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  • The hidden costs are in the ER visits
    by 1970-01-01
  • I had exactly the same thoughts when I had my arm twisted to buy one for my 6 year old son.

    10 years later, it’s still out there, netting ripped, legs all rusty, plastic getting brittle. And my 16 year old son still loves to bounce around on it with his 9 year old brother.

    by danw1979
  • I had a trampoline as a preteen, they are loads of fun for pretty much all ages. Kids and adults of all ages had fun on them. However, I would never in a million years own one or allow one on my property as an adult, because they are humongous liability and most insurance companies won't cover you if you own one. At some point my parents insurance company did some reconnaissance, saw the trampoline, and immediately cancelled their policy on the spot. They are also considered an attractive nuance, legally, so if someone breaks into your yard and breaks their neck on it you're considered legally liable.

    As much as I like them, nothing is worth that kinda risk.

    We only had one because my parents were extremely irresponsible people. (In other ways too)

    by astura
  • I sweated the years we had a trampoline. It was visible from the street so anyone could have jumped on it and broke their neck. One of my children's friends did get hurt but fortunately, not enough to become an issue. They're a huge liability and not sure insurance covers them.
    by eweise
  • I've jumped on a trampoline effectively every day for the last decade.

    I find it very relaxing it helps me de-stress and think about things deeper than I would sitting in front of a computer.

    by HDBaseT
  • We bought a trampoline when our oldest was five. He didn't ask for it, we were just guessing. We got a good deal on one from Craigslist or similar that was brand new, still in the box, so probably like $50 or something.

    He loved it and many years later he still uses it, pretty much every day that it's not raining. He's well past the age where I would have thought he would still be interested. We've replaced the mat and all the springs to keep it going.

    Point being, sometimes you just don't know what kids will like.

    by usefulcat
  • >A reminder to buy the kids things they say they desperately want.

    If I were to follow this, I'd be spending half my days driving to stores to buy the thing my kids happen to "desperately" want today :)

    Also a reminder that you're not obliged to _buy_ everything. Its kind of amazing how ingrained this is into a large amount of peoples' heads. You can get a lot of things for free or secondhand. I got my kids' large trampoline for free.

    by lbrito
  • I went on a backyard trampoline once as a kid and it ended with the entire neighbourhood searching for me. I just couldn’t stop playing with my friends and was hours late for curfew. I had forgotten to tell anyone where I was.

    Fortunately, I integer overflowed my mom’s level of worry and she was too glad to have me back to be angry. Though, seeing her unwind from genuine terror was more effective than any level of scolding and I never again forgot to tell them where I was going.

    Trampolines, man.

    by Waterluvian

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