Jump Around: Toddler Time at Sky Zone

By Yumi

I’ve had my eye on Sky Zone, Ottawa’s indoor trampoline park, since it opened its doors this spring. It’s on the way to Moe’s day care provider, so the signs have been taunting us daily. I did a parent-and-tot gymnastics class with Moe this year, and his favourite part was definitely the trampoline. When I saw that Sky Zone had “Toddler Time,” I was determined to try it.

Toddler Time is offered Tuesday through Thursday, from 9:30 am to 11:30 am. A Thursday off to spend quality time with my sister, who was visiting from Nova Scotia, seemed like a good time to pull Moe out of daycare for the day and give this a shot.

What is Toddler Time?

Admission to Toddler Time is $13.00 for the child ($6.00 for a sibling add-on), and no cost for the adult(s). Parking is ample and free. One parent is expected to be with the child at all times. Parents are obviously welcome to jump, too, but I was told upon entry that “extreme jumping” was not permitted by adults during Toddler Time. (I hadn’t planned on doing any flips or tricks because I have no idea how, so I was fine with that.)

At Toddler Time, you have access to the big jump floor (The entire floor is made up of trampolines, and the walls are trampolines, too! It’s the rubber room with which you have always threatened your kids!), the Foam Zone (jump into a foam pit), and the basketball area (practice your jump shot... literally). The 3D dodgeball courts are closed, which is probably for the best.

What should you know?

The first time you go to Sky Zone, you need to fill out a waiver for every person in your party. The waivers can be filled out online - this saves time, and is recommended. The waiver is good for a year.

Adults can borrow “jump shoes” free of charge, but you need to bring socks. I didn’t, so I jumped in my bare feet. My sister used the jump shoes, and she was able to get higher and farther than I was (this may have been the jump shoes, or it may be that she’s 19 and I’m 35). I’m also willing to bet her feet hurt less than mine did the next day. Moe jumped in sock feet.

Sky Zone asks that you don’t bring in outside food. However, as the snack counter did not appear to be open while we were there, I boldly gave my son a juice box and a fruit bar (in the eating area, not on the jump courts). As I was struggling with the decision, another mom assured me that she does it all the time with her daughter. I also kept a bottle of water nearby for Moe to drink from while we were jumping. Because the snack counter was closed, I wasn’t able to get a sense of whether there were many healthy choices there, but I saw ice cream and pop, and they offer pizza for birthday parties. There are drinking fountains. The women’s bathroom has a diaper change table. (I can’t speak for the men’s.)

What was it like?

It was ridiculously fun. We got there right when it opened, so the place was pretty empty for most of our stay, which allowed Moe to get his bearings without being overwhelmed. It didn’t take him too long to find his stride. I took some video, and it is awesome to watch his confidence grow over the course of the videos.

It was fantastic exercise. I thought I might have been pushing it, wearing actual work-out gear, but I wasn’t. All three of us got good and sweaty. Moe wore himself out to the point of angry-drunk-tired, which made leaving an adventure. Because of this, I might not stay as long next time (we were there at least 90 minutes) but we were all having so much fun that I didn’t want to leave.

It felt very safe, the facilities are clean, and there is ample space to relax and take a break from jumping. Leather couches provide a comfortable spot to chill out and there are tables for snacktime. During Open Jump (all ages), a room called “Parents’ Lounge” is open for parents who want to escape the insanity. I also loved that there are clocks everywhere.

Moe has already asked to go back. I’m already trying to find another reason to take a Thursday off work.

Yumi Webster (@yumikid) works full time at a Crown corporation, and is mom to 3.5 year old Moe. You can read about Moe’s adventures at Finding Moe. Yumi has lived in Ottawa all her life. She loves museums, her family, and peanut M&Ms. 

With the Greatest of Ease: SkyZone Indoor Trampoline Park

"This is fun!" my daughter yelled as she moved from trampoline to trampoline. When I heard this place was opening in Ottawa, I suspected she would like Sky Zone and I was correct. We spent 45 minutes there moving from the trampolines to the foam pit and the basketball – which proved to hard for either of us. I took pictures. I didn't get a single clear one.

Sky Zone offers the misnamed 'Toddler Time" for kids up to age 6 on weekdays so that's when we went in. For the period we were there it was us and a little boy with his dad.

My kid did somersaults and pratfalls, she threw herself around and bounced and flipped and spent the whole time laughing.

We agreed that we will have to take Daddy when we go back. It's possible that Daddy and I might go on our own to take part in one of the 3D Dodgeball games too...

Have you been to SkyZone Indoor Trampoline Park yet? What did you think?

Great Listens for your Summer Road Trip

Kristal Craig from the Centennial Branch of the Ottawa Public Library shares some great audio selections for your summer road trips. 

Skippyjon Jones

An overactive imagination is what Skippyjon Jones has. He is a Siamese cat who takes you on all types of silly adventures and you never know where you will end up. Fun  for the whole family.

 Jamie Lee Curtis Collection

Relive days gone by with your little ones while listening to these stories by Jamie Lee Curtis.  You will laugh and giggle and want to hear them again and again.

Puff the Dragon

We all remember the song of this magical dragon. Puff will have you and your children inspired to travel to the land of Honah Lee or any land of their choice. This lovely illustrated book will have your children mesmerized and humming right along. Delightful!

Jillian Jiggs

Jillian Jiggs has boundless energy and imagination, one minute she is putting on plays, the next minute she's a tree. How could it be possible for Jillian to make time to clean up her room when, there are so many wonderful things to make and do? What will she think of next!

 The Uglified Ducky

Think you know the story of the Ugly Duckling?  Think again!  When this “Uglified Ducky”, a young moose,”blunders away” from home, he is mistaken for a baby duck and he tries to learn to waddle, quack, swim and fly.  In the end, he finds his true “family”, who help him appreciate his own beauty.  Wonderful storytelling by Willy Claflin.

Audiobooks for older children 8 and up

Because of Winn Dixie

New to the town of Naomi, Florida,  ten-year-old Opal  tells us about her first summer and how new and exciting things happen to her because she gets herself a dog named Winn-Dixie.

The Night Fairy

A night fairy is shocked to find herself wingless after a terrible encounter with a bat. Grounded and living in a garden, Flory works at becoming a day fairy. Finding a way to make friends and a new life, she discovers that there's more to life than flight.

Savvy

At the age of thirteen, all of the children in the Beaumont family receive a “savvy” or unworldly power.  One brother can create hurricanes, the other makes electricity…. and now it’s Mibs' big day.  But something happens to her Poppa, and her mother and her big brother have to leave Mibs to adjust to her “savvy”, all on her own...

The Ulysses Moore

Jason, Julia, and Rick have discovered one of the secrets of Argo Manor -- the Door to Time. A mysterious land of labyrinths, riddles, and secrets. Hidden somewhere in the past, Jason and Rick have to find the map to Kilmore Cove, but where?

Gregor The Overlander

Gregor, an 11 year old boy, falls down a grate in his laundry room into a strange new world called the Underland. There he becomes an unwilling warrior and leads an alliance of Underlanders on a quest to rescue a fellow Overlander.  Gregor’s adventure will change everything for himself, the Underlanders, and may solve the biggest mystery of his life.

The Unwanteds

Wanted or Unwanted - 13-year-old twins Aaron and Alex ponder their fate.  What will society decide for them...  Aaron is sent to University, “Wanted” and Alex to be eliminated, “Unwanted”.   But being “eliminated” holds unknown surprises for Alex, who finds himself in a remarkable world where he can show his abilities and learn magic.

 Join the TD Summer Reading Club at any branch this summer - pick up your reading kit and join some fun programs!

Cool Summer Treat

I love getting into the kitchen with my kid and I'm always looking for new things I can show her. I was thinking that maybe we could make ice cream and started looking for ice cream makers and different ways people do it themselves. I found a few different option but chose the ice cream ball. (That's the one I bought, I don't know if there are different brands that do the same thing). Basically you put the ice and salt in one end, put your ingredients in the other end, and then kick and shake it around for a while until you get ice cream.

Seriously.

We chose plain vanilla for our first attempt, and had it with the strawberries we picked ourselves.

Now that we know it works (and how tasty it is) we can try different recipes and have a little exercise before dessert.

Welcoming Our New Sponsor: Music for Young Children Orleans

Kids in the Capital is pleased to announce a new sponsor. The Music for Young Children Studio in Orleans helps little musicians build a solid foundation in the understanding and enjoyment of music.

With so many activities to fit in and so many demands on children’s time, why music lessons? We all know that music lessons can play a very important role in a child's development. Playing an instrument from a young age involves lots of skills - visual, auditory, tactile and kinesthetic. Playing an instrument helps develop both sides of a child’s brain at the same time, increasing both intellectual functions and physical coordination, patience and confidence. it can also improve a child's emotional development by providing an outlet for self-expression.

In the MYC program, children meet in small groups, in their own age category, once a week for an hour, accompanied by a parent or caregiver who also participates in the program. Children are the center of the whole MYC philosophy and the focus is on teaching music and music appreciation through a multi-sensory approach. MYC Orleans believes that as a child’s understanding of music grows, so will their positive problem-solving skills, self-expression, memory, self-confidence and self-esteem.

Come on down and check out the program. Ask for Lorna and she'll be more than happy to explain the whole program to you. And she speaks from experience as her son went through the whole program.

Registration for the fall is now ongoing and if you register online, you get $5 cash back. Also, with any referral, you get a free movie ticket. Pretty cool.