Why are trampolines so popular in Norway?

Here in Norway, almost every house has a trampoline in the backyard. Trampolines are to Norwegians like swimming pools are to (middle and upper class) Brazilians. There are trampolines at public and private playgrounds and even trampoline parks. Many children celebrate their birthdays at those parks.

At first, when I moved here, I didn’t understand why every single backyard had a trampoline. As a child, I had a dream to jump on a trampoline as I saw them at circuses. They weren’t usual in Brazil back then.

Is jumping on a trampoline good for balance and coordination? Can you get hurt, like break your neck? The answers are yes, yes and yes (Injuries are scarce, but you should be reasonable when jumping).

When I became a mother and my baby became a toddler, I began to understand why trampolines are so important both for children and for the parents. Few years ago, on our Summer holidays, we were driving to Sogn og Fjordane, more to the middle of Norway. Our kid was so crazy about jumping on trampolines, that we had to adjust our stops to places where there were trampolines. My husband had to negotiate and almost beg a camping place owner to let our child jump a little while on his trampoline to keep the rest of our trip peaceful (small children’s parents will probably relate to this).

When we arrived at my husband’s home town, we searched who had a trampoline we could use. We found his cousin and asked for permission to use it. He had gone to his cabin with his family and said we could use the trampoline as much as we wanted. Well, while my husband was running errands, I went to his cousin’s backyard to play with our child. As we were playing inside a doll house, an old man appeared by the door and asked who we were and why we were there. My Goodness. If I didn’t have a heart attack then, I’m probably never gonna die of a heart attack. It was the cousin’s father, who happens to live nearby and found strangers playing on his son’s backyard.

Now you know how far a mother can go to let her child jump on a trampoline.

Needless to say, a couple of months later, we bought ourselves a trampoline.

Benefits of jumping on a trampoline.

As I kind of have to jump often on a trampoline, I got curious to know its possible advantages for my body. Apparently, when you jump on the trampoline, there is an acceleration and deceleration that happens on each jump. All muscles alternately flex and relax, toning the whole muscular system. I can testify that on the next day, I can’t move my legs after 40 minutes jumping with my child. I also feel that I get more oxygen circulation as it is an aerobic exercise. Studies show that jumping on mini trampolines improve dynamic stability and the falling recovery strategies in the elderly population. Many say it’s good for the lymphatic system and blood circulation as well. Jumping on a trampoline is also a calorie burner.

Plus, it’s a fun and mentally relaxing.

Only bad side: in Norway, we must fold up and store the trampoline in the garage all Winter. The cold temperature and wind can damage it.

Another bad side would be the price. It’s very expensive. However, I think it’s worth as it lasts for decades.

Nowadays, with Corona quarantine, thank God we have a trampoline. Children are full of energy and it’s a way to stay outside without actually going out. Just hope for Sunny days from now on.