Once upon a time, activities
for kids were simple like biking, roller skating, skate boarding and perhaps
camping and fishing. Indoor
activities were possibly limited to gymnastics, soccer and volleyball. Today however, more adventurous
activities abound, and one of the most popular is kid rock climbing. Rock climbing of course can be outdoor
or indoor, but many find that starting the sport or just for practice, indoor
climbing is very beneficial and a fun activity for the entire family. Below are five safety tips to ensure a
fun and safe adventure for the whole family.
Proper Gear
Proper gear for rock climbers
of any age, but especially kid rock climbers, starts with the feet. Closed toe shoes are essential for any
rock climber. This activity
incorporates the entire body, but most power comes not from pulling up with the
arms, but pushing off with the feet.
Closed toe and proper shoes allow for better movement and reduces the
risk of cutting toes and tender soles on faux or real rocks. Along with shoes, ensure that a proper
fitting harness is used along with carabineers and helmets according to the
policy of the rock climbing center.
Size Matters
Most indoor rock climbing
centers have age, height and weight requirements. Not too much one way or too little the other. Typically, the minimums and maximums
revolve around weight, as the wall and gear such as harnesses are chosen in
tandem to allow for safety in motion and climbing. When it comes to indoor rock climbing, it is best not to
fudge weight one way or the other, erring on the side of caution and forgoing a
climb is a better choice than a scare due to an ill fitting harness. Often the most common restriction for
kid rock climbing is not weighing enough.
Luckily, kids grow quickly and weight limits are met in due time. Safety first!
Communicate
For a parent who is an
experienced or novice rock climber, share any knowledge in a fun and
informative way. Rock climbing may
be a welcome challenge or one with a bit of healthy thrill seeking fear, but in
any case, kids want to learn.
Sharing knowledge not only increases safety, but also creates a way to
talk rock climbing safety anywhere.
Once at the rock climbing wall, encourage and cheer on the kid rock climber,
make it into a shared effort. Family
fun means family involvement!
Fit In
Before going out to the rock
climbing venue, do a little research.
Make sure the rules, policies, and safety guidelines are known and
understood. There is nothing worse
than showing up and not being able to participate because of improper gear, not
making a weight minimum or other safety concern. In the same vein, walk around and let the potential kid rock
climber observe and even make friends.
A little homework builds confidence for parent and child alike.
Eat Up!
Make sure there are plenty of
food options after a successful rock climbing adventure. Kids are generally hungry as a rule,
but even more so for kid rock climbers!
Rock climbing burns a lot of calories and requires a good refueling post
rock wall. Also, being able to
linger over a good meal and talk about the experience is a happy and healthy
way to end a day of family and kid rock climbing adventure.
