Have your kids been groaning with boredom ever since school let out for the summer? Are you tired of watching them melt away in front of the video games or television programs, but don't know how you can encourage then to get outside to get some exercise? Parents around the world are discovering that trampolines are a great way to get kids excited about working out, even though all they think they're doing is playing with a new toy! There are many trampoline accessories that can be added after the purchase to make the trampoline even more exciting, but it's important to make sure that they're all installed correctly for the utmost safety.

Safety starts with knowledge, especially when you're talking about trampoline parts, so it's important that you and your kids have a full understanding of the way the structure works. Most trampolines have metal frame with legs that extend about three or four feet down to the ground. Trampolines can be round, square or rectangular, and most use metal trampoline springs to connect the mat to the frame. Some newer models have replaced these metal springs with elastic bands to make the structure safer.

A typical trampoline is simply a flat platform on which children and adults can jump to their heart's content, but even well control jumping can sometimes go awry. That's why many newer models of trampolines come ready to have trampoline nets or enclosures installed. These features create a net wall around the entire edge of the trampoline, helping to keep bouncing bodies in the center of the trampoline mate where they belong. When choosing a trampoline enclosure, however, it's important to remember that not all brands of basketball hoops work with all brands of enclosures, so shop wisely.

Once you've found a basketball hoop and trampoline net that will be compatible, it's alright to let your kids play on the structure to their hearts content. They'll have fun for hours, bouncing high into the air and slam dunking the ball into the net which will be securely fastened to the frame. Be sure to remind them not to bounce above the height of the net or too closely to the basketball goal itself, because it's all too easy to get an arm or leg caught in the hoop on the way down. As with all trampoline activities, it's best to only have one person on the trampoline mat at a time.