What’s a bounce house?

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Bounce houses are inflatable structures popular at children’s parties and events. They were first developed in the late 1950s and have evolved from simple enclosed areas to large, elaborate designs. The original inflatable was called a Space Walk and was later renamed the Moonwalk. They are made of thick layers of rubber, vinyl, or nylon and are constantly filled with electric fans. It’s important to limit the number of children using them and to monitor their use to avoid collisions and misuse. Prices for rentals vary depending on the design and length of lease.

A bounce house is an inflatable structure that is often seen at children’s birthday parties, village fairs and various festivals. The bounce house can range in shape from a simple enclosed bouncy area, to large “houses” of different styles. For example, a bounce house might be a castle, might have more than one story or level, and might feature a bounce chute. These structures are very popular with children (and some adults too) and were first developed in the late 1950s.

The original inflatable was a smaller version of today’s incarnations. Initially, the first inflatable surfaces of this type were not even enclosed. This wasn’t a good idea, since children could easily bounce off the structure at least to their annoyance, and injury in worst-case scenarios. The first inflatable had to reproduce the sensation that the person using it was walking in space or on the moon. In fact, the first manufacturer, John Scurlock, called his bounce houses Space Walks.

Spacewalks have been popular from the start, especially with the focus on the Space Race. The initial inflatable structure was little better than a large, high inflatable mattress. Of course, if you’ve ever inflated a mattress and have kids, you already know that this alone is enough to keep you entertained for hours. The walls for the Space Walk weren’t added until the second half of the 1960s, and since then the bounce house in the US was mostly called the Moonwalk, especially after 1969.

Usually this inflatable has a much harder exterior than the normal inflatable mattress for camping. It is made of thick layers of rubber, vinyl or nylon. Since bouncing can quickly deflate the attraction, you’ll find that most are constantly filled with electric fans. These may be wired or may be powered by portable generators depending on the location.

Most often, only children of a certain age and size use the bounce house. Adults, especially in very small dinghies, can easily bounce in an accident. So can children; collisions are common. It’s wise to limit the number of children who bounce to the manufacturer’s recommended amount, and to remove any children caught with a Tigger-like urge to bounce improperly on others. An overcrowded house can mean kids bump into each other, which can make for unhappy times. If you’re using a bounce house at a fair or festival, a well-monitored one is the best choice to avoid collisions and misuse.

If you are considering renting an inflatable for a child’s party, prices will vary on rentals. The fancier the house and the longer the lease, the more likely you are to pay up to 200-500 US Dollars (USD). A simpler home may be a less expensive choice, and some can be rented for less than $100. You can buy small “consumer” bounce houses, but these aren’t manufactured to the same standards as commercial ones. They will not have the same duration as the rented options.




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