How to Build a Children's Climbing Wall

A climbing wall a man-made wall, found either outdoors or inside, which stimulates rock climbing. The climbing wall is a fairly new invention, having made its debut in the second half of the 20th century. Started in England, the climbing wall has steadily gained popularity in the United States over the last 30 years. Today, it is not uncommon to find climbing walls built in to children's play sets.

Things You'll Need

• Building plans
• Wood
• Hardware
• Tools
• Wall hooks
• Wall coating
• Fall mat

Instructions

Build a Children's Climbing Wall

1. Obtain building plans from online builders who specialize in climbing walls, such as Jack's Backyard (see Resources below). You can also head to your local library to see whether it has building plans on file.

2. Use only sturdy materials to frame your climbing wall, like two by four or two by six studs. You will either need to nail these together with 3 inch nails or purchase 3 inch screws to secure the pieces of wood.

3. Gather all of your tools together before you begin building your children's climbing wall. This will make your work go faster, as you won't have to stop and hunt for tools, and it may reduce the chance of accidents occurring since you'll have everything you need within an arm's reach.

4. Take a look at children's climbing holds, which are usually more colorful than adult climbing holds, and have fun shapes. The bright colors make it easier for children to see the next hold, which may reduce falls. The Edge Walls website (see Resources below) features several different styles of children's climbing holds.

5. Think about which type of wall coating you want to use. You can opt for an authentic climbing coating, or you can save money by purchasing deck or porch coating.

6. Purchase an adequate fall mat for the unit you build. The ideal fall matting should be composed of heavy duty foam and encased in a slip-resistant cover.

Tips & Warnings

• To make your unit as sturdy as possible, try to hold your drill and hammer as straight as you can when connecting each piece of the climbing wall. This will ensure all hardware goes in straight and may increase the overall strength of the unit.

• When you build a children's climbing wall for private use, remember you may be legally liable for injuries other children receive while on your property. You may want to consider getting a parental authorization form and requiring children to be dressed in protective gear before you allow them to use the wall you build.

Resources

• Jack's Backyard for climbing plans
• Children's climbing holds at Edge Walls