Children Jump Start Their Way to a Healthy Heart

With Cardiovascular disease being the leading cause of death in Australia, it is imperative to teach heart healthy habits at an early age. Physical activity is a key factor in reducing the risks, yet the challenge is to find an activity that is not forced and that children will consider fun. In the lead up to the Heart Foundation’s Heart Week Australia, Springfree™ Trampoline has come up with the solution....30 minutes a day on a Springfree!

According to experts, children should not be forced to exercise as this can result in a negative attitude towards physical activity in the future. Springfree Spokesperson, Erin Walker, said that it’s hard to get children off the Springfree Trampoline, and parents can breathe a sigh of relief as this trampoline was designed with safety as its main priority.

“The Heart Foundation’s website recommends at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on all or most days of the week. Ten minutes of active jumping provides about the same activity level as a 30 minute run, only with less joint and muscle impact and way more fun for the whole family,” she said.

“The Springfree™ Trampoline was designed by an engineer father, Dr Keith Alexander after his wife refused to allow their children to use a dangerous ‘old-style’ trampoline. He set out to create one safe enough for his own children to play on, and after 14 years in the making and millions of dollars in research and testing, the World’s Safest Trampoline was delivered, revolutionising the way consumers perceive traditional trampolines.”

“The design eliminates all the dangerous elements such as the steel springs, steel frame at the jumping surface and it is surrounded by a flexible net ensuring no nasty falls to the ground. Jumping is just a positive form of exercise for the whole family,” Walker concluded.

In a recent address to the national press club, CEO of the Heart foundation Dr Lyn Roberts, said that Cardiovascular Disease is on the rise due failure to realise the importance of factors such as physical activity. In January, a study of more than 1,000 Australian 14-year-olds found that 29% had a combination of risk factors that increased the chance of developing vascular disease.

Avoid the Tantrums. Get kids away from the Box and outside on the Springfree Trampoline

A US study has revealed that Toddlers exposed to too much TV, were at risk of developing aggressive behaviour.

The study published in the Archives of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine; found that a combination of preschoolers watching inappropriate content and the television viewing habits of the entire family could have an impact on your child’s development.

Excessive amount of Television viewing could mean irregular bedtimes leading to lack of sleep, less time outside or creative interaction which may result in the release of pent-up aggression.

Psychologist Dr Michael Carr-Gregg said the latest study revealed the importance of play and sleep in a child’s development and learning. He say’s the problem with plonking the kids down in front of the TV is it doesn’t excite their imagination.

Springfree’s Tanya Munro (mother of two boys 9 and 7) found a surprising link to TV viewing and behaviour in her children recently.

"My children’s TV viewing started impacting other areas of their behaviour. My boys are huge fans of Ben 10 and Bakugan and providing they do all their chores in the morning we were letting them watch for 15 mins before school each day. I soon noticed they were becoming much more aggressive and quick to react, they were getting into disagreements at school and even their drawings had pictures of fighting and death which horrified their teachers.

Over the last few weeks I’ve tested limiting their TV viewing to non- aggressive programs, and have completely banned their use of X-box and Nintendo. The boys have been forced to go outside and play the last few weeks, which has not only stemmed their imaginative play, but their swimming teachers have noticed fitness improvement and they’re even getting along better. I know there’s a tendancy to use television as a babysitter, and I’ve been guilty of this as well. But the benefits I’ve seen in my children in just a few weeks has shown me there’s no turning back. We’ll now be limiting video games to 1 hour a week, and the outdoor play is definitely staying on the agenda. It’s just the better choice for us."

Many Springfree parents tell us of how the Springfree Trampoline is a great tool for getting the kids to jump out their ‘Sillies’. Not to mention the benefits of outdoor interactive physical play which experts agree is vital.

How do you monitor your child’s viewing habits to avoid the Tantrums?