Do you have little toddlers who love to climb anything and everything they come across?
Well, you are not alone.
I have a three-year-old daughter who began climbing the door grill since before she was two!
She’s now climbing all the way to the top like a pro; with adult supervision, of course.
When I first saw her climbing that high, my heart nearly dropped to the ground.
But I realised it was a good way for her to gain confidence in heights.
It’s the same with my first two kids.
I rarely told any of my children not to climb or come down unless the situation was extremely dangerous and no one was watching over them.
To me, learning to climb is just as important as learning to walk.
Why not, when climbing has been shown in various studies to help young children develop strong muscles and gross motor skills.
According to luckyclimbers.com, a study from PlayCore found evidence that climbing at a young age helps hone spatial and directional awareness, and also boosts physical skills such as balance, hand and foot coordination, and agility.
I’ve also discovered numerous advantages, which I’ll share later in the article, that support my decision to not stop my toddler from climbing.
First, Let’s Look At Why Toddlers Climb
The short answer is because they think they can.
It usually started when the children discovered they could pull themselves up onto something, such as furniture.
That is at least true for my kids.
It looks so innocent at first, watching my toddler trying so hard to sit on the dining chair.
But that innocence didn’t last long.
It changes dramatically when she discovers the power of climbing in her body.
She keeps trying to climb on everything she can.
Whether inside or outside, my little one always finds something to climb, stand, or sit on (and no, it’s not just chairs and tables!).
Another habit of my toddler is to dangle and swing from a vertical bar like a cheeky monkey. ><
As worrying as it can be at times, it is unbelievably entertaining to watch.
I’m not surprised that toddlers can climb all day, given their boundless energy.
Aside from wanting to satisfy their curiosity about what’s up on the top shelf, I imagine kids keep climbing because it gives them excitement and an adrenaline rush, which makes them want to climb even more.
Similar to how an adrenaline junkie can never get enough of rock climbing every week.
My husband and I also teach our daughter to climb by letting her play ‘climb Mama or Papa’ or by holding her hands as she climbs the wall with her feet.
Nonetheless, there are limits to when and where I allow my toddler to climb, but I must admit that I will not prevent her from climbing entirely because there are benefits to doing so.
The Advantages of Toddler Climbing
1. Climbing boosts physical development
Climbing helps youngsters develop fine motor abilities such as dexterity, grip, and grasp.
I noticed this with my kids when they don’t have a problem with holding a pen or pencil correctly even before going to school.
Climbing also helps youngsters develop physical strength and gross motor skills, resulting in a healthier and more active lifestyle.
2. Helps build climbing confidence
When we take our children to a play area or playground with climbing equipment, they are not afraid to try it.
My eldest would be more confident going higher than her younger siblings, but they would all climb without assistance.
They also prefer that we just let them climb on their own, so I believe that allowing them to climb since they were young helped to build that confidence.
We’d still be nearby to keep an eye on them and make sure they’re safe.
3. Increase problem-solving skill
Climbing at a young age teaches children how to adapt to new or unfamiliar settings while also encouraging goal-setting, tenacity, and preparation.
When my kids climb something, I let them figure out how to go all the way up and back down again.
Surprisingly, they know where to put their hands and which feet to move first.
Giving fresh climbing obstacles to the kids will help them develop critical thinking skills as they seek new ways to climb and traverse.
4. Stimulate mental development
Toddler climbing equipment can help your child build muscles while also stimulating brain development.
When children perform activities like climbing, they will engage in motor exercises and sensory experiences.
They will also encourage the formation of synchronised movements.
Simultaneously, your kids will learn to deal with fear and tension while completing tough tasks.
5. Encourage risk-taking
You must have warned your children that climbing can be dangerous and that they should proceed with caution.
They will learn to manage and analyse risk from there, which is a crucial life skill to master at an early age.
When children overcome difficulties, they will learn to recognise when they are engaging in risky behaviour and learn to identify their boundaries.
How to Handle Your Climbing Toddler
Although managing toddler’s climbing can be difficult and may result in injuries or property damage, there are numerous ways to keep your young climbers safe.
Here are some tips I discovered online:
- Provide safe climbing options at home like a rope or stair climbing toy. It could be used indoors or outdoors. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even do it yourself.
- If your children get too high, they may not know how to get down, so teach them how to climb down safely while minimising the risk of injury.
- Climb-proof the areas where your children can climb, either to prevent them from climbing altogether or to keep them safe if they fall.
- Make certain that there is always someone, an adult, watching over the children so that they can assist if anything goes wrong.
- If you don’t want your kids to climb, engage them in other activities such as stacking building blocks, kicking a ball, hide and seek, board games, or anything else that will divert their attention away from climbing.
- If it’s too dangerous and they won’t listen to you, implement climbing rules and consequences such as a time-out for climbing despite being told not to countless times.
Never Stop a Climber Unless…
…It’s a very dangerous situation.
You can’t possibly take away everything your kids can climb on because climbing is a natural part of their development.
Allow them to have fun, but make sure the environment is safe for them to do so.
You could also buy climbing equipment and install it in your garden or house to create a special climbing area for your children.
The most important thing to remember about this type of activity is to trust your kids and accept that they may fall.
That is how they will learn their own limits and determine what kinds of risks and activities they are prepared for.
Don’t worry too much because kids are known to be natural climbers. 😉
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice from Motherhood. For any health-related concerns, it is advisable to consult with a qualified healthcare professional or medical practitioner.
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