Trampoline games are not only fun and good exercise, but they are a source for teaching many other skills as well. Teach matching skills and have fun at the same time with this trampoline game.
Sock Search
This game is for up to six children, if you have a large trampoline. It can be played on or off the trampoline. Playing it on the trampoline adds a little fun and difficulty. To begin, the children sit around the edge of the trampoline, pull off their socks, and throw them into the middle. One child is chosen as the bouncer. The bouncer mixes up the socks by bouncing in or around the pile a few times and then returns to his/her seat. When the bouncer yells, “go,” all children scramble to find their pair of socks and put them on. The first person who gets his/her socks on becomes the bouncer in the next round.
Variation 1: To make things harder, you can add a few “unclaimed” socks into the pile. This is a great game for preschoolers to learn matching skills.
Variation 2: With four to six players, you can divide up into teams. In this version, entire teams must find their socks before anyone is declared the winner. This version best because it encourages teamwork and no one wins or loses alone.
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Don’t forget to pick up a few of our trampoline champion trophies here to give you year round reminders of the fun and accomplishments.
Too tuckered to play on the trampoline yourself? Remember, “watching” is one of the things your child needs most from you. Here are two two traditional trampoline games to help your kids fight off summer boredom!
Crack the Egg
Two players: One player sits yoga style (or cross-legged) in the middle of the trampoline. This player is the “egg.” The other player jumps around the egg in an attempt to “crack the egg,” or force the player to come out of the curled position. Once the egg’s been cracked, the other player becomes the egg. The person who manages to hold the egg position for the longest time wins.
Three or more players: One player is chosen to be the “egg cracker” or bouncer. The other players sit yoga style (or cross-legged) in the middle of the trampoline. The “cracker” jumps around the eggs in an attempt to “crack the eggs,” or force the players out of the curled position. Once an egg’s been cracked, that player moves off the trampoline. The person who manages to hold the egg position for the longest time changes places with the “egg cracker.”
This game teaches older children about strategic moves, as well as which bounce combinations are most likely to “crack the egg.” Younger children learn balance skills as they attempt to remain upright.
Trampoline Dodge Ball
One or more players stand on the ground around the trampoline, holding sock balls (not balled so tight that they will hurt with a direct hit.) At least one player stays on the trampoline. The players holding the sock balls throw them at players on the trampoline. If one of the players on the trampoline is hit, he or she switches positions with whoever threw the ball.
This activity encourages children to bend, bounce, duck, and doge. These movements exercise and strengthen all the major muscle groups.
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Don’t forget to pick up a few trampoline trophies here to remind you all year long of the good time you had.