Rock Climbing for Kids: the Benefits

If you’re wondering whether to give rock climbing a try for your child then read on.  Here I’ll detail everything you need to know about what regular climbing can do for your child physically, mentally and even socially.

Teaching healthy exercise habits

An inactive child is more likely to develop into an inactive adult.  We’ve learnt so much about how crucial regular exercise is for our health including reducing our chances of developing heart disease, diabetes and cancer to name a few.  At this point, a lack of information is not why there are so many overweight inactive kids out there.  It’s really about the lifestyle and the habits these kids are growing up in.

So why is climbing such a great habit for your kid to develop?  Well climbing actually involves a lot of diverse and complex movements that involve almost all of the body’s musculature.  As climbers grip, pull and push themselves on different routes, not only are they strength training, they’re getting a great cardiovascular workout as well.  The harder a climb is, the faster their heart will beat and the more calories they’ll burn.

And let’s not forget the most important thing about climbing – it’s fun.  And a child is far more likely to stick to a form of exercise if it’s fun.  

Climbing is particularly great for your kid’s brain

What you might not know is that every time your kid climbs a route, they need to figure out how to move their body to get to the top.  They’re in effect solving a mental puzzle every time and every route is different (that’s why in bouldering, routes are called ‘problems’).  Not only that, climbing involves them constantly practicing coordination, balance and spatial awareness without them ever realising it.  Early studies indicate this may actually improve working memory along with other neurological benefits (source: http://time.com/3980498/tree-climbing-memory).  

There’s another mental challenge involved in climbing: fear.  Whether your kid is on a rope or bouldering, there will always be an element of fear to overcome to progress to harder climbs.  It’s a natural reaction but learning to overcome that fear in a safe and supervised environment like rock climbing can be great for improving your child’s confidence and teaching them this valuable life skill.

Finally, researchers have found regular exercise actually aids in your child’s brain development and function, making them better learners at school (source:  https://www.parentingscience.com/exercise-for-children.html).  And rock climbing may just be the ultimate full body workout that doesn’t feel like a workout.  

Climbing is a social activity

Most climbing centres will have a kids group that train and improve together.  It’s a great place to make friends and compare notes on how to do a particular climb.  Though climbing can be thought of as an individual sport where you’re really only competing with yourself, your kid can be part of a climbing team. Here they learn the importance of encouraging their fellow teammates , overcoming the butterflies of taking part in competitions and the ability to learn and become stronger from their failures.  

Additionally if your child is taking part in roped climbing, they will also be learning additional safety skills including clear communication, focusing on their partner as they climb, double checking knots etc.

If you have a child that is struggling a bit socially, climbing can be a great springboard as it involves focused physical activity which takes some of the pressure off amidst all the social interaction.