75 Fun Ways to Use Your Trampoline
There are so many fun things to do and games to play on a trampoline. Here we’ll run through 75 fun things, exercises and games to enjoy when bouncing or playing on your trampoline!
Trampoline games
These games don’t require anything more than a lot of energy and a few people to play. And they’re not just for kids – adults can have just as much fun participating in these games.
- Bounce the Buddha– One person has to sit in the middle of the trampoline with their legs and arms folded as if in meditation. Everyone else bounces around them trying to get them to wobble and fall over. Once they do, another person takes their place.
- Cracked Egg – Similar to Bounce the Buddha, in this game one person sits in the middle, hugging their knees up to their chest. Everyone bounces around them until they eventually ‘crack’ and let go of their legs.
- Bounce War – One person has to yell “One, two, three, four, I declare a butt bounce war.” Everyone on the trampoline must do as many seat drops in a row as they can without using their hands.
- Star Jump War – This game is similar to Bounce War. One person yells out ““One, two, three, four, I declare a star jump war.” The players have to do as many consecutive star jumps without stopping or falling.
- Seat-Drop War – This is a two player game. The players face one another and start to seat drop and bounce, keeping the rhythm going. The first person to lose control is out.
- Barrel Run – This is a two person game. One person pretends to be a barrel rolling on the trampoline. The other person must jump over the barrel without touching it. The barrel has to try to get the jumper out.
- Make a Move – With 3 to 5 players, take turns each doing a move on the trampoline. Each person has to think of something different. When they do a move that has already been done or is too similar to what has already been done, that person is out.
- Memory Jump – The first person gets on the trampoline and does one move. The next person gets on and has to do that move and another move. This goes on and on until a player gets the sequence wrong.
- Do As I Do – One person is the leader. Everyone must bounce in time and do as the leader does. Those who can’t follow the leader are out.
- Ring Around the Rosy – Form a circle, hold hands, and sing ‘Ring around a rosy’. Each person takes a turn choosing the way everyone should fall down. Knee drops, bottom drops, and backward drops are a few examples.
- Bullride – Create a bull by putting a few pillows inside a bag. Then the person riding the bull had to sit in the center of the trampoline and holds on with only one hand while everyone else bounces around trying to get the bull rider down. The winner is the person who stays on the longest.
- Simon Says – One player stays on the ground while everyone else is on the trampoline. The player on the ground gets the participants on the trampoline to perform tricks, like “Simon says jump high”, for example.
- Twister– Draw the game board onto your trampoline using chalk, and use the original game spinner.
- Duck, Duck, Goose – This game for young children is always more fun when played on the trampoline.
- Fly Like Superheroes – Pretend you’re a superhero by wearing capes as you jump through the air on the trampoline.
- Obstacle Course – make an obstacle course in your backyard that ends with a specific amount of jumps needed to be completed on the trampoline.
- Hopscotch – Draw hopscotch on your trampoline surface, and revive this fun sidewalk game on your favourite bouncy surface!
- Stir the Soup – As children in a circle list ingredients in an imaginary soup, one person runs around the outside of the circle on the trampoline getting faster and faster until all of the ‘ingredients’ are being stirred in and are about to boil. Be careful that there aren’t too many ingredients, or the person running around the circle might get too dizzy.
Blindfold games
Blindfold games are always fun, and using the trampoline can make an old tired game a lot more fun. However, it is recommended that an enclosed trampoline is used for these games to prevent any accidents from happening to the blindfolded players.
- Wild Boar – This game requires 3-5 players. One person in the middle is blindfolded. Everyone starts jumping while the person wearing the blindfold needs to find someone and touch them. Once they do, they need to guess correctly who it is. If they are right, that person then becomes the blindfolded wild boar. Otherwise that person is in until they catch someone else and guess correctly.
- Stealthy Ninjas – This game requires 3-6 players. One person is chosen as the ninja. Everyone else is blindfolded. The ninja needs to make each player fall without tripping or hurting the other players. The other players can also try to knock down the ninja.
- Marco Polo – This is the usual Marco Polo game, just played on your trampoline! It’s extra fun on a bouncy surface. However, you will need to make sure that the person who’s ‘in’ is protected from walking off the side of the trampoline.
Trampoline ball games
What do you get when you mix balls and trampolines together? FUN! Here are a range of ball games that will keep the whole family entertained for hours.
- Poison Ball – Put 5 or so balls or objects on the trampoline. Everyone has to avoid touching them, otherwise they’re out of the game. You don’t need to use balls, you could also use soft toys.
- Cherry Bomb – This game requires one large soft round ball and 2-5 players. One person holds the ball in the air and yells “cherry bomb” before throwing it. Everyone must then avoid being touched by the ball or they lose one of their five lives. If the ball ends up off the trampoline, everyone loses one life. Once you’ve lost your five lives, you have to get off the trampoline. The last man standing wins.
- Hot Potato– Four jumpers are on the trampoline and must not stop jumping. A soft ball is thrown between the players, and they must catch the ball. If they drop it or fail to catch it, they’re out.
- New Dodgeball– One person in the center of the trampoline is throwing a ball while the players around them are jumping trying to dodge the ball. Once a player is hit they are out of the game until the last person is left jumping.
- Crossfire – This game is similar to dodgeball. Two people stay on the trampoline while everyone else stands around it, and a soft ball is thrown between the players on the ground as they try to hit someone on the trampoline. If they are able to hit someone, they switch positions with the person on the trampoline.
- Touch Ball – Put a number of balls on the trampoline. Different sized balls are always good. Players must then run or jump one by one from one side of the trampoline to the next without the balls touching them. Once a ball touches you, you’re out.
- Basketball– Play a game of basketball while jumping on the trampoline. Put a basketball hoop next to the trampoline, or purchase one that attaches to the side of it.
- Hoppy Ball – Have fun with a hoppy ball, a specially designed sit on ball that’s meant to be used on enclosed trampolines.
- Play Ball– Using a lightweight ball, such as a beach ball, everyone has to jump around while trying to keep the ball in the center of the trampoline.
- Attack the Castle – Players are divided into two teams. One team is on the ground while the other is on the trampoline. The players outside have to throw soft balls to the castle (trampoline) while the players on the trampoline have to block them. The castle is finally broken down when all of the balls are inside.
- Play Catch – An enclosed trampoline is the perfect place to play catch with your toddler. The ball won’t be too far to retrieve each time, and it will naturally roll back to you if it falls to the trampoline surface.
Trampoline activities
There are lots of fun activities that can be done on a trampoline, and not all of them necessarily include bouncing. Check out some of them here.
- Wake Up With a Bounce – Have trouble waking up in the morning? Try jumping on your trampoline for 5 minutes as soon as you get out of bed. It gets all of the blood in your body moving and helps energise you for the day ahead.
- Camp on Your Trampoline – Did you know you can buy trampoline tents that can easily fit your trampoline. You’ll never want to sleep in a regular tent again.
- Playing Picasso – Sidewalk chalk writes on the surface of trampolines brilliantly. Enjoy using your trampoline like a giant canvas without the wasted paper. Once you start jumping on the trampoline it will begin to come off, and it will go away completely when it rains.
- Family Band – Use the trampoline surface as you would a drum, and create a beat to get the whole family ready to play along. Someone can be a singer, and other members of the family can use a guitar or handmade instruments to enjoy a fun afternoon jam.
- Learning on the Trampoline – If your child learns better away from their desk, this is a great exercise. Draw answers to questions on the trampoline and then ask your child questions and have them jump to the correct answer. Letter and number games are great for small children.
- Teach the Principles of Gravity – Using the idea of jumping on the trampoline is a fun and hands on way to teach kids the principles of gravity.
- Learn to Tumble – Learning how to do somersaults on the trampoline is beneficial because it is such a soft surface, making it great for beginners.
- Learn Acrobatics – Kids seems to pick up tricks naturally on trampolines, but for adults it can be a bit more of a challenge. If you’d like to be able to do more, get some lessons to learn how to do more tricks and enjoy performing them on your own trampoline at home with your kids.
- Flips – Practice flips on your trampoline, and work with someone else who can help you perfect your technique.
- Add a Roof– An old parachute is an awesome roof for a trampoline, making it a fun play area that doubles as a bouncy cubby house.
- A Hammock – Whether it’s laying in the sun or reading a good book, trampolines are like giant hammocks the whole family can relax on.
- Trampoline Office– Do you have wifi? Why not take your laptop outside and use your trampoline as the most comfortable and fun office space ever.
- Use your trampoline as a gazebo – Create an adults retreat at a kids party using your trampoline. Put a sun cover over the top and fill the trampoline with floor cushions and pillows making it the perfect place for the parents to sit and talk while the kids play.
- Making Shapes Out of Clouds – During the day, the trampoline surface is also the perfect place to recline and watch the clouds pass by with your kids. Make shapes out of what you see, and encourage your children to be creative.
- Star Gazing – Lay blankets on your trampolines surface and use it as the perfect place to watch the stars at night. If you have a telescope, even better.
- Trampoline Disco – Get out your kids’ favourite tunes, and host a disco for them and their friends on your enclose trampoline. Not only will the kids have a blast, but they’ll be very happy to go to bed when the party is over.
- Glow In the Dark Jumping – Deck the kids out in glow necklaces and bracelets, and put some music on so they can jump and dance away after dark!
- Outdoor Movie Night– Fill the trampoline with pillows and blankets, and enjoy a movie outside on the trampoline. You can do this by either watching it on a large laptop, or buy a cheap projector and use a white sheet as the screen.
- Sprinkler Fun – Put a sprinkler under the trampoline and jump on top of it. The spray from the sprinklers will turn the surface of the trampoline slippery, perfect for doing slides. This is particularly fun when the weather is hot!
- Trampoline Water Fight – Nothing says summer more than water bombs! Use your trampoline as the perfect vantage point to hit your targets running around on the ground around you.
- Trampoline Picnic – Place a picnic blanket on your trampoline surface and enjoy a picnic with the kids on your trampolines soft, bouncy surface. The biggest benefit? Less chance of uninvited ants making an appearance.
- Mid-Air Photography – Your trampoline is a great photography prop! Get your phone or your camera, and have your kids jump up as you take shots of them mid air. They’ll love looking at how high they can jump and their hair going upwards.
Trampoline exercises
For adults, why not try all of your gym cardio exercises while on the trampoline? This makes for a great workout for nearly all the muscles in your body, particularly your legs and core.
- Warm Up On the Trampoline – Going for a run? Why not use your trampoline to warm up on. Bouncing and stretching is not only good for your muscles, but it’s fun too.
- Stretching – Your trampoline is the perfect place to practice basic stretches. Enjoy some early morning stretching on the soft, comfortable surface of your trampoline.
- Basic Bounce – Did you know that you can lose weight simply by bouncing on your trampoline? Enjoy the feeling of being a kid again and start bouncing for as long as you can.
- Circle Your Arms – As you jump, circle your arms and see how high you can jump. The circular motion actually helps propel you higher, and gives your arms a workout as well as your legs.
- Bounce and Kick – Once you’ve mastered the basic bounce, add a leg extension kick in each time you jump up. Make sure that leg comes down before you land. Repeat on the other side and see how many you can do in a row.
- Bounce and Toe Touch – Once you can bounce and kick in the air, try bouncing and then touching your toes mid air. As you jump extend your legs straight out in front of you to reach your toes.
- Basic Crunches – Because of the soft, flexible surface of the trampoline, it’s a great place to get back into some basic exercises. Whether you are doing a full sit-up or a crunch, the trampoline provides a very comfy place to work out.
- Push Ups – Because of the bouncy surface, doing these on the trampoline aren’t as difficult so you can do more reps. It’s also a great way to trial doing one-handed push ups before doing them on a hard surface.
- Twist as You Jump– As you jump, turn to face your left then your right, or even do a 360° jump. Doing this is great for your core muscles.
- Hip Swivels – Start by standing up straight. Jump and point your legs straight out, hands facing down as you land on your bottom. As you hit the trampoline propel yourself upwards and use your hips to do a 180° turn and land on your bottom again. Repeat until you no longer have enough momentum to do a 180° turn.
- Tuck Jumps – Start by standing straight with your hands by your sides. Jump into the air grabbing your knees to your chest and then coming back to your starting position this time with your arms straight up.
- Pike Jumps – Start by standing straight with your hands by your sides. As you jump into the air keep your legs straight and point your toes forward as you reach for your toes before landing upright again with your arms by your side.
- Straddle Jumps – This requires you to jump up and extend your legs outwards as you also reach your arms towards your toes mid air before returning to the start position, which is standing upright with your hands by your sides.
- Solo Kickboxing – Why not try your usual moves out while jumping on your trampoline? You’ll discover a completely new way to enjoy your favourite sport, and will use different muscles than you usually would.
- Feet Pulse – Keeping your legs and upper body steady, push your feet up and down without letting them leave the surface of the trampoline. This is much harder than it sounds, and is an excellent leg and core workout.
- Skip Bouncing – Use your trampoline as a skipping tool. Take your skipping rope on the trampoline with you and try to keep a fast skipping/bounce rhythm. This activity is perfect for those with ankle/knee issues who can no longer skip on a hard surface.
- Yoga – Doing yoga on the soft surface of the trampoline is fun and very safe. It can also result in less pressure on your joints than when done on a hard surface.
- Mimic Cross Country Skiing – Jump on the trampoline and move your feet back and forth, alternating them as if you are trekking through the snow.
- Downhill Skiing – For some fun downhill skiing action, with your feet together jump side to side as if you are racing down a slope. This is a great workout.
- Jumping Off – Incorporate jumping on and off a trampoline into their workout routine, as this can really work the core muscles.
Want to uncover even more fun ways to use your trampoline? Check out our guide to trampoline, exercise and fun.