Move & LearnKindergartnersGrade SchoolPreschoolers18 Comments
We waited quite a long while before purchasing a trampoline (affiliate link). My kids wanted one for such a long time, but I was hesitant because of the safety issues.
My kids get hurt walking down a carpeted hallway – so the thought of them bouncing on a trampoline? Kind of frightening for this Mama. But, long story short, after many promises of using it safely and properly, we did get one – and the fun trampoline games that have taken place since are incredible!
Even more incredible? One year in and no injuries.
Almost all of my favorite fun trampoline games for kids involve sidewalk chalk. Chalk shows up so nicely on a black trampoline and washes away gorgeously too. The first rainfall gives you a blank canvas again.
On this particular day I decided to write both letters and numbers.
I wrote the alphabet, in a random order, around the outside of the trampoline. Next, I wrote the numbers 1 – 10 in a small circle in the middle of the trampoline.
Find many other gross motor activities like this.
The ideas for how to play trampoline games like this are endless. But here are a few ways we played on this day:
Jump from Letter to Letter
I let Sam just jump. It is so neat to see how simply adding letters and numbers to a space makes learning those numbers and letters so natural.
Sam was jumping the numbers in order, he was asking me if I thought he could do a big enough jump to get from “A” to “R”, he was simply saying the letters as he happened to land on them. Awesome.
Call Out Letters As You Jump on Them
I asked Sam if he could call out all the letter names as he jumped around the trampoline.
Once he succeeded, I asked if he could do the same thing, but say the letter sounds.
Find the Letter And…
I called out a letter and he ran to jump on it as fast as he could. I would make it tricky by giving him a job to do when he got there, “find the letter “S” and jump on it 4 times”.
I would make it even trickier by giving him a few letters in a row to find, “find the letter “S” and jump on it 4 times, then find the letter “R” and jump on it twice”
Jump & Spell Your Name in Order
I had Sam practice spelling his name by jumping on the letters in order.
Counting & Skip Counting Numbers
After awhile we moved to the numbers.
He counted them, and then skip counted them by jumping over numbers.
He counted them backwards.
Memory of a Sequence
I would call out super tricky combinations for him to remember and jump, “Jump on 3, 7, T, R”
No trampoline? Try painter’s tape like we did here.
The games just kept coming as we kept jumping.
Trampoline games like this are wonderful as they can be adjusted to whatever skill your little one is working on. If you are just introducing the letters, you could write just one great big letter in the middle of the trampoline. Little ones could learn all about that letter by walking it, jumping it, crawling it, you name it!
As a kindergarten teacher I know it is really important for little ones to be moving and exploring with their whole bodies as they learn. Using the trampoline is such a simple, versatile way to make this happen!
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Larry Dunn says
Wow, this is a great idea. I will follow the instructions at this weekend. So my kids can play and learn at the same time.
Rachel says
Hope they enjoy it!
Jo says
I love your website, and I think that there are few better ways to help children stay active than trampolines! Unfortunately, though, I have to voice my concern about the games here. I have been a trampoline and gymnastics coach for years and one of the most important rules on trampoline is to stay in the middle. If you look at more expensive, rectangular trampolines, you will almost always see a small rectangle painted on the middle of the trampoline bed for that reason. But I do think that trampolines could be used for learning. Maybe have a friend toss a stuffie to the person on tramp and they can count how many times they can catch it. Or count numbers of bounces. Or make a song (A is for arms up, B is for bum drop, C is for catch a stuffie, D is for doggie drop, etc.). Or play add-on. Or have large letters or numbers for the child to recognize and when you flip to the “right” one get the child to perform a celebratory star jump or something.
Other universal rules at trampoline and gymnastics clubs, in case it is of interest, are: one person on at a time, always learn progressions before trying harder skills, never jump with one foot (always two- its amazing how unstable kids become on one foot), know safety landings and how to stop immediately, and face lengthwise if on a rectangular trampoline. Also, I should note that the two easy skills that are notorious for injury are stomach drops and back drops. Sometimes putting a couple foamies on the trampoline bed helps kids learn while minimizing risk, but I would also do research on the right techniques and progressions. This goes for all skills in general.
Thanks again for an awesome site!
Tina Welsh says
We have played tons of games on our trampoline with our kids but never thought of using chalk on it. Cant wait to try this out with the kids this spring!
Penny says
This is great post. Thanks
Elizabeth says
What fun ideas! My kids would love these! So glad you joined us for “Tuesday Talk”~
Elizabeth
ThaliaKR says
This is great, thanks! Excellent inspiration to make more of existing activities.
Thank you!
PS I found you through the linky :)
Michelle says
This is a fantastic and fun idea. Although I am not a fan of trampolines in general, but to have this in my school for my TK students and learning their letters would be a blast. I could see it now. Very creative. Thanks for sharing on Tuesday Talk. Come back next week and share some more. Have a wonderful Wednesday.
Crystal says
Mixing learning with fun is a great thing! Thank you for linking up with Mom’s Library, I’ll be featuring this post at Castle View Academy next week. Have a great summer!
Emma @ P is for Preschooler says
This is my kind of learning! My little active learner would be all over this one! :)
Val - Corn, Beans, Pigs and Kids says
I love this idea! We will be doing this soon!