Monkey Joe's Reaches Nearly 750,000 Hours Of Customers Jumping Into A Healthier Lifestyle

ATLANTA, July 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Monkey Joe's, a national children's entertainment facility known for its giant inflatable jumps and obstacle courses, has reached nearly three-quarters of a million total hours of jumping from customers, a benchmark that aims to combat the rise in childhood obesity and other health problems caused by an unhealthy lifestyle. With programs such as First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! bringing attention to the health issues facing our nation's youth, places like Monkey Joe's can encourage fun and alternative ways to get exercise.

Let's Move! is a comprehensive initiative launched by Michelle Obama that is dedicated to solving the problem of obesity within a generation, so that children born today will grow up healthier and able to pursue their dreams. The program focuses on a variety of ways to encourage healthier youth, and it recognizes that physical activity is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle.  Sonny Crumpton, Monkey Joe's brand leader, says that he sees Monkey Joe's as a place to help with this initiative, as they strive to provide a fun-filled experience for kids to play and jump.

"We are proud to be able to contribute to our youth's physical activity in a fun way, and we are thrilled to have reached such a high number of jumps," says Crumpton. "The children always have a great time, and they are getting an excellent form of exercise without thinking twice about it."

According to the Let's Move! website, over the past three decades, childhood obesity rates in America have tripled, and today, nearly one in three children in America are overweight or obese. At this rate, one third of all children born in 2000 or later will suffer from diabetes at some point in their lives and many others will face chronic obesity-related health problems.

To reduce the risk of these health issues, children need 60 minutes of play with moderate to vigorous activity every day, according to the American Heart Association. Unfortunately, today's on-demand entertainment from a variety of gadgets and busy family schedules often push intentional physical activity to the bottom of the priority list.

One way to get physical health back to the top of the list is to emphasize activity, not exercise. According to an article from The Mayo Clinic, a child's activity doesn't have to be a structured exercise program -- the object is just to get him or her moving. The article continues to say that free play is an excellent form of physical activity for children. Monkey Joe's allows for creative play and freedom of movement, all in one facility that has amenities for both children and adults.

Since opening its first location in 2004, Monkey Joe's has reached 719,780 total hours of jumping at its 62 locations across the country. Monkey Joe's is often the destination of children's birthday parties, as well as walk-ins customers, looking to experience the active and fun atmosphere at Monkey Joe's.  Monkey Joe's attributes the growth and success to affordable rates, being open seven days a week, having a frequent customer incentive program, offering group rates and providing a consistent overall experience.

All Monkey Joe's locations have committed to full jump sanitation from Swisher Hygiene, the country's leading provider of commercial hygiene services. The service is intended to reduce exposure to germs and cross-contamination for all who visit and play at Monkey Joe's, making it a cleaner environment than public playgrounds, schools, daycares and amusement parks.

A destination that caters to both children and parents, Monkey Joe's provides wall-to-wall inflatables, including a main play center and a separate Mini Monkey Zone for toddlers. In addition to fun for the kids, Monkey Joe's provides an unmatched parent lounge with comfortable seating, computer stations and flat screen TVs, allowing the facility to be the ultimate location for families

For more information on Monkey Joe's, please visit www.monkeyjoes.com.

Media Contact:
Kelly Ronna
Trevelino/Keller
404-214-0722, ext. 107
[email protected]

SOURCE Monkey Joe's