Climbing
Children have an innate desire to climb and playground elements like climbing and ladders have been fundamental fixtures on playgrounds for decades. Now, innovative elements like climbing towers, rock climbing and flexible cable climbers offer more playground design options with the same appeal and benefits for children.
When children climb, they engage and exercise large arm, leg and back muscles that build upper-body, lower-body, and core strength. Climbing can also increase heart rate and improve cardiovascular health, agility, balance and hand-eye coordination. As children work to figure out how to physically navigate a piece of equipment, especially one that is new to them, they also develop their problem-solving skills.
Furthermore, climbing contributes to the benefits of sensory play by stimulating the tactile, proprioception, vestibular, and visual senses. Each system learns about textures and the muscle activation needed to pull against gravity and integrates with what the child sees while climbing. This allows kids to effectively relate to objects and navigate in the world.
Click on the climbing events below to learn more about each.
When children climb, they engage and exercise large arm, leg and back muscles that build upper-body, lower-body, and core strength. Climbing can also increase heart rate and improve cardiovascular health, agility, balance and hand-eye coordination. As children work to figure out how to physically navigate a piece of equipment, especially one that is new to them, they also develop their problem-solving skills.
Furthermore, climbing contributes to the benefits of sensory play by stimulating the tactile, proprioception, vestibular, and visual senses. Each system learns about textures and the muscle activation needed to pull against gravity and integrates with what the child sees while climbing. This allows kids to effectively relate to objects and navigate in the world.
Click on the climbing events below to learn more about each.