Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

SN children

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Autism & Trampolines

34 replies

SallyBear · 17/02/2012 08:08

DS3 is going to 5 next month. We have started noticing that he has discovered bouncing, and wondered about getting a trampoline for him for his b'day. Space is an issue as is a sloping garden, so we are thinking probably 8th with a ladder and net. Any brands that mumsnetters would recommend????

OP posts:

angeLstillchasingDXpeacock · 17/02/2012 09:29

Round here there is a group who do many different things with and for ASD kids.
twice a week there is trampolining.
they have joined into a NT group but are welcome greatly.
Have you thought about trying actual lessons.
my DS has been a couple of times, and they teach them to bounce correctly. Stop correctly. seat drops. etc etc
i cant help on the recomending of trampoline brands etc, but hand in hand lessons might be great for your DS xx

Original poster

SallyBear · 17/02/2012 09:49

Thank you angel. Lessons at this early stage may be pushing it with him, as he doesn't communicate! When he gets his confidence I will contact our local ASD group and see if such a thing exists in M Keynes.

OP posts:

manfrommars · 17/02/2012 09:58

Hi, I think a trampoline is a good idea. It should help with gross motor skills/balance which is often an accompanying issue with asd (certainly is with our DS).
We got ours about 5 years ago from Argos and its still going strong. It's a 'Plum' make I think. It's easy to get replacement bits as well.

Ineedalife · 17/02/2012 10:01

We have had a trampoline for ages and my Dds have all loved it. Make sure you get one with a surround to make it safer. They are quite dangerous but then so is crossing the road!

I am definitely glad we got one

cwtch4967 · 17/02/2012 11:28

I bought an 8 foot with enclosure from Argos last year - it's made by PLUM and we are very happy with it. Ds has been using it lots since we had it and it has been a godsend!!
Ds is a small 4 year old and we haven't needed a ladder as it is low enough for him to pull himself on.

Original poster

SallyBear · 17/02/2012 11:45

It's amazing the variety that's out there. Looking for 8ft with 60 springs, thickish pads and that's fairly high off the ground and will take weight. I have 4 kids 3DS and 1DD. 12,6&5. So need a trampoline that will be (no pun intended!) flexible!

OP posts:

SweetTalkinWoman · 17/02/2012 12:23

Hi - we bought a TP brand 8ft trampoline with surround etc from ebay and it was the best £60 we've ever spent! DD (ASD 4.7) would be on there from dawn til dusk in any weather if we let her! We also have a sloping garden so just hollowed out part of the lawn to make it a bit more even.

keepingupwiththejoneses · 17/02/2012 12:27

I would agree with sallybear. I small one would not be worth it, 8 foot should be good and last a while. We have a 10 foot one and actually isnt too bad. The net is a must have. Argos or toys r us are good. A bit of info though, dont wait till the day to put it up, if you can do it while he is not there, it takes a good few hours. There is this one from Argos. this is the one we have and it is fine for a 5 year old with asd and a 12 year old with adhd.

Original poster

SallyBear · 17/02/2012 12:34

I would prefer a 10ft one, but then it will dominate the garden and interfere with their climbing frame. So it has to be an 8fter, but I am researching them all!! So thanks for the links joneses! Honestly we had a lovely garden before we had kids, now it just seems to be an extension of their playroom!!

OP posts:

dontrememberme · 17/02/2012 15:35

we are on our third trampoline, we have a 10ft with surround & it is used all day, all weathers. DS2 was making snow angels on it last week.
He really loses himslef on the trampoline & is a much happier, calmer child indoors once hes had a good bounce.
The also use a little trampete at school for several of the kids. it helps them to regain concentration if given a few mintures time out for a bounce.

my nt ds1 loves his too. Definately the best thing we have ever bought.

LeninGrad · 17/02/2012 15:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

beautifulgirls · 17/02/2012 15:53

8ft is ideal, surround essential. Ours is not that high off the floor so the girls can get on and off without a ladder easily but still have no issues at their size with any risk of hitting the floor either. I can bounce on it just fine infact! We have strict rules about one person at a time on it and have bought the girls a timer so they can set it for a few minutes to stop arguements about how long each person has been on. We have a springless one which I think is safer and we have had to replace the padding around the edge on two occasions over 4 years but that is still cheaper than a brand new trampoline. Best thing in our garden!

Original poster

SallyBear · 17/02/2012 16:04

@beautifulgirls - A springless one? Do tell! I am intrigued now. What brand did you buy? Thanks.

OP posts:

EllenJaneisnotmyname · 17/02/2012 16:09

We have a Supertramp one, it's more expensive, though and I'm not sure the extra expense is worth it. It hasn't worn out at all after 7 years good use and I've finally taken the surround down. My garden is quite uneven, so I just dug a channel for the leg to go into.

EllenJaneisnotmyname · 17/02/2012 16:10

Not springless, sorry.

Original poster

SallyBear · 17/02/2012 16:15

Well I will be outside with tape measure tomorrow and DH, working out where is the beet position for it and if we can squeeze and extra 2 foot out of the garden. I fear some flowerbeds maybe sacrificed for the greater good - aka "Alex's big bouncy thing".

OP posts:

Davros · 17/02/2012 16:23

At one of the many courses/conference/seminars etc I've been to about Challenging Behaviour and its associated issues, a highly regarded Dr said that trampolining is THE NUMBER ONE way to reduce anxiety. That was good enough for me and it certainly seems to be the case from experience. I used to take DS to a SN trampolining session once a week and we both loved it. Not only was it good for gross motor skills and reducing anxiety, we also did copying and taking turns and I found it an excellent way to be able to take him out to something that we both got used to and understood the routine. I also had a great time with the other mums/dads.

keepingupwiththejoneses · 17/02/2012 16:25

beautifulgirls I wish we could have a rule like that but ds3 just wouldn't get it. Our 10 foot one is fine with both boys on though. We have had ours for 3 years and is only just needing a new spring cover, not because it has worn out but because next doors tree branch broke off and ripped it.

nenevomito · 17/02/2012 16:25

DS Loves his trampoline and I can't wait until it stops raining for long enough for me to get him back out on there. I heartily recommend getting one!

My friend has a sloping garden and part buried the legs to help even it out.

beautifulgirls · 17/02/2012 16:46

Sorry I have no idea on brand - I think DH got ours at a wholesaler on a whim one day! It has big stretchy straps instead of the metal springs though so they can not get themselves pinched in a spring. I'm going to have a look online in a minute but am pretty sure they are common and often a bit cheaper than the ones with springs.

beautifulgirls · 17/02/2012 16:57

Maybe not that common then..... sorry.

oodlesofdoodles · 17/02/2012 17:05

Gumtree is full of them too. Just got one for ds's bday last week. And yes slightly mourning the loss of my garden.

Pixel · 17/02/2012 17:10

We've got a plastic step, exactly the same as this instead of a ladder as it is very sturdy and a bit easier I think. Don't look at the price there though, it was just the first picture I found. We got the same thing (came in dark green or white) in one of those shops you get in most towns, like a hardware shop but they always have loads of interesting storage boxes and plant pots etc outside, hopefully you know what I mean! And it was only £8.

AmberLeaf · 17/02/2012 17:12

We've got one, its brilliant.

blueemerald · 17/02/2012 19:09

We got my brother (who has Asperger's) one when he was 15 and he still uses it now, aged 20. In all weathers. We have a 10 foot one from Argos. Padding needed replacing after it got destroyed by foxes so luckily we were able to teach him to take it off/put it on properly each time he uses it.

Flip

1 2