What are the Health Benefits and Risks of Bouncy Houses?

By Guest Author Lynn Perkes, Professor of Health, Kinesiology at Brigham Young University- Idaho

Bouncy houses have become a popular form of entertainment for children and are often found at fairs, festivals and amusement parks, or purchased for home play structures or rented for private parties. Their rise in popularity is attributed to the undisputable fact that children have a lot of fun playing in them. Their rise in popularity has also led to increased discussion as to their benefits for health and entertainment, as well as their potential to cause injury. Like all good discussions it is important to look at the data presented for accuracy and proper context and make your decision based on a comparison of benefit versus risk.

Research has shown that the health benefits that come from physical activity or exercise from jumping and playing in a bouncy house or other inflatable play structures are significant, ranging from cardiovascular and gastrointestinal disease reduction due to the health promoting stimulus it provides, to enhanced athleticism as muscles and bones are strengthened and neuromuscular facilitated balance and coordination improves.

Research has also shown that there is an associated risk for injury inherent in the jumping, colliding, and falling that is part of the bouncy house experience. However, in context it becomes clear that the increased risk for injury is present when there are 1) multiple children playing/jumping in the bouncy house or on the inflatable structure at the same time, 2) these children are of significant difference in age, size, and athleticism, and 3) there was a lack of effective adult supervision (parent or staff) at the time most injuries occurred.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years should have 1 hour or more of physical activity each day, stating that, “Regular physical activity in childhood and adolescence is important for promoting lifelong health and well-being and preventing various health conditions.” The same CDC document goes on to state that “only 21.6% of 6 to 19-year-old children and adolescents in the United States attains 60 or more minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity on at least 5 days per week.” Unfortunately, the trend of declining physical activity among American youth continues in many areas, and the ongoing introduction of electronic devices in all its forms is making it more difficult to encourage our youth spend more of their time engaged in physical activities.

So, what are the real health benefits of Bouncy Houses?

A lot has been written regarding the health and fitness benefits of bouncing, of which there are many. However, some try to present the findings as if only bouncing can provide a type of activity that far surpasses other types of physical activity (running, playing sports, weightlifting, calisthenics, etc.) in yielding health and fitness benefits. I don’t believe that science would agree with such a statement but let me present my thoughts as to why a bouncy house is a great choice for exercise for children.

1. As previously mentioned, very few kids get the recommended 1 hour of physical activity a day. While there are a number of reasons that can be assigned as a cause of inactivity, one reason is that kids often get bored with many types of physical activities and consequently stop the activity prematurely. Place a kid in a bouncy house with a friend or two and you will watch how the fun and frolicking continues for a much longer period of time. The reason is simple, kids absolutely love the activity of bouncing and falling and being engaged in an up close and personal activity that is downright fun. Watch them in the bouncy house, they are always smiling and laughing. If kids are having a lot of fun, they will continue the activity for an extended period of time. Consequently, they will experience the benefits that come from the activity. In other words, your kids are getting closer to or surpassing the minimum recommendation of a full hour of exercise.
2. Many forms of exercise and physical activity are performed with the body for the most part in a state of balance, such as jogging, swimming, many sports, etc. A unique thing about running and jumping in a bouncy house is that the bounce and unevenness of the activity is constantly challenging the body’s balance and coordination. Sensitive sensory organs in muscles, tendons, and joints are activated continuously providing an enhanced environment to develop skills of balance and coordination. This will help translate to enhanced athleticism should these children begin to engage in organized sports.
3. Scientific research has shown quite convincingly that physical activity can help reduce the symptoms of anxiety and depression. Add to that physical activity the element of a ton of fun and laughter and the benefits to mood and happiness are magnified. It simply is an activity that brings the little one’s joy and happiness and a lot of fun.

So, what are the risks of Bouncy Houses?

Injury rates have increased as the popularity and growth of the inflatable industry has increased. Emergency Departments report that the most commonly injured anatomical region in the upper extremity occurring during play in a bouncy house is the humerus (upper arm), followed by the radius (forearm). In the lower extremity the most common injury was a sprained ankle, followed by fracture to the distal tibia (lower leg).

Most of these injuries occurred when 1) there were multiple children of different ages, weights, and skill levels playing in the bouncy house at the same time, and 2) inadequate or no supervision from adults at the time of injury. The most common mechanisms of injury are being hit by other children, slipping off or falling out of the inflatable structure, or twisting of a limb.

What steps should be taken to substantially reduce the risk of injuries occurring in inflatable play structures?

Several organizations from different parts of the world have presented recommended measures to be taken to reduce the risk of injury from participation in bouncy houses. Below are recommended standards that should be followed to ensure the inflatables are safe for use and that there is a lower risk for injury associated with these entertainment bounce houses.

Bouncy House Set-up and Logistics

1. Rental bouncy house and equipment should be set up, operated and supervised by the rental company staff. If this is unavailable or you have purchased your own bouncy house, it should be set up and secured in accordance to the guidelines provided by the manufacturer.
2. The bouncy house should be adequately secured to the ground and positioned away from any obstacles, to the sides or overhead, and should be regularly inspected for safety elements.
3. A safe zone distance of 3 to 6 feet should be maintained around the entire structure. A ramp should lead up to the point of entrance to the inflatable structure and should span the entire width of the entrance. Also, cushions should be placed to the sides of the ramp.
4. If the inflatable structure starts to lose air, immediately stop any play activity and help the children exit the bouncer.

Supervision

1. A responsible adult should be present and paying close attention to the children at play in the bouncy house when in use and prepared to intervene should dangerous activities be observed, or in the case of adverse weather conditions such as high winds or wet slippery conditions.

Guidelines and Regulations for Participation

1. Before entering the bouncy house, children should remove their shoes, but keep their socks on.
2. Children should also remove hard or sharp objects such as jewelry, belt buckles, pens, or other items that might be placed in a pocket.
3. The number of children allowed in the bouncy house at the same should be limited to not more than a few. The greater the number of jumpers, the greater the likelihood of collisions and the mechanisms for injury. Following this guideline also ensures that each child can have a safe place to jump and play.
4. Children of similar ages and weights should jump together. If children of largely varying sizes and weights jump together the likelihood of the smaller being bounced out of control being overpowered by the larger children. If there is a large disparity in the size and weight of children, consider a rotation system where children of similar size and weight jump together.
5. Don’t allow children to climb on or hang from the walls of the inflatable.

Following recommended guidelines can help ensure a safe and fun experience when playing in bouncy houses or on inflatable structures. The exercise that comes with this form of entertainment can help provide the body with stimuli that promotes health, strengthens body structures, and facilitates fun and enjoyment.