Bounce!

One of the newest kid crazes are those giant warehouses that have been filled with trampolines and giant foam pits. Well, we JUMPED, on this bandwagon!

Physical activity is important to me, so when I came across Bounce Trampoline Sports in Syosset, New York, I was instantly intrigued.

The Website

The website was bright and engaging. It was easy to navigate and view the different activities offered at the facility. Pricing and hours were clearly delineated. Contact information was given, and when I did call them to inquire further, they were very helpful.  Waivers must be signed prior to jumping at Bounce. The website gives these waivers so that they may be filled out ahead of time. Enough about paperwork, on to the fun stuff.

Commute & Parking

As I mentioned, Bounce Trampoline Sports is in Syosset. This can be a bit of a commute depending on where you are coming from. It is located in a fairly isolated location. The area consists almost entirely of warehouses. The perk, especially for New York, is plenty of free parking. The downside is that unless you are using an Uber or yellow cab, you will not be able to reach this gem via subway or other any other form of mass transportation.
  

Bounce

 

The facility itself is enormous. It is well organized and handles the flow of traffic both kids and adults effectively. There are different areas designated for different age groups. Each area is equipped with one to two supervisors who maintain constant vigilance over their assigned area. There are foam pits they can flip into and ones that have a trapeze like swing launching kids into the pits. There is extreme basketball where kids can live out their slam-dunking LeBron James dreams. There is a concession stand that offers a variety of snacks that are mostly appealing to the kiddos. They did have an espresso machine that I partook in.

 

 For the Grown-Ups

 

If you are a parent, and you don't want to jump, there is a parents' lounge located in the front of the facility. It is placed strategically so that no child can escape the building or his parent's watchful eye. The couches are plenty and comfortable, there are also outlets and charging stations for cell phones, laptops, or what have you.

 

5 Stars

 

I recommend this place to parents who have kiddos aged 4 and up. This place will get the kids moving and sweating. I promise you they won't want to leave! When you are finally able to persuade them into getting back in the car, they will fall blissfully asleep on the return ride with visions of trampolines in their heads. For more information, I am including the following link: Bounce.

Mission Accomplished! Remember . . . a body in motion stays in motion.

CrossFit for Kids

There has always been controversy surrounding children and weightlifting. I have heard everything from "It will stunt their growth!" to "They're just going to hurt themselves!" I happen to be firmly planted on the other side of the fence. I believe that weight training, done in moderation and with proper supervision can be very beneficial to children. 

My daughter Skye doing a back squat.

CrossFit is an excellent way to incorporate weight training into your child's life. CrossFit employs an approach that constantly varies training, functional movements and intensity. It is easily adaptable to all levels of fitness. CrossFit focuses on the core movements of life, and workouts are geared towards functional fitness. I am an avid CrossFit athlete, and I have given my kids the opportunity to participate in this sport as well. It has strengthened their bodies and increased their confidence in their abilities. I have only seen positive results from my kid's involvement in CrossFit.  

My twins age 6 learning ring pulls, a precursor to pull-ups.

I recommend that anyone looking for a platform for functional fitness seriously take a look at CrossFit. It is great for the whole family. The workouts are adaptable for all abilities and skill levels. CrossFit does not ostracize individuals. It may seem that CrossFit is only about the individual, but it is truly about the CrossFit team and family. Every individual accomplishment is also a team accomplishment. Every accomplishment is celebrated no matter how big or small. CrossFit truly fosters camaraderie and a team spirit. This is a sport that truly gets you up and moving. Remember . . . a body in motion stays in motion.

If you can' t beat 'em, join 'em

When we first moved to NYC it became my goal to find an activity that all of my kids could participate in. I wanted a one-stop-shop that could accommodate all 5 kiddos. The thought of running all around the city to 5 different after school activities was making me crazy and I hadn't even got in the car yet. The mission laid out before me was to find something that all 5 could not only participate in, but find something they would all like, and have that activity provide some sort of life skill. I soon found myself looking seriously at mixed martial arts. 

Through my research I found that mixed martial arts increases coordination, body awareness, strength, flexibility and aerobic fitness. It has the capacity to aid in developing a clear, focused mind and an unshakable spirit. Mixed martial arts programs have been specifically designed to build confidence and develop children to their fullest potential. The goal of mixed martial arts is to build a solid foundation in the lives of children by helping them achieve a healthy mind and body through martial arts instruction. This well-being will instill in them the self-confidence, focus and determination necessary to become strong and successful in every aspect of life. 

It is my goal to get kids moving and mixed martial arts does this and more. After all . . . a body in motion stays in motion.