Even when the winter weather keeps us from getting outside I’m not a huge fan of large die cast plastic toys. I can’t help feeling they aren’t good for the environment and they take up a tremendous amount of space. I also imagine becoming just another household with a miniature pink and white kitchen cultivating a green film of muck out in the rain for two years after the kids stop playing with it—classy.  Like a garden gnome shotgun shack.

However, big doesn’t have to mean bad when you can blow it up and deflate it later. The Jump-o-lene is great and for about $50 well worth the price.  It has been a fun playpen, beginning jump house and now a launching pad (literally) for my daughter’s early affinity for gymnastics.  And if it isn't clear from all that, it's pretty durable too.

The Jump-o-lene is constructed of 2 17-gauge vinyl cushions for bounce. Attached 3-ring, 3-chamber retainer wall keeps kids and balls safely inside. Jump-o-lene inflates with a regular beach toy inflating pump or an air pump (invest in one). It stores compactly when deflated. If used as a ball pool, it holds up to 1,500 balls (sold separately). Two-child, 120-pound capacity. Size: 82" diameter.