With spring in full swing, light evenings and warmer days, optimistic parents may be thinking about fun toys for the garden. Inflatable castles are often hired for children's parties but could be a great investment for some families if space and good weather permit.
For all the fun of a fair ground jumping castle in the back garden an airflow bouncy castle is required, this will have a blower or pump which will continuously inflate the attraction.
Buying an Inflatable Bouncy Castle in the UK
In the UK a range of airflow bouncy castles are being sold through Tesco for the summer of 2010.
With £100, parents can buy a basic castle for age 3+. With an area of 2.1 x 1.6 metres it is quite small and will probably have quite limited play appeal so the money might be better invested in a trampoline which is likely to be used more.
For £200 there is a much more exciting inflatable castle and pool which covers an area of 4.5 x 2.3 metres and includes a slide into a shallow padding pool, suitable for age 3+. It is pictured with 4 children playing on it in the Tesco catalogue, so it's ideal for families and friends.
At £250 the Crocodile airflow bouncy castle is for children aged 6+. It covers 2.8 x 3.2 metres and includes a slide.
Inflatable Jumping Castles & Bouncy Activity Centres in the US & Canada
There are a number of airflow, jumping, bouncers suitable for the garden available in the US and Canada. They ranging up in price from around $100 USD.
The Jump & Double Slide Bouncer by Little Tikes is one of the bigger and more exciting jumping inflatables. Suitable for 2 or 3 children to use together, its area is 108" x 168" and it retails for around $350 USD. Despite being so big it is easy to set up and pack away and ideal for preschool children.
Hiring an Inflatable Bouncy Castle
For a one off event with lots of children, hiring a bouncy castle may be the best option in order to get an inflatable jumping toy which is big enough for the number and age of children.
The biggest inflatable castles are suitable for adults but people who jump on the inflatable toy must be within the size limit agreed with the hirer because breaking the terms of the contract could invalidate any insurance with consequences if someone is injured or property is damaged.
Bouncers & Jumpers, Kids' Garden Inflatables
An investment of $200, £200 or more is required to buy a good fun inflatable jumping castle, bouncer, or bouncy castle for the garden. Once the investment is made several children can play on it and it should provide entertainment for a number of years.
An only child might be served better by a trampoline. A good quality kids' trampoline may be a similar price and should last for years. It is important to note that one of the big differences is that trampolines should only be used by one person at a time for safety reasons.
Deborah Percy - BSc. MA. Managing Director of a heating & plumbing business. Interest in maths, science & research. Mother of 3, including twins.
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