Rock Climbing for Kids
With the proliferation of indoor climbing gyms, rock climbing has emerged as a children's activity. Rock climbing provides kids with the opportunity to learn problem-solving skills while exercising and improving fitness levels. Supervision from skilled professionals in a controlled indoor climbing environment enables kids to learn how to rock climb safely. Prices and age restrictions for kids' rock climbing experiences vary significantly by location, with some programs available for children as young as three years old.
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Parties
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Plan a rock climbing birthday party for kids. Indoor climbing gyms usually offer package deals for kids' rock climbing parties, as described by Earth Treks Climbing in "Rock Climbing Birthday Parties & Private Climbing Parties!" The cost of a climbing party includes outfitting the kids with appropriate safety equipment. Party attendees enjoy unlimited climbing for a period of time, supervised and belayed by professional indoor climbing gym staff. The climbing gym typically provides a fitting space for enjoying a post-climbing meal or cake.
Lessons
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A rock climbing lesson for kids teaches valuable safety skills. Kids interested in rock climbing regularly should take beginner rock climbing lessons at indoor climbing gyms or through outdoor guide services. A children's climbing lesson aims to teach kids basic rock climbing safety skills. These skills include putting on a harness, tying into a harness, safety commands and belaying. Kids' rock climbing lessons can also include instruction on rock climbing technique, rappelling, anchor building, spotting for bouldering and lead climbing, among other areas.
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Teams
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For a different kind of team experience, kids can join a competitive rock climbing team. For kids wanting to rock climb consistently, joining a kids' rock climbing team or club affords this opportunity. A climbing team also provides ongoing climbing instruction from skilled professionals in a structured setting. Both indoor climbing gyms and schools with climbing walls often include kids' climbing teams or clubs as part of their programming. Some indoor climbing gyms also offer the choice between joining a competitive kids' climbing team or a recreational children's climbing team or club.
Kids' Climbing Gear
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Kids-sized rock climbing helmets make rock climbing for kids safer. Kids will need suitable climbing gear to start rock climbing safely. Children's-specific rock climbing gear includes safety harnesses, helmets, and climbing shoes. A full-body kid's rock climbing harness helps keep children upright in the event of a fall, as noted in "Child Climbing Harness" on IndoorClimbing.com. Children's climbing helmets and climbing shoes come in smaller sizes than their adult counterparts but otherwise mirror them in both design and function.
Rental Equipment
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Check with the indoor climbing gym to make sure it has rental equipment appropriate for children. Check with nearby indoor climbing gyms to ensure they have appropriately sized children's-specific rental gear before planning a kids' climbing adventure to a particular indoor climbing gym. Indoor rock climbing gyms typically rent standard climbing equipment for use inside the gym. Available rental equipment usually includes harnesses, shoes, chalk bags, belay devices/carabiners and helmets. If the gym does not have child-sized gear, procure suitable climbing equipment in advance to ensure your child has a safe and enjoyable rock climbing experience.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Young girl scaling a rock climbing wall image by John Sfondilias from Fotolia.com birthday party favors image by Photoeyes from Fotolia.com Little boy climbing a rock wall like a little bug image by John Sfondilias from Fotolia.com Team image by Ewe Degiampietro from Fotolia.com Climbers image by Rob Duffy from Fotolia.com wall climbing image by Tracy Martinez from Fotolia.com
