Trampoline Park Safety In Canada: What You Need To Know

Are your kids bouncing off the walls? A trampoline park, where they can bounce to their heart’s content (without wrecking your furniture), might sound like the perfect solution. With wall-to-wall trampolines, plus high-flying fun like dodgeball, basketball, and even trapeze, these adrenaline-packed play spaces let kids burn energy while getting exercise with their friends.

But before you send them off to bounce, flip, and soar, there are some safety concerns you’ll want to consider—especially since most parks require you to sign a waiver first.

Here’s everything our experts want you to know before taking the leap.

The rise of trampoline parks in Canada

According to a Dimension Market Research report from May 2024, North America and Europe are dominating the global trampoline park market, with North America making up 44 percent of revenue in 2023.

It's no wonder trampoline parks are jumping in popularity. Kids—and adults—can unleash energy and stress with each bounce. Jumping on a trampoline can improve your cardiovascular and joint health, as well as help you develop balance and coordination. And they're a great place to host a birthday party.

But as trampoline parks spring up across the country, so do concerns about safety—making it more important than ever for parents to understand the risks.

Common injuries at trampoline parks

Caring for Kids, a website created by the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS), reveals common injuries that can occur at trampoline parks:

• Cuts and bruises
• Sprains and strains
• Broken bones
• Head injuries

CPS says that most of these trampoline park injuries happen when:

• There is more than one child on the trampoline at a time
• Doing "tricks" such as flips or somersaults
• Children are pushed or fall off the trampoline
• Landing hard or the wrong way when jumping

Paediatric and orthopedic surgeon Alfred Mansour says that injuries from trampoline parks greatly range in terms of severity. "If they are trying to do flips and slip and fall, that's when you get the more extreme injuries," says Mansour.

Dr. Kemia Zeinali, founder of Dreamhouse Dental, says that while parents' primary concern is often concussions, dental trauma should also be top of mind.

"Trampoline-related injuries can lead to severe dental injury, including tooth fractures, dislodged or knocked-out teeth, and even severe jaw fractures," says Zeinali. "Even a blow that doesn't immediately dislodge a tooth can result in nerve damage that surfaces later in life."

Trampoline parks are often a supervised environment, which may give parents false reassurance that their children are totally safe. While supervision definitely increases the odds of safety, it's not a guarantee.

Understanding the safety regulations in Canada

There are no current regulations for trampoline parks in Canada, but all parks will have a general set of health and safety rules that attendees are expected to abide by.

Skyzone, a popular Canadian chain of trampoline parks, has a pretty standard set of rules for park-goers. Some of them include:

• Always walk on and off the courts
• Always land on two feet. Bend your knees to stop your bounce
• Always be aware of those around you and jump with people who are of similar age/size
• Always be in control of your body at all times. No aggressive behaviour
• Always prevent collisions
• Always follow Team Member instructions

Who’s really responsible for safety?

The problem? While these rules make perfect sense for keeping jumpers safe, there's no legal requirement for parks to actually enforce them. John Carpenter, co-founder of Carpenter & Zuckerman Law, explains that waivers— which nearly all trampoline parks require guests to sign—essentially shield the business from liability. So even if rules like "always prevent collisions" sound great in theory, there's little legal recourse if they're not upheld in practice.

"Right when you sign, you relieve them (the park) of the obligation to not be negligent (careless)," says Carpenter. "You're letting your child go to a park where everybody is relieved of the responsibility of being supervised to use the trampolines in the way they're supposed to be used."

The fine print: Are we overlooking the risks?

Carpenter highlights how as a society, we've all become so accustomed to checking boxes on those long terms of agreement pages without actually reading them, "because usually nothing bad happens," he says. Consequently, parents may not be aware of the various safety concerns associated with these parks.

"I don't know that you'd voluntarily let your child go into a facility where you knew that the people running it had no obligation to be reasonably safe," says Carpenter.

While the lack of regulation in these recreational places undoubtedly poses risks, Health Canada does monitor the physical conditions of the parks. For instance, if evidence of a safety-related problem with the make of a trampoline arises, such as a defect in its construction or design, the department will work with manufacturers in the industry to correct the issue.

For everything else though, park-goers are pretty much on their own when it comes to their safety. That's why its crucial for parents to be having important conversations with their children before they allow them to go.

Tips for parents to ensure a safe visit

Avoid a visit to the emergency room with these safety tips.

"I think for the first time parents should be with them —asking (employees) questions like how many people are on the trampoline together, what their safety rules are, do they have people monitoring the trampolines to make sure nothing gets out of hand and the horseplay isn't too significant," says Mansour.

Mansour emphasizes how important it is for parents to stay involved in these activities, especially with younger kids, by setting boundaries to keep things fun but safe. Research backs this up, showing that when parents are actively involved and supervise, kids are less likely to have emotional and behavioral issues.

To minimize risks even further, Zeinali recommends parents consider having their children wear a properly fitted mouthguard to "help absorb impact and protect their teeth." In line with Mansour, she recommends that parents keep a close eye on children as they jump, discouraging risky stunts, rough play, and overcrowding—all of which can go a long way in preventing injuries.

Carpenter says that trampolines are actually pretty safe when used as directed, but that's not the way that most people use them.

"Head-on-head contact with other kids on the trampoline is a main concern," says Carpenter, highlighting how many known dangers at these parks are associated with having multiple people on the same trampoline.

"If your child enjoys the trampoline park, it may be a great idea to visit during less busy times where the risk of colliding with another child is minimized," says Zeinali.

Anytime a parent or guardian has to sign a waiver before their child is allowed access into a space, it is fundamental for them to actually give it a thorough read to understand exactly what they're signing off on. Although waivers are mainly a legal tool, they also serve an educational purpose by making people consider the potential risks associated with an activity.

Alternatives to trampoline parks for active play

If you've read the waivers at trampoline parks, or learned enough about risks associated with them here and are uncomfortable with your child attending as a result, here are some other ways to play.

Various other types of indoor playgrounds in Canada don't involve propelling your child into the air. Some of them include:

• Kids Market Adventure Zone in Vancouver, British Columbia
• Go Active Kids in Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia
• Joso's Play and Learn Centre in Calgary, Alberta
• CJ's Climb and Play in Warman, Saskatchewan
• Playtown in Mississauga, Ontario
• Sprouts - Growing Bodies & Minds in Toronto, Ontario

Other indoor yet active activities include:

• Rock climbing
• Bowling
• Theatre programs
• Home Depot monthly workshops
• Track and field centres

Cabin fever can also be cured through active play at home, as long as you know the right remedies. Here are some ideas:

• Balloon volleyball
• Hallway Soccer
• Hula Hooping
• Using a Wii console to play Wii Fit
• Physical activities listed on the GoNoodle website

Regardless of the activity that your child participates in, parental supervision and engagement are recommended to increase the likelihood of your child doing so safely.

Experts

• Alfred Mansour, Paediatric & Orthopedic Surgeon
• John Carpenter, Co-Founder of Carpenter & Zuckerman Law
• Kemia Zeinali, Dentist & Owner of Dreamhouse Dental