AD | 5 Benefits of having a Climbing Frame for your children
Over this last year, the time spent at home with our families has been priceless. I have watched people, including myself, home school, take up new hobbies and get more active. Not only that, but my social media has been buzzing with people redecorating their homes and gardens. From building pergolas, having flower beds made and even getting a climbing frame and making play areas in their gardens. This was obviously done to fill the void of places like play parks etc being closed. And even though, at the moment, the play parks are open again to the public, some people still aren’t keen to flock to their local park. Meaning they much prefer to stay at home. And I can get that. So I thought I’d share a post sharing my own thoughts and benefits on having a climbing frame in your own garden.
Five benefits to having a climbing frame in your garden
There are so many benefits to having a climbing frame in your garden, all of which I will go over throughout this post. So, if you have been considering it, even with summer upon us! Keep reading and check out some amazing climbing frames perfect for the little ones to enjoy!
Helping kids stay active
I know from my own personal experience, that over lockdown especially, we all got quite lazy. But having a climbing frame in your garden means the kids can still be active and safe. Safe away from the crowds currently flocking to local play parks when the sun is out. I know this still makes me feel a little uneasy and I doubt that will change for a while yet. But having a climbing frame is so handy because I just love knowing that my kids can still play at home, just like they’re at a park!
Of all the outdoor play equipment available, I think the Wickey Multiflyter Climbing Frame is amazing. It has so many fun & exciting features. With not one way to access the wavy slide, but two! One is the solid wooden steps up to the platform and the other being the multicoloured climbing stones. Once you’re on the platform you have not only a cool steering wheel that encourages imaginative play, but you also have a telescope to keep an eye out for pirates or even mermaids!
The slide comes in a range of different colours, which I think is very cool. Especially if you have a colour theme going on in your garden. Colours ranging from blue, pink, green, red, light green & light blue. This also includes two new colours, which are: light grey and orange.
The Wickey Multiflyer Climbing frame also comes with an integrated sandpit and two swings with adjustable ropes. This is a very neat climbing frame, perfect for any garden to keep the kids happy and entertained.
Boosts climbing confidence
Another benefit to owning a climbing frame is, that it can boost climbing confidence. I know when my youngest daughter was little, climbing up anything scared her. Because when you’re little, climbing frames, even at the height of 5ft or so {at the platform}, can seem really high. So I believe that another benefit of having a climbing frame in your garden helps boost climbing confidence.
The choice of using either the steps or climbing stones, helps your child gain confidence. It can also help with risk-taking and developing that trial and error approach when it comes to the climbing stones specifically. Or if you chose a climbing frame with a climbing rope! It also allows your child to push their own boundaries and face their fears, which I think are great mindsets to nurture.
Social skills development
When it comes to any form of outdoor play equipment when you have one or more child, it comes down to taking turns, doesn’t it? Therefore, they need to learn to be patient, to share and most importantly, to play safely.
If you think about it, climbing frames and swing sets aren’t just for climbing or swinging. They are about imaginative play. Use your imagination and creating your own-world scenarios thus encouraging social skill development and interaction when playing with friends or family.
The kids could be storming a castles keep to save the Princess {or Prince!} or simply to slay the evil dragon in the treasure tower! Or they could be sailing the high-seas with the Wickey Seaflyer to defeat the Kraken or trying to out-sail the Interceptor Gallon fleet! All of this takes social skills i.e communication, turn-taking and negotiation. All really vital skills for any child at an early age.
Dexterity development
For young children, the development of their fine motor skills is so important. Developing dexterity leads to good handwriting skills when it comes to learning how to write in school. It also leads to a good grip {perhaps when learning to ride a bike} or simply to learn how to grip and grasp when it comes to enjoying the climbing frame in your garden.
It’s crazy to think that by little hands simply gripping onto the side to climb the stairs, our grasping the climbing stones to reach the platform can be beneficial to their motor skills development. Which then leads to being able to conquer more skills as they grow.
Good Mental Health
As adults, getting out for a walk can help us clear our minds of all the fog. Kids have troubles too and anxiety that needs an outlet to be managed. Anxiety and lacking confidence can be so frustrating for kids to manage or understand. And I think getting outside into the fresh air, having fun and forgetting about their worries, can be so good for the mind.
Giving those beautiful little minds time to gain a different perspective. Let go of those worries and learn that having fun is the best way forward when you’re little.
Overall…
I think having a climbing frame in your garden is a must-do idea – if you have space! It’s not just a climbing frame at the end of the day. It is a whole new world for your child to create. It’s a ship, a castle, a rocket about to launch into space! It can be their safe place, their fun place and somewhere that they develop skills they never thought they needed. Especially when it comes to learning how to write or riding a bike – but it does! Tuning those fine motor skills is a key focus for any children at an early age and it truly benefits them as they grow.
So be sure to think about that the next time you’re thinking of buying a climbing frame and if it is a good idea. Because, to simply put it, it is. Also, be sure to check out the huge range of super fun wooden climbing frames from Wickey. They have the most incredible selection of climbing frames, of all shapes and sizes. Truth be told, they all kind of make me wish I was a kid again myself!
Of the climbing frames I have shared, or maybe you’ve popped over to Wickey to check out their range! Either way, I’d love to know you’re favourite!
Disclosure: This is a paid collaboration in partnership with Wickey
