One of my fondest memories as a child is jumping on my parents’ bed with my sister. We didn’t do it once—we did it any chance we could! Of course in those days there were no trampolines and, honestly, I think jumping on the bed is WAY MORE fun!
Have you ever wondered WHY children want to jump in the first place? Well if your kidlets are anything like me and my sister we jumped because it was fun! We imagined we were flying like Tinker Bell or riding on a flying dragon. In other words, it was part of our pretend PLAY! We didn’t realize we were helping our bodies, but we were! Below are some of the benefits of jumping!
• As young children, we didn’t know that bouncing up and down and up and down again, over and over was an aerobic workout. We just loved the thrill of rocketing up, being suspended for just a split second and then plummeting back down. But jumping was putting our cardiovascular system into a higher gear!
1. Heart and lungs are stronger and more efficient
• With all that oxygenized blood moving throughout the body, it eventually makes it to the brain In theory, at least, it should make for clearer thinking. I won’t comment on some of the ideas my sister and I came up with while jumping, as it might invalidate this theory, but we definitely would have gotten high marks for creativity!
2. Cognitive development aided with clearer and more creative thinking!
• Jumping also helps to develop the vestibular system. A healthy vestibular system allows your children the confidence to move and interact, with the use of their senses, in and with their surroundings. The vestibular system’s organs are located deep inside your ears. These are the organs that give us information about the position of our heads and bodies in space; in other words, spatial awareness.
3. Spatial awareness improved
• In addition to your child’s cardiovascular system, their lymphatic system is also impacted with jumping. One of the main functions of the lymphatic system is cleansing the body of waste. Unlike the cardiovascular system though, the lymphatic system has no automatic pump to move lymph fluid. Bouncing up and down (while jumping on a bed say) stimulates the movement of lymphatic fluid via gravity and muscular contractions.
4. Lymphatic system stimulated
–The lymphatic system and immune system basically go hand-in-hand, when one is improved so is the other. Expect a healthier immune system able to withstand the onslaught of preschool crud, bugs and viruses when your kidlet gets in regular jumping and bouncing.
5. Immune system more efficient
So, if you don’t have time to get to your local indoor play space–just open the door to your bedroom….they’ll know what to do next!
Yours in Play!
Teacher Karen
Leave a Reply