Houston's Special Needs Children Get a Fun Night Out, Courtesy of First Choice ER and Bouncin' Bears | WPN World People News

This Tuesday, October 18, Houston's special needs children and their families will get a unique treat: an exclusive family night at Bouncin' Bears indoor playland. From 5 PM until 8 PM, the facility's bounce houses, inflatable slides and other amusements will be open only to families with special needs children.

This is the second such event held at Bouncin' Bears. Bouncin' Bears has dedicated the third Tuesday evening of each month to special needs children. The free events are being sponsored by First Choice Emergency Room, Texas' largest network of no-wait emergency rooms.

Parents tell Bouncin' Bears owner Guinness Collins that they appreciate the event.

"I don’t have to worry so much that my son will be bullied, treated unfairly or made to feel weird," says Tonya Frye, mother of a special needs child. "If he cuts in line for face painting, there is no kid or parent there giving him (or me) the evil eye."

For the children, an evening spent in the bounce house is a chance to have fun and burn off some energy.

According to First Choice Emergency Room, research shows that when special needs children exert themselves in moderate physical activity, their behavior improves.

"We know well the stress on special needs families. We see it every day," says Dr. Andy Kretschmer of First Choice Emergency Room.

Dr. Kretschmer says he hopes the Bouncin' Bears event helps special needs families come together and share their experiences. According to Tonya Frye, it has done just that.

"It's great meeting other parents and making new connections," she says, "Not to mention the relaxing atmosphere of myself and other parents being able to get a few words in with each other while our kids were running, bouncing and dancing."