Bounce Houses and Moonwalks – What To Know Before the Party

Bounce Houses and Moonwalks – What To Know Before The Party

Bounce houses and Moonwalks are a perfect addition to birthday parties for kids. Children of all ages love them. Their big size and bright colors create a festive atmosphere. And they bring an excitement to the birthday party that is hard to match.
Before renting a bounce house there are several things to keep in mind.

Bounce houses should be rented for children ages 3 – 12.
For safety reasons children need to be able to exit an inflatable on their own. Since children under the age of 3 have difficulty exiting on their own –  bounce houses and moonwalks are not appropriate for children under 3.  For older children many companies have interactive equipment that is more appropriate for teens and adults ages 13 and up. 

Rent the appropriate bounce house for your party size.
When making reservations let the company know how many children will be attending the party and their ages.    They will be able to guide you on an appropriate size that will fit your budget and your guests.

Be sure the company has insurance
Ask what type of insurance they carry and be specific with your questions. 
You need to be sure the children using the inflatable will be covered if there is a structural malfunction.  (Malfunctions are rare, but as with all amusement devises there are inherent risks.)  If a rental company can not service a public park or school then they do not have insurance. 

Many times rental companies that have prices that are too good to be true are operating without a business license or insurance.  Don’t let your kids use equipment from a rental company that doesn’t have you or your childrens best interest in mind.

You will have to sign a liability waiver upon delivery. This is necessary because you also need to take responsibility for the equipment and how it is used. The company’s insurance is for accidents that would occur beyond anyone’s control. It is not for accidents that occur because there was no supervision or the rules were not being followed.
Make sure to get a written contract.
Have everything in writing – specific dates, pick-up / delivery times and prices – so there are no surprises.
Inspect the bounce house or moonwalk when it is delivered.
If there is a problem – do not sign the paperwork. The delivery person should fix the problem or let their office know that there is a problem and find a solution for you.  Once you sign the paperwork you are accepting the equipment “as – is”.

Ask the delivery person to wipe down the mat inside.
Good companies will do this automatically, but to be safe ask them if they have done it. The delivery person should carry cleaning products with them.

Rules to keep the party guests safe:

Supervision is a must at ALL times.
Never leave an inflatable unattended when children are inside.

Don’t overload the equipment by having too many children inside at once.
Check with the rental company to find out how many children can use the moonwalk at a time.  Accidents can occur when the unit is overloaded, unattended or the rules are not being followed. 

Children using the bounce house should be grouped by ages.
Keep age groups together – ages 3 to 5, 6 to 8 and 9 to 12.

Unplug or power off the unit in high winds or bad weather.
Never allow children inside during these conditions.

Following these guidelines will insure your guests have a wonderful … and safe … experience at the birthday party.

A special thank you to the wonderful people at Moon -Walker Party Service Central for providing the information for this post. They have over 100 different moonwalks and bounce houses for rent. If you live in the Kissimmee, St. Cloud, Poinciana, Harmony, Celebration and Orlando, Florida area give them a call for all your bounce house and carnival needs. They also have a seasonal company in Newport, Middletown and Portsmouth, Rhode Island.

 
For more birthday party ideas, themes, games and activities see our website – www.birthdaypartyideas4kids.com   

 

 

 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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