[debok]

My wife and I take the approach of allowing our kids take risks too. Even though it is not that socially acceptable. If people want to judge me for letting my 4yo boy help with building and lighting a fire, then let them.

There is so many things you can do in the home as a parent to encourage kids to take controllable risks. My oldest was helping his mother with knife-work in the kitchen from as early as 3. I also removed the enclosure net from the trampoline in our backyard. I buy bicycles for my kids as early as possible. I rough-and-tumble with my kids on an almost daily basis.

Of course there are limits. We try to keep it age appropriate, around some dangerous areas (fire, deep water, the road) we always keep them supervised. We teach them about the dangers. We teach them how to manage the risks.

Luckily my brother-in-law also removed the enclosure net on their backyard trampoline after he saw that my kids were OK jumping on an open trampoline. So it seems our attitude is starting to have a positive affect on the families around us.

[thorslilcuz]

What is the perceived benefit to removing a trampoline enclosure, though? It doesn't make the kids have more fun, it just makes the activity riskier (and trampolines are pretty much death traps). I say this as someone who had one as a kid (no enclosure) and would probably buy one for my kids (with enclosure).

[debok]

Huh, interesting that this is the hill I have to die on. If I google "are trampolines death traps" the results seem to be about 50/50 yes/no.

Anyway, here are the benefits:

1) More freedom, as they can get on the trampoline from any side instead of just the entrance. This Makes for more interesting games on/around the trampoline.

2) Easier for a parent to get to them when necessary.

3) I also jump on the trampoline.

4) Without the net, there is more to the trampoline than just a place to jump (ties in with point 1). E.g. We had our family dinner on the trampoline more than once.

5) The increased risk makes it more fun. Kids have and enjoy adrenaline too.

To answer the drawbacks (increased risk):

1) I also got hurt falling from a trampoline once as a teen, that was because I behaved the way a teen boy would.

2) The kids know where the dangerous parts of the trampoline is (i.e. near the sides).

[swader999]

We went no enclosure, built into the ground with an upgraded mat for better bounce. Kids loved it.

[voisin]

Built into the ground sounds interesting. Did you just dig a big pit or is this a special trampoline designed for this?

[opwieurposiu]

A big pit works fine if you remove the legs from a standard trampoline. The downside is that you do not feel like you are bouncing as high, because you don't get to start with the extra 4 feet in elevation.

[bigfudge]

We just dug a pit. it needs to be deeper than you think though (or well drained) or you get wet feet in the winter!

[swader999]

It was a trampoline designed for this type of install. The frame bolted onto a retaining wall type rectangle I built.

[justsomehnguy]

Death trap is the rooftop of an 12-story apartment building, yet I had enough sense not to try my luck too much, because I knew firsthand how easy you can perform an uncontrollable falling manoeuvre.

[master-lincoln]

Is there a downside of having an enclosure net around a trampoline? Asking because I did hurt myself badly once as an adult when using a non-enclosed trampoline with a hard ground next to it. I don't see what kids could benefit from when not having the enclosure

[Kamq]

The thing that immediately pops into mind is that learning to be careful when there's a moderate risk of injury makes people better at finding the limits in dangerous activities that they'll face later in life without going too far.

This is assuming that being careful and finding the limits of a dangerous activity without being injured is a skill that needs practice, but that doesn't seem like too much of a stretch.

You could test this by seeing if kids who had trampoline enclosures were less likely to hurt themselves seriously as an adult.

[jtbayly]

I recall reading that enclosures made no difference to injury rates on trampolines.

We have an enclosed one, and the kids love it, because it allows them to play games with balls on the trampoline.

[debok]

See my answer to your sibling comment by thorslilcuz.

Kamq also makes a good point.