Bouncy house with older kids

AngelaVA · 04-21-2015, 06:10 AM

Let's say you are at a church or community festival of some kind and there's a bouncy house for kids. There's no posted or stated rules it's just open for kids to use. What would the general rules or ettiquete be? I have an 8 year old who is still very much in to stuff like that, she's small for her age (60 lbs or so) but she's obviously not as small as a 2 YO. She's really careful for younger kids but there's also the issue of gravity where her jumping can make the surface too unstable for a toddler. Ideally, I know, there would be turns for older and younger kids, but if there is not what would you tell your older kids. It doesn't seem fair to tell a kid she can't jump, but one event we were at a few months ago I noticed a couple of toddler parents very mad about older kids make or too unstable for them.

twoplustwo · 04-21-2015, 06:14 AM

I don't know, but since my kids are your kid's age, I am interested in the answers. I haven't run into this yet (ie usually a seperate bounce for toddlers) - but we may!

My dd is really amazing around littles, but my son

less so.

JoannaV · 04-21-2015, 08:11 AM

In my experience growing up, bouncy castles were for the slightly older kids and toddlers would only go on them if someone was looking after them.

mommylove · 04-21-2015, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoannaV

In my experience growing up, bouncy castles were for the slightly older kids and toddlers would only go on them if someone was looking after them.

ditto

milkmommy · 04-21-2015, 08:28 AM

I think they need to state clearer rules or have separate ones.

IF there weren't any I'd honestly just tell my kid be careful for littles and have a reasonable rule to how many could jump at once. We did a TON of bouncy houses with older kids when the girls were bitty.

You adjust as long as it wasn't big kids rough housing and obviously not even attempting to watch for littles we just adjusted or waiting.

Earthmummy07 · 04-21-2015, 08:29 AM

I'd encourage the older kid(s) to jump gently near the younger kids, knowing that the toddler will probably only want a short go and they could be more enthusiastic afterwards. Or, if its big enough, have them play the other side.

3PeasInAPod · 04-21-2015, 08:40 AM

I'd ask if they can separate the littles and the big kids. At our church for Halloween- they set a timer and separated the kids by size

mamaKristin · 04-21-2015, 08:59 AM

Having the kids go in based on size/age groups helps a lot.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

AngelaVA · 04-21-2015, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mamaKristin

Having the kids go in based on size/age groups helps a lot.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I get that but for example on Saturday we are going to go to the Y to a community event and they will have a bouncy house. I'm not in charge of it, it's not up to me to decide how it's run, I can only give directions to my own kids. Same with at DH's company picnic. We are just there as guests, we aren't in charge. It wouldn't be appropriate for us to start directing all the kids as to whose turn it is.

MrsHutch · 04-21-2015, 10:54 AM

I would just tell them to have fun and be careful if there are smaller ones in there.

Honestly, if kids are small enough that they could get hurt in there, it's their parents' responsibility to watch out for them and not let them in with bigger kids.

Aerynne · 04-21-2015, 11:14 AM

I'd try to get someone to implement big and little kid turns. Eight is awfully young to have to be careful- I'm sure they could but where is the fun for them? An eight-year-old should be able to bounce and have a good time and not worry about little kids, at least for some of the time.

rjy9343 · 04-21-2015, 06:40 PM

I agree with Mrs. Hutch. It is my job to keep my child safe, not someone else's. Ivy was about eight months and decided she wanted a turn, so James went in with her and it worked out well. He kept the bigger kids from jumping on her, but the big kids really did not need to worry since they were looking out for her anyway. I think it is not asking too much of kids not to jump on each other if for not other reason than it hurts to fall on someone.
I do pay attention to the bounce houses before she goes in. If there are kids that are being unsafe, she waits until they leave. Someone is there watching her and the other kids so that if things get out of hand, she can be reminded of the rules or pulled out of the bounce house depending on the situation.

gerberadaisy · 04-21-2015, 07:17 PM

I have noticed that some have an age written on the warning labels. If my kid is within that range, he'll be allowed to play freely & told to watch for little kids (he's 3 so he generally IS the little kid

). However, if the label says for older kids & he wants to give it a go, I just tell him to be careful & if the older kids, who it's designed for, are being too rough for my liking, I ask him to come out. If I knew the older kids, I'd ask them to be a little more careful, particularly if my little guy wasn't the only little one.

There are also usually weight & number of participant restrictions on the structures as well.

Seriously, who ever is in charge of the bounce house is risking a law suit if they don't have someone there monitoring it.

teamommy · 04-21-2015, 07:31 PM

I don't let mine in those things when they are little, because I think it is just too dangerous for them with much bigger children in there. The only times I have let them is at a birthday party or something where there are only very little ones there, or someone is organizing it to give turns. Even then none of my kids have wanted to stay in there for long when they are little. I think of it as bigger kid fun, generally.

I do tell my older ones to watch out if there are tiny ones in there, but I think parents are responsible. Their kids will get to do all of those things in a few years; not everything is for everybody.

ValiantJoy07 · 04-22-2015, 05:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoannaV

In my experience growing up, bouncy castles were for the slightly older kids and toddlers would only go on them if someone was looking after them.

I wouldn't let my kids jump when they were little until the big kids were out. Usually we would stand and wait for a turn and he workers would tell the big kids they had 3minutes than they'd need to take a break. My kids and a few other toddlers would take a turn and then they'd get it back.

But we've only ever been to very tight knit block party things.

04-21-2015, 06:10 AM	#1
AngelaVA Rose Garden Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 11,512	Bouncy house with older kids Let's say you are at a church or community festival of some kind and there's a bouncy house for kids. There's no posted or stated rules it's just open for kids to use. What would the general rules or ettiquete be? I have an 8 year old who is still very much in to stuff like that, she's small for her age (60 lbs or so) but she's obviously not as small as a 2 YO. She's really careful for younger kids but there's also the issue of gravity where her jumping can make the surface too unstable for a toddler. Ideally, I know, there would be turns for older and younger kids, but if there is not what would you tell your older kids. It doesn't seem fair to tell a kid she can't jump, but one event we were at a few months ago I noticed a couple of toddler parents very mad about older kids make or too unstable for them. __________________ Wife to David since July 2005, Mama to Genevieve born June 2006 and to Gabrielle born February 2009

04-21-2015, 06:14 AM	#2
twoplustwo Moderator Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 6,531	Re: Bouncy house with older kids I don't know, but since my kids are your kid's age, I am interested in the answers. I haven't run into this yet (ie usually a seperate bounce for toddlers) - but we may! My dd is really amazing around littles, but my son (much) less so. __________________ ESFJ DYT 3/2, Enneagram 9w8 married to My Guy (2003) mom to: Cherished (dd, 12/2005) Warrior (ds, 07/2007) saved & baptized (2004) Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:16

04-21-2015, 08:11 AM	#3
JoannaV Rose Trellis Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: VA, USA Posts: 2,606	Re: Bouncy house with older kids In my experience growing up, bouncy castles were for the slightly older kids and toddlers would only go on them if someone was looking after them. __________________ Joanna INTJ A Brit living in America DH (ISFP) 07/09 DS1 01/12 DS2 06/14 DD1 01/16

04-21-2015, 08:28 AM	#5
milkmommy Rose Garden sisters! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sunniest place on Earth and hotter than Phoenix! Might as well be sitting on the sun... Posts: 35,300	Re: Bouncy house with older kids I think they need to state clearer rules or have separate ones. IF there weren't any I'd honestly just tell my kid be careful for littles and have a reasonable rule to how many could jump at once. We did a TON of bouncy houses with older kids when the girls were bitty. You adjust as long as it wasn't big kids rough housing and obviously not even attempting to watch for littles we just adjusted or waiting. __________________ Deanna wife to Shawn since 2001 mom to a young adult Cecilia , tween Margaret and three I will hold one day in heaven.

04-21-2015, 08:29 AM	#6
Earthmummy07 Rose Garden Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: UK Posts: 8,586	Re: Bouncy house with older kids I'd encourage the older kid(s) to jump gently near the younger kids, knowing that the toddler will probably only want a short go and they could be more enthusiastic afterwards. Or, if its big enough, have them play the other side.

04-21-2015, 08:40 AM	#7
3PeasInAPod Deactivated Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: pnw Posts: 8,571	Re: Bouncy house with older kids I'd ask if they can separate the littles and the big kids. At our church for Halloween- they set a timer and separated the kids by size

04-21-2015, 08:59 AM	#8
mamaKristin Rose Garden parenting better than I garden Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: just here :) Posts: 26,586	Re: Bouncy house with older kids Having the kids go in based on size/age groups helps a lot. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

04-21-2015, 10:54 AM	#10
MrsHutch Rose Garden An Enneagram 7 type 1/2 ENTP Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Malawi! Posts: 6,295	Re: Bouncy house with older kids I would just tell them to have fun and be careful if there are smaller ones in there. Honestly, if kids are small enough that they could get hurt in there, it's their parents' responsibility to watch out for them and not let them in with bigger kids. __________________ Stacy here! Enjoying my Complementarian marriage to Mr. Hutch since May 20, 2006 Blessed Mama of Miss H (16), Mr Big J (15), Miss T (14), Mr Little J (11), & Mr A (7) Missing three I will meet in Heaven (Feb 2012), (Apr 2016) & (Jun 2020) "Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people don't shoot their husbands, they just don't." -Legally Blonde

04-21-2015, 11:14 AM	#11
Aerynne Rose Garden Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 27,358	Re: Bouncy house with older kids I'd try to get someone to implement big and little kid turns. Eight is awfully young to have to be careful- I'm sure they could but where is the fun for them? An eight-year-old should be able to bounce and have a good time and not worry about little kids, at least for some of the time. __________________ Erin born of water and of the Spirit 4/96 married 5/02 Mama to: 2004 2007 2010 2012 2017 2019 Jan 2, 2024 And many I hope to hold in heaven one day

04-21-2015, 06:40 PM	#12
rjy9343 Rose Garden Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 10,090	Re: Bouncy house with older kids I agree with Mrs. Hutch. It is my job to keep my child safe, not someone else's. Ivy was about eight months and decided she wanted a turn, so James went in with her and it worked out well. He kept the bigger kids from jumping on her, but the big kids really did not need to worry since they were looking out for her anyway. I think it is not asking too much of kids not to jump on each other if for not other reason than it hurts to fall on someone. I do pay attention to the bounce houses before she goes in. If there are kids that are being unsafe, she waits until they leave. Someone is there watching her and the other kids so that if things get out of hand, she can be reminded of the rules or pulled out of the bounce house depending on the situation. __________________ Rita s IstJ Wife to my brilliant geek James iNtJ since 4/08 Mom to our angel boy Jay 5/08 our quirky miracle DD Ivy 6/10 mellow miracle DS Jacob 7/15 Often Please forgive my frequent typos Standing firmly on Team Lioness!!! Roar!!! I am ready for people to know I am a GCM find me on Facebook

04-21-2015, 07:17 PM	#13
gerberadaisy Rose Trellis Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,313	Re: Bouncy house with older kids I have noticed that some have an age written on the warning labels. If my kid is within that range, he'll be allowed to play freely & told to watch for little kids (he's 3 so he generally IS the little kid ). However, if the label says for older kids & he wants to give it a go, I just tell him to be careful & if the older kids, who it's designed for, are being too rough for my liking, I ask him to come out. If I knew the older kids, I'd ask them to be a little more careful, particularly if my little guy wasn't the only little one. There are also usually weight & number of participant restrictions on the structures as well. Seriously, who ever is in charge of the bounce house is risking a law suit if they don't have someone there monitoring it.

04-21-2015, 07:31 PM	#14
teamommy Rose Garden Spring! Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,024	Re: Bouncy house with older kids I don't let mine in those things when they are little, because I think it is just too dangerous for them with much bigger children in there. The only times I have let them is at a birthday party or something where there are only very little ones there, or someone is organizing it to give turns. Even then none of my kids have wanted to stay in there for long when they are little. I think of it as bigger kid fun, generally. I do tell my older ones to watch out if there are tiny ones in there, but I think parents are responsible. Their kids will get to do all of those things in a few years; not everything is for everybody.

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