoy being a kid. If you would like to have an afternoon filled with laughter and fun, visit your local Rohnert Rebounderz today!

National Childhood Obesity Month

Obesity in America is a problem, and it doesn’t seem to be going away. Though the United States is a champion for innovation, technology, and other astounding breakthroughs, it seems we fall short when it comes to general health. Obesity, specifically childhood obesity, is a major problem that our culture has yet to find solutions for. There have been minor improvements, of course, as menus at some fast food restaurants now have to post calorie counts. And, of course, schools now demand that children play for at least 60 minutes in mandated physical education classes. But, even with these improvements, childhood obesity is still a big problem in the U.S. So, what can we do about?

The change comes with the parents.

Staying Active

As a parent, a lot of responsibility falls to you. Though it may seem like added weight to start worrying about what your child is eating, their health is up to you. You need to monitor what your child is eating and how active they are staying throughout their day. Inactivity is a leading reason why children become obese.

Though school require 60 minutes of physical education, that does not necessarily mean that your child is participating in the activity. Instead, they would be simply going through the motions, slowly walking, and even ditching the class. It is important as a parent to make sure your child is staying active.
School sports or club sports are great way to ensure that your child is working out outside of school mandated programs. Sports not only will keep your child active and healthy, but build important team and leadership skills they will use for the rest of their life.

Underlying Issues

If your child shows no enthusiasm for working out, playing sports, or even their own physical education classes, perhaps it is important to talk to them. Every child doesn’t need to be a track star or a football captain, but physical activity is important for every child. Typically, when people are depressed or repressing feelings of anger or sadness, they will refuse to work out (which is ironic because working out is great for stress). Obesity is directly linked to depression and bullying among children. If there is an underlying issue, it is important, as a parent, to offer support to your child.

Changing the Thought Process

Much of the issue with childhood obesity is that children don’t have the right thought process when it comes to working out; they see it as a negative, rather than a positive activity. Exercise is hard. It physically demands that you push yourself. But, after working out comes great reward. Not only will you be healthy but your muscles can grow bigger and stronger. Many times, the reason children are obese is because they think negatively of working out. This thought process can come from their own perception or perhaps an adaptation of their parents’ relationship to working out. For instance, if you, as a parent, are overweight, this can cause your child to form a negative connection between exercise and their lives. Because they view working out as a chore, they are less likely to partake in it, which will mean they will gain weight.

Rebounderz of Rohnert Park

One of the best ways to ensure that your child doesn’t gain unnecessary weight is by keeping them active early on. By encouraging them to form a healthy way of life, they are less likely to view working out as a negative. Instead of giving in to laziness, they will be able to learn how exercise can help them grow healthy and strong.
At Rebounderz, we understand the importance of exercise. We encourage every child to bounce at our indoor trampoline park and experience how wonderful staying active can be. Many times, if a child has grown to under-appreciate physical activity, perhaps it is because they have not experienced it in a fun way. At Rebounderz, we offer a fun-filled experiences for people of all ages. You can come to our indoor trampoline park and bounce away on our trampoline park or play trampoline dodgeball. The best way to change a child’s mind about exercise is to make it fun! Visit your local Rohnert Park Rebounderz today.

1. Breakfast

There’s a reason breakfast has been called the most important meal of the day. When we wake up, our body is depleted of fuel. In order to get the energy we need to make the most out of the day ahead, it’s vital to have a good breakfast filled with vitamins and nutrients. Give your kid a breakfast of nutritional foods like oatmeal, fresh fruit, almonds, scrambled eggs, and milk. These foods all go a long way toward strengthening bones and muscles while promoting brain growth and development. All this is to say, don’t skip breakfast!

2. Fruits and Vegetables

Nutrition doesn’t start and stop with breakfast. On the contrary, everything we eat has an effect on our bodies, some in ways you might not know. It is recommended for each primary meal you eat (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), that at least half of your plate be covered with fruits and/or vegetables. This ensures a steady intake of vitamins and nutrients that your kids need to grow up big and strong. See which fruits and veggies your child enjoys most and find ways to include them in each meal.

3. Hydration

Dehydration is something that can affect everyone, regardless of what season it is. With that said, the risk of dehydration increases in the summertime, because we’re often spending more time outside in the heat running around. Hydration is important to prevent heat-related illnesses such as heat stroke, exhaustion, nausea, just to name a few.

4. Sunscreen

With most people getting outside to enjoy the beautiful summer weather, they’re under the sun much more than during the rest of the year. This makes sunscreen an indispensable asset to our health. Dermatologists using sunscreen that is at least SPF 30, it is able to block up to 97 percent of the sun’s harmful UVB rays. While higher SPF sunscreens can block a bit more of those rays, there is no way to block 100 percent of them. Sunscreen should be applied every two to three hours, but you should do it more often when you’re in or around water. Just because you’re swimming doesn’t mean you’re protected from the sun.

5. Sunglasses

While you might be aware of the dangers the sun presents to your skin, you might not know how it can damage your eyes as well. Just like sunscreen protects your skin from harmful UVB rays, wearing a pair of sunglasses can protect your eyes from 99 percent of UV rays, which can damage your eyes a great deal.

6. Rest

Without school causing kids to wake up early, many kids take advantage of this and stay up extra late during the summer. However, with how much summer activity is done outside in the heat, rest becomes incredibly important to avoid heat exhaustion. When playing outside, kids should make sure they take some breaks in the shade to get out of the sun. It’s recommended for kids to get at least eight-ten hours of sleep every night to recuperate from the days activities and grow well.

7. Oral Hygiene

When you think of treats to eat in the summer, you likely think of ice cream, shakes, and other sugary confections. This makes taking care of your teeth especially important in the summer. Ensure your child is sticking to recommended brushing and flossing habits to keep their teeth in good shape through the summer. Make sure you schedule a visit with the dentist every six months to prevent major dental issues which can hit kids especially hard when they’re developing.

8. Physical Activity

As noted in our previous blog, staying active through the summer is incredibly important for kids to develop properly. Help your little one avoid sliding into a sedentary lifestyle by encouraging them to have a minimum of 60 minutes of physical activity a day. Whether it’s riding bikes, swimming, or just playing sports with friends, there’s plenty of fun ways to be active through the summer.

9. Safety Gear

When your child is playing around and getting that physical activity time in, it’s vital that they wear the proper safety gear for the activity. Helmets, knee pads, elbow pads, shin guards, and closed-toe shoes are all hugely helpful to keep kids safe when they’re playing around. Without them, they risk an injury that could bring their summer fun to a halt quickly.

10. R.I.C.E.

In the event your child does get hurt, they should know how to treat it while waiting for a parent to get home. Teach them about the R.I.C.E. method, which is as follows:

• Rest – Important to the recovery of any type of injury.
• Ice and Compression – This helps with swelling and pain issues.
• Elevation – The injured body part should be elevated to help the healing process begin.

There are many ways you can help your child stay healthy this summer, but we hope this list can act as a good resource for you. If you want to help your child find the fun in physical activity, bring them to Rebounderz here in Rohnert Park. Whether they want to jump around on the trampolines or they want to test their skills on the Ninja Warrior course, we know they’ll have a blast while they beat the heat. We hope to see you here soon!

-Limit Screen Time

Whether your kid loves watching TV or is all in on playing Fortnite, it’s important to set limits on how much time they spend in front of a screen. Experts recommend keeping screen time to about two hours a day to keep them from falling into a sedentary lifestyle. You can also incorporate physical activity into their television time. Have them do jumping jacks during commercials or push-ups during loading screens to get them off the couch while they have fun. You can even make it into a game or contest, such as how many jumping jacks can you do before your show comes back.

-Make it a Family Activity

An easy way to make sure kids are staying active is to make it something the whole family does together. Go for a walk around the neighborhood after dinner, play some basketball together, play catch — really anything that gets everyone up and moving works great. Kids are more responsive to activities when they get to participate with their parents, because it gives them the feeling of being involved in something.

-Give Them Structure

While we’re not suggesting you put your child in some extreme CrossFit routine that dictates every exercise they need to do, giving them a bit of structure can help them maintain focus when they’re getting physical activity. This can be anything from enrolling them in a summer recreation league for baseball or just setting a specific time each day to go out and play. Try to schedule their outdoor play for when the sun isn’t at its peak, because it’s much harder to have fun when you have the sun beating down on you.

-Free Day Camps

Check around with local organizations to see what type of programs and camps are offered for kids in the summer. This is a low-cost and often free way to keep kids active while giving them a chance to make some new friends in a safe place. Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the YMCA are both great organizations that put on many programs for this reason, and they will also have adult supervision so you can trust that your children will be safe.

-Don’t Forget the Fun

One of the biggest things that gets kids to tune out of physical activity is when it feels like work. If you want to foster a desire to stay physically active, it’s important to find things your child finds fun. Try out a variety of different activities and sports to see what they latch onto. Kids can learn a lot of life lessons that they’ll carry with them for years to come through participating in a local sports team. When you find an activity they have fun with, ask them why they like it. If there’s an activity or a sport they don’t enjoy, see why they don’t. Not only will this engage your child and get them to think critically about what they’ve been doing, it will also help you think of more ideas for activities they will like.

-Give Them Options

Whether you work full-time or you’re a stay-at-home parent, there may be times where you aren’t able to be fully involved in your child’s physical activity. Keeping toys and equipment somewhere that’s easily accessible to them will help them take control over their exercise and activity. Have a stash of balls, rackets, jump ropes, hula hoops, and other stuff like that available to them in the garage so they can easily grab something and go play when they want to.

-Get Friends Involved

Nothing makes exercise feel more like a chore than when you’re forced to do it alone. When you get your child’s friends involved, they’re more likely to enjoy physical activity. They’re probably going to ask to stay out playing even longer than their scheduled play time when they have friends around. Just remind them to keep out of trouble while they’re out and about!

Keeping your kids active through the summer will help them stay healthy and engage their body and brain in ways that will help them a lot when they go back to school. Make sure they’re getting at least an hour of aerobic, muscle strengthening, and bone strengthening activity every day and you’ll have a happy and healthy kid on your hands. When you want to give your child a fun opportunity to be physically active, bring them to Rebounderz in Rohnert Park. Whether they’re just jumping in our safe trampoline park, living out their daredevil dreams on the JumpXTREME Tower, practicing for the slam dunk competition on the SlamBall court, or testing their might on the Ninja Warrior Obstacle Course, we know they’re going to have a blast at Rebounderz. We hope to see you here soon!

As kids grow up, one of the most important lessons they can learn is how to effectively solve problems. Throughout every piece of our lives, we encounter problems that need to be handled, often times quickly. Everything from the tiniest of issues to big situations have to be dealt with as they come, so showing your little one effective problem-solving skills is beneficial from childhood to adulthood. With that in mind, we have compiled some of the best ways that you can teach your child how to be an effective problem solver. When these strategies are used in conjunction with your child’s teacher and how they pass along problem-solving skills, your child will be able to tackle whatever issue they may run into.

Give them space

One of the ways you can stunt your child’s problem-solving skills is by swooping in at the first sign of trouble to fix the issue for them. Letting your child tackle a problem on their own will help give them the confidence they need to manage stress and difficult situations in the future. While it’s good to give them the support they need to make those decisions, it’s important you refrain from taking control away from them. When they don’t have control over the situation, they are more likely to feel overwhelmed when a problem presents itself. That will result in an overreliance on your assistance that can create a large burden on yourself, as you will shoulder your child’s problems as well as your own. Avoid being a “helicopter parent” and show your child that with knowledge and hard work, nothing is insurmountable.

Encourage creative playtime

There are many ways that kids can solve problems, especially when it comes to playing around. Even if it doesn’t seem like it, being creative works those problem-solving skills a great deal. Utilizing imagination to create a story or situation for their action figures or dolls to interact in puts them into situations where they will be solving problems in a new way. They will invent problems for their toys which they then need to come up with fun or interesting ways to handle on their own.

Even if they aren’t formulating an elaborate plan for how Spider-Man has to save the day, they could be engaging their problem-solving skills in other ways. That can be playing with wooden blocks or building a Lego kit while following the instructions. Even with a regimented form of creative play, problems can arise that will need to be handled in order to complete the project. Encourage your child to engage in creative playtime that keeps their imagination working and you’ll see the results. After all, solving a tough problem can be a big reward on its own.

Create a roadblock for them to overcome

As a contrast to actively solving problems for your child, you can present them with a reasonable problem that they need to overcome. Make it a problem with a solution that is attainable and provide them with as much information about the issue as possible. When they have information about the problem they’re attempting to take on, they will be better equipped to handle the issue. This will also prepare them for critical thinking that is required to overcome obstacles throughout their life, as they will have practice under their belt and the confidence that comes with achievement.

Present multiple possible solutions

Take any opportunity that you can to facilitate decision making for your child. When you present your child with multiple options to solve a problem or answer a question, it will ensure they do not avoid tough decisions. It is especially important that you do not explicitly state that there is one right answer that isn’t negotiable. Show your child there is more than one way to complete a task, address an issue, or find a solution to a problem. When they see that there are many ways to get things done, it will help them think outside the box with future issues they encounter. That makes them less likely to give up when there isn’t a clear solution put in front of them.

Make problem-solving a fun activity at home

Problems come up every day, in everyone’s life. Instead of treating a problem like something to be dreaded, make overcoming that difficulty a fun situation. When you approach problem-solving with a positive outlook, you not only show your child that problems aren’t something to be afraid of, you also teach them effective coping mechanisms when life gets tough.

Read stories about problem-solving together

There are many wonderful books that both children and adults enjoy that feature problem-solving at their heart. For instance, one of the most popular book series of all time, Harry Potter, constantly presents big issues for the heroes to overcome. Throughout the series, there are many examples of creative thinking and active problem solving are presented. When children see examples like this in literature, it shows them how problems can be handled, how to think about those problems creatively, and how they can achieve things they didn’t previously think were possible with some hard work and ingenuity.

Work on some do-it-yourself projects together

Even if you don’t consider yourself all that handy, you can tackle a tricky project together with your child. When you become an active learner alongside your child, you are sharing in a journey together. Look up YouTube videos or How To books to see how you can build something, paint something, or cook something together. Your child will cherish this moment as a moment where you are on the same level together. Even if your experience level is higher for a certain project, tackling something that is a little more difficult for you will be a great learning experience for the both of you.

Teach them the basic steps of solving a problem

Every problem can be broken down into manageable steps that can make even the toughest issues look far easier to accomplish than they would if looked at as a whole. First, identify the issue at hand. Then, break it into smaller tasks to be handled, one by one. Essentially, you are making a recipe or instruction booklet for how you can solve the issue step by step. Some examples of problems you can break into smaller parts for your child are:

• Homework isn’t done
• Breakfast hasn’t been eaten
• Teeth haven’t been brushed
• Lunch isn’t packed
• Their backpack isn’t ready for school

All of those issues can be broken down into separate steps that can be handled one at a time until the problem has been solved. One of the biggest things that can create anxiety regarding decisions or problem-solving is when the problem itself seems too large to handle.

Allow for failure

As a parent, it can be tough to stand by and watch your child fail at a task. It’s easy to want to jump in and help them out as much as you can. However, when it is safe to do it, let them fail. There is no better teacher in all of life than failure. When we try something and don’t succeed, we’re able to look at the situation, see what we did wrong, and make adjustments. Failure can be scary, but if you make your child fear failure, they will lose the confidence needed to accomplish great things. You can’t know what it means to succeed if you don’t lose sometimes. Show your child the value of failure by providing examples of successful people that had to fail a lot before they succeeded, such as Thomas Edison.

Problem-solving comes in handy for everyone, of every age. Teaching your child how to effectively problem solve, learn from mistakes, and think creatively will make them a more well-rounded individual. Challenge them and show them ways to overcome seemingly insurmountable roadblocks to see them flourish.

At Rebounderz in Rohnert Park, we love to see kids being creative. Whether they’re working out their imagination in our safe trampoline park or they’re utilizing their problem-solving skills in the Ninja Warrior course, you’ll see them thrive here. We hope to see you soon!

When kids are in school, their time is occupied by reading, writing, and learning for the bulk of the day. While they may get some time to play at recess, they often come home with a lot of pent up energy from sitting around in class. Kids are hungry for fun stuff to do and you can help them out with some of these great after school activities that are easy to prepare. If you’re looking for an after-school spot to help your kids get active, come to Rebounderz Trampoline Park in Rohnert Park. We’ve got plenty of great attractions your children are sure to love.

-Obstacle Course

The best part of this activity is how creative you can get with it. You can set up household items like pillows and books to create obstacles your kids will have to navigate. You can even make up a story to give the course some context (i.e. the floor is “lava”). If the weather is nice, you can set up something bigger outside. Add in stations where they have to finish a task in order to move on, such as doing 20 push-ups or jumping rope for a minute. The only limits to this are your creativity and what you have on hand.

-Limbo

Easy to set up and even easier for everyone to do, all you will need for this is something to act as a limbo pole. Whether you choose an old broomstick, a jump rope, or some other object, all you need is two people to hold it and one person to limbo under it. Add in some fun music for some extra jolly vibes and everyone is having fun. The only question is, “How low can you go?”

-Cooking Together

While many parents worry about kids in the kitchen, you can take some precautions to make it a safe and fun experience for everyone. Find some kid-friendly recipes online and let your little ones help prepare dinner with you. Not only does this make kids feel more involved and grown-up, it could even foster a love of cooking that can extend long into their adult life.

-Volunteer Together

Teaching young kids empathy, kindness, and the value of giving back to the community are some of the most valuable lessons you can pass on to them. Whether you volunteer together at the local senior center, rake leaves for a neighbor, walk dogs at the animal shelter, or pick up trash at a nearby park (be sure to bring some gloves for that one), there are so many ways that you and your child can get involved and give back. Fostering a child’s desire to help others has a huge impact on the community and their behavior in and out of school.

-Make Up a Dance Routine

With all of that restless energy burning holes in their pockets, kids go crazy for a chance to dance and move around. Even if you don’t have time or budget to go to a dance class, you can learn a lot from dance instruction videos online. Don’t feel constrained by pre-existing dances, though. Put on a fun song and let the beat lead the way. You might be surprised by the fun moves your little one comes up with.

-Take a Trip to the Library

If your child loves to read more than running around, you can take them to the local library. This is a great opportunity for them to pursue their own academic interests and learn about something not covered in school. They might find fantasy or science fiction suits their tastes more than the required reading in class, which can help expand their mind and help their imagination grow.

There are so many after-school activities you can do with your kids that we’ll dive into more in the future, but for now, we hope this gets the ball rolling. A little bit of creativity can go a long way to help your child grow up great. So whether you choose a craft project, exercise activity, or a charitable pursuit, you’re improving their lives in ways that might surprise you in the long run. When you’re looking for the perfect after-school spot for your kids to get some extra energy out, bring them to Rebounderz in Rohnert Park! Our trampolines are safe, our foam pit is fun, and the Ninja Warrior will make your little one feel like a champion. We hope to see you here soon!

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.

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!

So your little one has a big day coming up. Planning a birthday party can feel pretty overwhelming sometimes, but you can bypass a lot of stress and headaches with a good checklist. We’ve compiled a checklist that you can use as your roadmap to a fantastic kid’s birthday party. One of the biggest decisions that you have to make when planning a party is the location. Take out the guesswork and go with a location guaranteed to be a hit with all partygoers, Rebounderz Trampoline Park right here in Rohnert Park!

Before we dive into the checklist, it’s always recommended to talk with the birthday boy or girl to see what they would like. Not only will that help narrow down your decisions, it’ll also give them a sense of involvement and pride when they see their idea come to life. With that out of the way, on with part one of our birthday party checklist.

-Budget

You don’t need to break the bank to have a successful birthday party. When you start off determining your budget for the event, it makes every other decision much easier. Keep in mind, just because a party has lots of stuff doesn’t necessarily mean it’s any more enjoyable than something smaller. Decide on a budget that you’re happy with and gives you the flexibility to work around.

However, just because you set a number for your budget doesn’t mean that’s exactly what you have to spend. It will instead act as a framework for the rest of the checklist items. There are many ways that you can save some money without losing out on items that often raise a party budget. Baking a homemade birthday cake and making your own invitations are both cost effective as well as a great way to make your party look and feel unique. A creative and affordable party is much more memorable than a generic store-bought one, so let those ideas flow. Plus, if you come in under budget, you might be able to get your little one an extra present they weren’t expecting!

-Time

There are two ways that time will need to be factored into your party planning. The first, what time you decide to have the party, will typically determine what type of food you’ll be having. If it is a party that starts at noon, it stands to reason you’ll have a more extensive lunch menu. On the other hand, if it starts in the afternoon, the partygoers are more likely to have already eaten their lunch, so the focus can shift to snacks. The second factor that needs to be accounted for is the age of the children. With younger children, they typically get tired and cranky after a few hours, especially when it’s close to their nap time. Doing either a morning party around 9 am or an afternoon party between lunch and dinner can ensure nobody gets cranky and everyone has fun.

-Length of Party

This goes hand-in-hand with what time you’re holding the party, as well as the age of the children. For toddlers and young kids, a party that lasts about two to two-and-a-half hours should be a perfect sweet spot. When kids get older, a party that lasts around four hours gives a bit more freedom, as you can pack that time with activities or games without the worry that they’ll get bored or cranky.

-Guests

Deciding how many guests you will be inviting impacts just about everything on your birthday party checklist. How much food will be needed, the size of the cake, number of party favors, and activities that involve everyone are all items that change depending on how many people will be attending. It’s also a good idea to determine if the party will be all boys, all girls, a boy and girl party, and whether there will be a range of ages invited. If you have a wide range of ages attending, it’s a good idea to go with party favors that aren’t age specific.

-Party Theme

This is usually the easiest decision to make, as children will have a character or subject they love that you can center the party around. Whether that’s making a superhero or princess party, it gives you a basis to form all of the activities, invitations, party favors, and other bits and bobs around. When they get older, their interests may move away from characters to activities, which could be a day at the trampoline park or skating rink. You can add some extra flair to the party regardless of the theme by including your child’s favorite color to make it feel made for them specifically.

-Invitations

As we said before, invitations are a great way to save some money while flexing your creative muscles. However, if you aren’t looking to DIY your invites, there are some other options available to you. Naturally, you can buy packages of invitations at party stores, grocers, and other retailers. They often have characters or themes attached to them, so if your party will have a theme, this is a great way to set expectations and get the kids excited for what’s to come. Otherwise, you can avoid wasting paper and time spent mailing by using evites online.

-Decorations

This is an area where it is very easy to overspend. Even if your theme is focused on a specific character, that doesn’t mean that every piece of decoration needs to have that character on it. Use the color palette of the color to find accent pieces to go with the character decorations. One cost-effective option is getting stickers of the character or theme and attaching them to plastic cups in the color palette.

-Party Supplies

Just like the decorations, you don’t need to have a character or theme on every piece of party supplies. With licensed products often carrying a premium price, supplementing them with generic but colorful pieces can end up looking better and more cohesive than if you drop a bucket full of cash on all character-laden party supplies. A fun and inexpensive idea is to give all guests a blank name tag to put on their cup, which everyone can then color and customize to their heart’s content. That makes it a creative group activity which allows everyone to make their own imprint on the party, no matter how small.

-Cakes

While this checklist item may be called ‘cakes,’ that doesn’t mean you can only choose a cake for your kid’s birthday party. This is another opportunity to really get creative and work with your child’s taste. Whether it’s store-bought or homemade, classic or ice cream, cupcake or cheesecake or pie, the options are just about limitless. If you want that look of a themed cake without shelling out for a bakery to make a custom one, making a homemade one and adding small figures is not only more affordable, it gives you more freedom to make a cake that fits your kid’s interests (and dietary needs) instead of a generic design. Most party supply stores have a section with a wide variety of cake toppers.

While this concludes part one of our look at making a birthday party checklist, rest assured we’ll be back with part two shortly. However, once you take these preliminary steps, the rest of your party planning will be a piece of cake. In part two, we’ll be diving into party food and drinks, party favors, entertainment, activities, games, and music. Luckily for you, there’s a perfect location for you to hold your little one’s birthday party, right here at Rebounderz in Rohnert Park. With our incredibly safe trampoline park, intimidating JumpXtreme Tower, exciting Ninja Warrior course, and the dunk-friendly SlamBall court, we’re sure there’s something to make all of your party guests have a blast. There’s no better place when you’re looking for a fun place no matter your age than Rebounderz. We hope to see you soon!

Here at Rebounderz in Rohnert Park, we try to make health and fitness fun for the whole family. We know how tough it can be to get your kids to eat right, so we’ve gathered some of our favorite dinner ideas that your whole family will get excited about. There’s no better way to build up an appetite than some trampoline fun, so come on over to Rebounderz and get to jumping today!

-Chicken Fingers and Green Beans with Tahini Sauce

You can spruce up this kid’s menu favorite with a side of healthy green beans. The savory-sweetness of the tahini and tomato dipping sauce adds another level of flavor that speaks to an adult’s palate, while not being so intense to scare off kids who aren’t excited about new foods. Bake the chicken fingers instead of frying them to make a less greasy yet still delicious dinner option.

-Ham and Cheese Pizza

Who doesn’t love a good hot ham and cheese sandwich? A fun twist on the lunchtime classic, making a ham and cheese pizza is sure to be a crowd pleaser. For some extra deliciousness, add some leafy greens and julienned apple slices. Not only do they add extra flavor and nutrients, it will set your pizza apart from the typical frozen or delivered fare. Apples on pizza? Trust us, you’re gonna love it. While we like to add a crisp Fuji apple, you can switch it up to match up with your family’s apple of choice for a wide range of flavor and texture.

-Turkey and Swiss Sloppy Joes

Forgo the traditional red meat with this new take on Sloppy Joes, replacing hamburger with some lean turkey. Kids will love the melty swiss cheese seeping out from the sides of the bun. Throw in some spinach and red peppers for a little bit of extra nutrition and subtle flavor to really knock it out of the park. Use a white sauce instead of the barbecue-esque sauce found in the original to bring it all together.

-Fresh Corn Cakes with Summer Salsa

If you’re looking for a vegetarian option that everyone will enjoy, look no further than these speedy and delicious relatives to the pancake. Top it off with a delicious salsa made up of peppers, mango, and other fresh produce to give a wonderful flavor with a satisfying crunch. Take a family trip to a local farmer’s market where everyone can choose an ingredient of their own to add to the salsa to make this an all-inclusive dinner activity. Depending on your family’s tolerance for spicy foods, the heat levels of the salsa can be adjusted to your tastes. Play around with different toppings for the corn cakes and we think you’ll see just how adaptable these little flapjacks can be.

-Chicken Spaghetti

Kids love chicken. Kids love spaghetti. Put them together and you have a delightful meal that’s sure to please. Swap out the store-bought sauce for a homemade one that only requires a few ingredients to avoid needless sodium and other additives. A little bit of freshly grated parmesan brings this plate together and you have a meal that takes less than ten minutes to prepare. Quick and tasty? Sign us up!

-Mini Bow Ties with Bacon, Peas, and Carrots

It can be quite the task to convince your little ones to eat their peas and carrots. When you toss them in with some delicious bacon, it gets a little bit easier. You can bring it all together with some mini bow tie pasta for an entrée everyone can get behind. Swap out the peas and carrots with some other veggies for one of the most versatile dinners around.

-Egg and Toast Cups

Whether you’re trying to start the day off right or you’re having a fun night of breakfast for dinner, this is a fun all-in-one dish you’re sure to enjoy. The best part is, other than the egg and toast, this dish is totally customizable. Spinach, chives, bacon, ham, and broccoli all make for great additions. Let your little one toss in the ingredients they want to eat so they can be more involved in the cooking process. You never know when a kid might catch the cooking bug!

-Ham and Swiss Egg Sandwiches

For a quick breakfast perfect for kids on their way to school, all you need is ham, an egg, an English muffin, and a cheese of your choice (swiss or gouda are two of our favorites). This is quick to prepare and easy to eat on the go, which will help you make sure your kids aren’t missing the most important meal of the day. These are especially good on cold mornings, as it will help them warm up after dealing with frigid temperatures outside.

-Tomato-Basil Soup

Everyone likes a classic grilled cheese with a nice bowl of tomato soup. Try out a homemade recipe with fire-roasted tomatoes, red peppers, and some herbs and spices to break away from the canned standard tomato soup. Try dipping some cheesy French bread for a fresh take on this classic dish.

-Chicken with Pepperoni-Marinara Sauce

Pepperoni pizza is a delectable treat kids and adults love. When you take pepperoni, marinara, and mozzarella, and pile it on top of some chicken, you get a dinner that really stands out. Since the flavors are familiar, even the pickiest of eaters will be convinced to give it a try. This dish is incredibly maneuverable, allowing for a ton of customization options to add veggies to put the finishing touches on a wonderful dinner.

-Waffle Sandwich

To really mix up the standard fare, you can make a wide range of sandwiches feel totally fresh by replacing the bread with waffles. Kids love waffles, which means you’ll have a bit more freedom with the contents you put within. Try whole wheat waffle batter for an option that is a bit healthier than your basic freezer aisle waffles.

-Chip-Crusted Fish Filets

This is a great option for kids that seemingly only want to eat fish sticks. Instead of the common ones you’ll find in the freezer, opt for some fresh cod from your grocery store’s fish department to avoid unnecessary additives found in frozen food. Whether you choose to coat them with salt and vinegar chips or you go with some basic original flavor potato chips, your kids won’t want to go back after they’ve tasted that satisfying crunch.

-Chicken and Bean Burritos

This doesn’t just apply to burritos, as you can use this combo in everything from tacos to nachos and everything in between. Instead of refried beans, go with the healthier black beans, which are more flavorful anyway. Add some freshly made salsa for nutritional veggies and some extra flavor. For the grown-ups, and more adventurous kids, add in some jalapeños to give them a bit of a kick.

There are many other delicious and healthy recipes out there that both kids and adults will enjoy, but we hope this gets the ball rolling for your dinner plans. When you want to work up an appetite, why not come over to Rebounderz in Rohnert Park? We have the safest trampoline park around and you can test your talents on our awesome Ninja Warrior course. We hope to see you jump in soon!