Friday 10 April 2015

Guest interview: “We bounced off the walls!”

I talk to Hannah, 9, and Ava, 8, who went to Bounce, a new type of indoor trampoline park where you can let your children (literally!) bounce off the walls.

What did you think when you first walked in?
Hannah: In my head I thought it would be much smaller so it was much more exciting.
Ava: I was amazed. Trampolines on the floor, trampolines on the walls ... [grins] ... trampolines on the ceiling! 

You had to put on special socks, didn’t you?
Hannah: Yes, they helped you stick to the trampoline because they had grippy bits on the bottom.
Ava: I didn’t like them. They made my feet really hot and sweaty. My feet went all red. I wish we could have bounced in bare feet.
What did you think of the safety talk at beginning?
Ava: I thought it was nice of them to have rules for us so it wouldn’t be chaos but I wanted to bounce with Hannah and they said you could you only have one person per trampoline at a time.
Hannah: And they said you can’t do it if you’re pregnant or "under the influence of alcohol or drugs" … What’s drugs?

Did the trampolines feel different to normal trampolines?
Hannah: They were bouncier than normal trampolines and you can’t bounce off the sides on a normal trampoline so it was better.
Ava: And the trampolines are smaller.
What was it like being able to bounce off the walls?
Ava: It was really fun.
Hannah: It really, really fun. Normally you can only bounce up and down. You could literally bounce sideways and you could set yourself challenges, like we tried to run up the wall and touch the orange bit at the top.
What was it like bouncing into the Foam Pit?
Hannah: You are allowed to do flips into it and the foam was really soft, but it takes a long time to get out! It’s like swimming in honey. It’s like running in your dreams.
Ava: I thought it was really good but one of the men who was looking after us was very bossy! Even if someone was almost completely out of it and just had their foot in he said "Don’t jump in yet".
What was the funnest thing?
Ava: Jumping in the foam pit. 
Hannah: The foam pit because I love falling in soft things. I wish it was a pit of feathers. And the Bounce Off – you had 60 seconds to do as many tricks as you can and if you can't do tricks to bounce as high as you can and they watch out for the best people.
Ava: And give you fake tattoos as prizes.
Was there anything you didn't like?
Hannah: I got told off for not being under six on the Kid’s Court. They should have a sign up. I could have said “I AM under 6 but I’m very tall! Or ... [puts on babyish voice] ... I’m under 6 and I like playing with unicorns and fairies”!
Ava: "Or I’m under 6 and like playing with toy trains!”
Hannah: "Or I’m under 6 and when I’m older I’m going to be a panda!”
Ava: "Or I’m under 6 and I when I grow up I’m going to be a satellite!"
[This conversation continues for a while with more and more ludicrous statements!]
Did you like the music they were playing?
Ava: I think it would be better without music because then you could hear each other better.
Hannah: It would be good if they had more bouncy music – like bouncy pop songs.
Was it tiring, bouncing up and down and sideways for two hours?!
Ava: It’s VERY tiring.
Hannah: And when you get off you feel really heavy because it’s not bouncy. Like you’ve got a weight pushing down on you.
Ava: Like your legs don’t work.

So what do you give it out of 10?
Hannah: 10.
Ava: I’m not sure it's a 10. Um ... 9 ½.

Where does it lose half a point, Ava?
Bossy man. Sweaty socks.

Bounce is in Milton Keynes and is for age 3 to adults. There is also Gravity Force in Camberley, Jump Nation in Manchester and AirHop in Guildford, and many more opening around the UK soon.

27 comments:

  1. We have a place like that in our city and Buddy loves it. I love it to, it's a great place to tire him out! Glad your kids had so much fun.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, I think the idea started in the US - only just catching on in UK!
      (P.S. Not my children - my lovely guest interviewees!)

      Delete
  2. This place looks amazing!! Looks like it maybe worth us traveling to for a fun day out!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Certainly fun for kids! But I know my pelvic floor wouldn't fair well with all that bouncing!!!

      Delete
  3. We are going to try one of the places you named very soon. Our children love to bounce. Thanks for sharing on #WASO

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh, Claire, that looks like so much fun that I wouldn't mind trying it myself!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Adults can do it too. In fact, I think they have some adult-only sessions!

      Delete
  5. Oh WOW WOW WOW - my children would LOVE this. It looks like so much fun! #KidTested

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It kind of taps into something inside us, doesn't it? Running free and crazy in a padded room??!!

      Delete
  6. Wow I need this in my life! I hope they make one here. That is literally my dream! #KidTested

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, they certainly seem to be spreading!

      Delete
  7. That looks like great fun as well as tiring. I've never heard of this before. My children would love it. Great idea.
    Thanks for linking #LetKidsBeKids

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh my word, my kids would love that. Hopefully there will be one in our area soon. #LetKidsBeKids

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. New ones do seem to be opening all the time.

      Delete
  9. My boys would love this! We have something similar near us (well, you get the same socks!) and my oldest thought it was great fun. Love the interview :) #letkidsbekids

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's good to get it 'direct from the horse's mouth' sometimes!

      Delete
  10. We have a similar place near our home called Sky Zone and my son LOVES it!

    ReplyDelete
  11. What an awesome place, looks great fun and love reading what the girls thought about it! Xx #letkidsbekids

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, they tell it like an adult never could!

      Delete
  12. Hi there! It was a great posting and so much helpful for me. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Some wonderful and informative advertisement. As i definitely favorite them all. Through caused by secure authoring right here available. Always keep overtaking special.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I'd to obtain such as regarding you want it had been the hole associated with feathers. And also the Rebound Away – you'd sixty mere seconds to complete as numerous methods as possible as well as if you cannot perform methods in order to rebound up to you are able to plus they look out for the very best individuals.

    ReplyDelete
  15. This is a rising trend now. We have like this near my place, and everyone likes it -- even adults! Great to know your kids liked it. Well, except for the sweaty socks. Haha. I'd to try it again sometime.

    ReplyDelete