Lydia Yang
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Rock climbing is a sport that has been growing in popularity with children and adults alike. Rock climbing being included in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics has definitely hyped up the excitement further.
Whether you are new to climbing or a rock climber yourself, it can be difficult to know what the best way to introduce rock climbing to your child is. This article will help guide you through rock climbing as a great hobby or activity for children and how it can positively affect their physical, mental, and emotional development from toddler until adulthood!
When to start climbing
Rock climbing is an activity that children can participate in from the age of three, and it can also be a great bonding activity that the parents can join in themselves. All over the world, there are also rock climbing facilities and classes for toddlers and children to get started with rock climbing before they even reach puberty!
Physical Movement
Rock climbing is a great physical activity, as it strengthens muscles in the upper body and core which are useful for kids as they are growing up. These muscles in the upper body also help improve balance skills. There are multiple rock climbing gyms that offer kids climbing classes to learn how to rock climb. Besides the physical benefits, climbing also provides children with a sense of accomplishment when they reach their goal ( not necessarily the top)!
Mental Benefits
Children who participate in rock climbing will likely benefit from better mental health in the longer run. The endorphins released during rock climbing make children more optimistic and less prone to stress or anxiety as they grow older into their teenage years. Lastly, all this conditioning and ‘training’ also helps to enable a higher chance of your child performing better in school!
Children’s Confidence
Rock climbing for kids can also help with emotional development because it increases feelings of self-confidence and independence. They are encouraged and pushed to try harder and overcome their fears. With these positive reinforcements, kids who rock climb are likely to become more outgoing and are less afraid of being judged. Sometimes when kids give up halfway, you can also encourage them with a reward of their favorite homemade chocolate banana muffins or cartoon after.
Out of Comfort Zone
Rock climbing can help with pushing children outside of their comfort zones; the activity also teaches goal-setting skills that they can use later on in life. Climbers are often required to problem solve and achieve goals that they might not have been able to reach at first. As rock climbers grow up, these qualities serve them well in their careers through determination and perseverance when faced with challenges!
The best way to introduce rock climbing to your child is through the use of indoor rock walls like those found in rock climbing gyms. These walls with colorful rock climbing handholds are specifically designed for children, making it easier to understand what rock climbers need as they grow up!
Safety of Rock Climbing for Kids
Rock climbing is a very safe sport for children. Safety protocols to ensure rock climbers are climbing safely include:
Ensure rock climbers wear the right gear, such as rock climbing shoes and helmets.
Have an adult belay them on their climb by holding onto the rope with both hands; this stops any falls from happening!
Avoid rock climbing in areas that do not have good footholds or where there may be loose rocks.
It’s important that children climb only at facilities such as rock walls which have handholds designed made for their size – this will make it easier on them.
There are many other safety precautions rock climbers should take when they’re out at outdoor walls too, but these guidelines can help you make sure your child does what’s necessary to stay safe while rock climbing!
What Kids Climbing Gear is Needed
Rock climbing is a sport that can be challenging but extremely rewarding for kids, but with the right gear and instruction even small children can learn to rock climb. The first thing most kids need before they start rock climbing are shoes with sticky rubber soles which will grip rocks well.
Kids should also wear long pants or tights rather than shorts to avoid scrapes on their legs; this type of clothing should not have cuffs as these could get caught in cracks in the rocks while rock climbers ascend. Climbing harnesses may seem complicated at first glance, but they are easy to put on once you tried once and are usually attached around their midsection securely and to ensure it doesn’t slip off. Once kids are climbing higher, they may move on from a full-body harness to a normal adult harness.
Rock climbers young and old also need a padded helmet that fits securely and snugly around their head to protect them from falling rocks or pieces of the rock face; these helmets come in different colors and designs so youngsters can pick something out that appeals to them as well as meets safety standards for rock climbing gear.
Lastly, kids can also wear gloves with rubberized palms which allow better grip while making it easier on hands when gripping onto rough surfaces such as those found on boulders during climbs. It is best to find crack climbing gloves designed specifically for rock climbers because they offer more protection than other kinds and have features like padding at the wrist area – this protects wrists against rope burns which can happen when climbing ropes. It may not seem necessary but these safety precautions really help kids with a bit more protection and safety.
So what are you waiting for? Climbing is a great sport to try out for your kids. To double the fun, join them for this great family bonding activity that can get you fit and tone in just a few sessions.
About Lydia Yang
Lydia Yang is a Singaporean city girl who decided to ditch her high heels for hiking boots and become a full-time traveler and digital nomad. She has been to more than 50 countries to date and shares her travels in her adventure site Lydiascapes Adventure Site! She has a knack for adventure travel, especially outdoor rock climbing, and always hunts down the best climbing spots around Asia and the world. Her latest bucket list goal is to go rock climbing in Patagonia someday. Follow her on her rock climbing adventures at www.lydiascapes.com or stay tuned to her facebook stories.
