Jeb Jones
Proud Parent
Tramplines OMG!
I know this is a hot button topic that has been discussed ad-nausem, so I apologize for starting another thread. I'm wondering if any parents on this list have specific trampoline regrets that they would care to share.
My DD has wanted a tramp since well before she became a gymnast. We've always followed our pediatrician's advice that this is just a bad idea (nothing to do with gymnastics). However, I am rethinking this decision in terms of a risk/benefit analysis (yes, I'm a math geek). IMO, the dark side of trampolines is the real risk of neck or spinal cord injury - but the same could be said of playgrounds and many other activities.
Somewhere, there's a line between irresponsible stupidity and helicopter parenting. I think that a certain amount of exploration and risk-taking in youth is necessary, and yet there are some activities where the risks clearly will outweigh any benefit. Where does the trampoline fall (no pun intended)? Now that my daughter is older (11), it would be particularly nice to have an available activity that will be more attractive to her than staring at a screen.
I feel that as a gymnast, having supervised experience on trampolines at the gym, she will actually be safer on a trampoline than an enthusiastic non-gymnast with no prior experience.
To be clear, I'm not worried about how having a trampoline at home will affect her gymnastics skills.
I'm sure I will see the usual replies about how bad an idea this is, but I'm really looking for any specific stories from the parents of actual gymnasts. Please share. Thanks.
-J
I know this is a hot button topic that has been discussed ad-nausem, so I apologize for starting another thread. I'm wondering if any parents on this list have specific trampoline regrets that they would care to share.
My DD has wanted a tramp since well before she became a gymnast. We've always followed our pediatrician's advice that this is just a bad idea (nothing to do with gymnastics). However, I am rethinking this decision in terms of a risk/benefit analysis (yes, I'm a math geek). IMO, the dark side of trampolines is the real risk of neck or spinal cord injury - but the same could be said of playgrounds and many other activities.
Somewhere, there's a line between irresponsible stupidity and helicopter parenting. I think that a certain amount of exploration and risk-taking in youth is necessary, and yet there are some activities where the risks clearly will outweigh any benefit. Where does the trampoline fall (no pun intended)? Now that my daughter is older (11), it would be particularly nice to have an available activity that will be more attractive to her than staring at a screen.
I feel that as a gymnast, having supervised experience on trampolines at the gym, she will actually be safer on a trampoline than an enthusiastic non-gymnast with no prior experience.
To be clear, I'm not worried about how having a trampoline at home will affect her gymnastics skills.
I'm sure I will see the usual replies about how bad an idea this is, but I'm really looking for any specific stories from the parents of actual gymnasts. Please share. Thanks.
-J