Trampoline safety depends not just on the product but on how you use it. Many accidents happen when kids get too excited and start taking risks—jumping with multiple people, attempting flips, or playing without adult supervision. Here are ten rules that every family should read together and post near the trampoline. Review them before each play session until they become habit.

Rule 1: Only one jumper at a time.This is the most important rule. Multiple jumpers increase the risk of collision, being bounced off, or landing on someone else. Even on an 18ft trampoline, if more than one person jumps, they should be similar in weight and under close adult supervision. For 14ft and smaller, strictly enforce one jumper at a time. Other children can wait on the side or play elsewhere.

Rule 2: Always have adult supervision. No solo jumping. An adult doesn‘t have to be on the trampoline, but must be nearby and able to see the child at all times. If a child falls, gets stuck, or tries something dangerous, an adult can step in immediately. Stand 1-2 meters away from the trampoline — not inside the house or looking at a phone.

Rule 3: No somersaults or flips. Home trampolines are different from professional trampoline park sections. They are not designed with the same safety margins for rotational moves. Head and neck landings are the most severe trampoline injuries, and flips are the leading cause. Even if a child has learned flips elsewhere, do not allow them on a home trampoline.

Rule 4: Inspect the trampoline before each use. Parents should do a thorough monthly check (see the second blog post in this series), but children can learn a simple “one‑look check”: look for tears in the mat, loose springs, holes in the net, or shifted padding. If anything looks wrong, stop and tell an adult.

Rule 5: Jump in the center of the mat, stay away from the edge.Teach children to control their landing and aim for the middle. The area near the frame and springs, even with padding, is less safe. If they feel themselves drifting off‑center, they should stop and reposition before continuing.

Rule 6: No clothes with hooks, drawstrings, or sharp objects.Hoodie drawstrings, metal belt buckles, keys, or hair clips can snag on the net or springs, causing strangulation or cuts. Jump barefoot or in trampoline socks, and wear fitted athletic clothes with nothing dangling.

Rule 7: No eating, drinking, or chewing gum on the trampoline.Bouncing while swallowing can lead to choking. Food crumbs also fall into the mat seams, attracting ants or rodents and accelerating wear.

Rule 8: Limit play sessions and take breaks.After 30 minutes of continuous jumping, children get tired. Muscle control decreases, and mistakes become more likely. Stop every 20‑30 minutes to drink water and rest for at least 10 minutes. Never push through fatigue.

Rule 9: Keep 1.5 meters (5 feet) of clear space around the trampoline.That means no fences, trees, clotheslines, flower pots, or grills within that zone. If a child bounces off‑center and exits the trampoline (the net is not 100% foolproof), they need a safe landing area. Parents should periodically check that nothing has been moved into the clearance zone.

Rule 10: Do not use the trampoline in bad weather.Rain makes the mat slippery, increasing fall risk. Strong wind can shake or even flip the trampoline. Thunderstorms pose a lightning hazard. Ice or snow makes the mat hard and reduces traction. Sunny, calm days are best for trampoline fun.

How to make these rules stick?

Read the list together with your child, explaining why each rule exists. Print the poster, protect it with a clear plastic sleeve, and hang it on the fence or a post near the trampoline. Before each session, ask your child to recite three of the rules. After one month, they will become second nature.

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