Why Is Rock Climbing the Best Active Hobby for Kids?

At a certain stage, every child climbs onto anything they see. Why not take them to a climbing wall, where everything is specifically designed for this purpose? Let your little one enjoy climbing in a safe, friendly, and fun environment.

Climbing with kids

Why Should Kids Try Rock Climbing?

Their free time won’t be wasted on TV, iPads, or smartphones. Climbing is a great way to burn off energy and promote healthy sleep for kids.

Rock climbing is an amazing workout for strength, balance, and flexibility for the entire body. It’s a sport that encourages problem-solving skills in real-time and builds self-confidence.

Charting a climbing route is much like solving a puzzle. Every move requires decision-making — which hold to grab, how to get to the next point. Learning to think independently is one of the main benefits of climbing for kids. After all, the modern education system is mostly about memorization and testing; independent thinking is not something taught in school…

Climbing wall for the little ones

Rock climbing is not only beneficial for physical health. It also fosters group interaction. On a climbing wall, even the shyest children step out of their shells when they urgently need to figure out what to grab onto next. :)

Climbing encourages kids to communicate and build trust while becoming part of a team. Through trial and error during climbing, children learn focus and the importance of safety.

What else can climbing offer to kids?

It’s an Olympic sport. The upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will include three separate climbing disciplines: bouldering, lead climbing, and speed climbing. This means that climbing walls are popping up everywhere! For your child, it’s an extra opportunity to enjoy climbing and its associated benefits.
Accessible year-round. Outdoor climbing is possible for more than six months a year in many areas, offering a fantastic chance to strengthen bonds with your kids and enjoy a family outing. During the rest of the year — indoor climbing walls are available.
Promotes a healthy lifestyle. Rock climbing doesn’t tolerate laziness, obesity, weakness, or shortness of breath. Climbers are always energetic, healthy eaters, fit, and successful in many other sports — cycling, surfing, yoga, swimming, and even dancing. Give your child the option to choose the kind of person they want to grow up to be.
It’s an adventure! It provides real outdoor survival skills: knot tying, route finding, navigation (using maps and compasses), and much more. It’s one of the few extreme sports that can be practiced safely in controlled conditions. Most climbing styles are beginner-friendly, and new climbers don’t start with vertical cliff faces. I’ll elaborate on safety below.

Climbing is “life in fast forward,” where every decision has instant feedback. Learning to persevere in the face of failure is one of the best life lessons this sport can teach.

Beginner’s Guide to Rock Climbing for Kids

Let’s start with the cost of gear. The good news — absolutely all equipment can be rented. The even better news — purchasing personal gear is affordable for everyone.

Children climbing

Basic Gear for a Child Climber

One children’s harness (starting at $10). When choosing a harness for a child, keep in mind that kids tend to flip upside down during falls, and there is a risk of slipping out of a poorly adjusted harness.
Climbing helmet (starting at $20). A helmet must be worn at all times during climbing and near climbing objects — falling rocks are not uncommon. Ensure the helmet doesn’t shift when the child moves their head. A bicycle helmet will work initially, but remember it’s not designed for rockfall protection.
One rope for 2–3 people (starting at 30 cents per meter).
One locking carabiner (starting at $5).

Additional but not essential gear includes climbing shoes and cycling gloves. Comfortable closed trekking shoes or even sneakers will suffice. The equipment listed above typically lasts over ten years, making rock climbing an affordable and active family activity.

Kids climbing

Safety

Here are some tips for safe climbing from Erica Lineberry , an expert on family climbing.

Set up camp away from areas with potential rockfall—a safe spot for rest, meals, and games. Survey the area for animal burrows, hazardous plants, and ant nests. It’ll be ideal if the campsite is sheltered from rain and wind.
Teach children to remove their helmets only upon reaching the safe campsite.
Double-check safety gear, and encourage your child to learn this habit by setting an example. Initially, narrating every action aloud is helpful.
It’s great if the group includes three adults: a leader, a belayer, and a “caretaker.”
Try to arrive at the climbing start point as early as possible, giving yourself time to calmly assess and plan the route.
Remember, the goal of climbing with children is their health and happiness, not conquering Elbrus. Avoid challenging routes involving river crossings or extended scrambling. Focus on enjoying time together above all!
The campsite should be packed up and ready for the return trip well before dusk. Being stuck overnight in a car’s back seat with kids may not be as exciting as in adventure movies.
Bring more food, water, and sunscreen than you think you’ll need. Pack some books and toys to keep the kids entertained during breaks.
Never force a child to climb. If they don’t want to ascend, that’s okay—no further discussion. Perhaps your little one needs an extra incentive, such as a bell to ring at the top or a symbolic prize for completing the route.
Important! Be sure to explain to the children beforehand that during climbing, they may encounter a spider, a beetle, or even a bat—“Just leave them alone and ignore them.” Prevent panic and the development of phobias in kids.

climbing for toddlers