How to cultivate children's interest in climbing equipment in the climbing training hall?

Many parents want to take their children to rock climbing in children’s playground, but they do not know where to start. They are generally confused about children's climbing. Let's learn about all aspects of children's climbing below.

1. The Benefits of Climbing

(1) Promote physical coordination.

(2) Help explore and adapting to new environment.

(3) Training thinking, observation, judgment and execution.

(4) Cultivate the personality of not afraid of difficulties.

2. How to Cultivate Interest in Climbing

Children are naturally interested in climbing. Almost all of them like climbing very much in their early childhood. As long as there are climbable things in front of them, such as ladders, stairs, sofas, windowsills, trees, children can not help but want to climb, to test and prove themselves (subconsciously). This is a common characteristic of young children.

At this time, what parents have to do is to support their children's needs and provide climbing things and opportunities to guide their children in the right way. When providing climbing equipment, parents should also tell their children to pay attention to safety. For example, which can climb, which can not climb, which can only be tried under the protection of parents, establish rules and bottom lines, explain potential dangers to children, and teach them ways to protect themselves.

3. When to Start Climbing Study

‘Learning to climb’usually refers to the kind of climbing that has a coach in the climbing gym. That kind of formal climbing course, which can be taught skills by a coach, can start at the age of six.

At the age of 0-6, children do not need special climbing training. They can climb tables and chairs, sofas and ladders at home, or climb climbing walls freely for climbing enlightenment. After the foundation has been laid, formal teaching and training can only be started after the age of 6.

4. How to Play with Children without a Coach?

If the child has shown an interest in climbing in the early stage, then the child can be taken to a climbing gym or a place with a climbing wall to climb freely without a coach in adventure park from the age of three or four.

There are two kinds of climbing walls, bouldering and climbing. Bouldering does not need climbing rope, and the wall is relatively short, generally three to four meters high, with a thick cushion under it. Even if the child falls down, it will not hurt. Parents can catch it easily. In this way, children will climb up when they see the wall, almost without adult guidance.

From bouldering to climbing with rope, the walls with rope are usually very high because of rope protection, which can reach more than 10 meters. The first step requires parents to learn how to tie the climbing rope, which is difficult. So parents must ask professional staff for guidance when tying the rope. After tying, they should also ask professional staff to check to make sure that the rope is tied correctly, and then let the children go on the wall. If parents are not sure, they can let the professionals do the work for them.

Here is the most important principle ‘less is more’. How high a child wants to climb can be decided by himself. Parents should not set too high requirements for their children. Do not exert pressure, and just let them go. What parents should do is to stare at their children below, be ready to catch them, and occasionally cheer them up.

5. Whether a Teacher Is Needed

It is very simple to play bouldering with children, and the risk coefficient is very low. A teacher is unnecessary. Parents can play with their own children.

But for climbing with ropes, it must be guided by teachers at the beginning. The function of teacher is mainly to guide parents how to use equipment, help them better understand the sport of rock climbing. Let parents learn how to guide their children, rather than teach too many skills that will make children feel forced to learn.

If it is group teaching, it is more important to consider the teacher-student ratio. Two teachers can only bring five children under the age of 6 at most. It is difficult to ensure the safety of each child if there are more. But group teaching is also good, with several children climbing together, doubling of pleasure.

The goal of climbing of children under 6 years old should not be to master the best route or get how many skills, but only to experience the fun of climbing and cultivate the interest in climbing. Skills and other hard teaching should be started in children’s playground after children go to primary school.