Course:KIN366/ConceptLibrary/Climbing

Movement Experiences for Children
KIN 366
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Instructor:	Dr. Shannon S.D. Bredin
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Important Course Pages
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Climbing:
To climb means to ascend, go up, or get to the top of (something) by using hands and feet or feet alone; to go up mountains, cliffs, etc., as a sport and to move the body in a way that usually involves going up or down. It can be done both recreationally or competitively and indoors or outdoors on natural and manmade structures (Climbing, 2015).

Clambering:
Using the support points on an object to move in a certain direction, which can be done on steps, climbing walls, rocks, and most playground objects (ANEC, 2004).

Reasons for Climbing

Children climb for fun, enjoyment, challenge, and to explore everything they come in contact with. Climbing is a natural way children exercise their motor skills. Other reasons children climb are because objects are directly in front of them; they want to get away from other children (while playing games), to retrieve objects, to increase their visual view, imitating other children or adults, testing their physical abilities and showing off (Frost, 2004).

Developmental Benefits

Cognitive Requirements

Memory
Problem Solving
Imagery/Visualization

Affective Requirements

Dependent on how the child feels directly affects their desire whether or not to participate in climbing activities
Self Motivation
Is climbing stressful or relaxing?
Is fear a factor in whether they climb or not?

Physical Requirements
Vary and depend on what is being climbed (stool compared to a tree). Motor skills involved include body, spatial and directional awareness, power, agility, speed, balance and coordination.

Perceptual Motor Skills Developed While Climbing

Body Awareness: being able to decipher between body parts and understanding what the parts can do
Spatial Awareness: knowing how much space their body occupies and the ability to move their body through space
Directional Awareness: left-right, up-down, top-bottom, in-out, and front-back

Visual Perception Skills

The ability to perceive foot and hand holds that the climber uses to support their body when climbing

(Frost, 2004)

Safety Considerations

Households - Bedroom/Kitchen

Ensure the oven door is locked at all times regardless of usage
Ensure all pots and pans are not within arm’s reach or that can act as a support device
Ensure the dishwasher is always closed and that when opened, all utensils have been removed immediately
Ensure that all storage containers are closed with childproof locks so that cleaning solvents and bags are safely stored away
Ensure all furniture is moved away from windows, fireplace, and/or electrical cabinets
Remove all trinkets, magnets and valuables
Place gates by stairwells with added support
Ensure edges are padded and surfaces are soft

Outside/Playgrounds

Observing foot holes and footing
Ensuring equipment is not damaged
Making sure the equipment being used is within the limitations of the climber (distances, platforms and supports are acceptable).
Making sure the climber is constantly being monitored and within close proximity if elevations are being implemented

(About, 2015)

Development of Climbing Skills

Early climbing behaviour can begin as early as 12 months and will continue to develop into adulthood. It involves coordination of legs, shifting weight, and using the arms to pull the body up. The development of climbing skills occur from 12 months to 14 years of age.

1-1.5 Years Old

They begin by pulling themselves up onto railings and edges of furniture and they are not aware of the dangers this may pose.

1.5-2 Years Old

Their steps begin to get longer but they still use rails and edges of furniture for support and are still working on maintaining balance,

2-3 Years Old

They are now climbing to higher levels with more balance and they have developed an understanding of what is and what is not possible. They also have no fear towards heights.

3-4 Years Old

Balance has become more prominent and they are using objects to climb onto and jump off of (beds, ottomans, couches and/or stairs).

4-6 Years Old

They are further developing all seven aspects of their motor skills and are starting to learn more difficult movements such as climbing onto a bike by themselves. Parental guidance is still encouraged due to safety aspects and height levels.

7-9 Years Old

Children are now playing outside on the playground using the apparatuses frequently to experiment. Most children are unable to climb a rope because they are afraid, unsure of the correct technique, or unable to carry their own body weight. At this age, body mass is becoming more important and limits their ability to climb. Also, the fear of heights becomes more evident and some children may limit the way they climb.

10-14 Years Old

Gender differences become more evident due to their changing bodies. Trees, monkey bars, ropes, walls and mountains are climbed more frequently but they are simply using it as a place to look over an area (viewpoint) rather than playing on it like when they were toddlers.

(Frost, 2004)

Climbing Tools

1-3 Years Old

Climbing Tool	Object(s)
Inclined Platforms	Stairs in a house or on a slide
Platforms	High chair, chairs, tables, cupboards, benches, couch and ottomans
Fencing With or Without rails	Baby crib
Irregular Objects	Mattresses, pillows, soft building blocks, hampers, and cushions
Angled Slope with Supports	Side of a slide

4-6 Years Old

Climbing Tool	Object(s)
Climbing Frames	Irregular steps, playground climbing frames and hoops
Mesh Fence	Playground/School Fencing
Angled Slopes with Supports	Side of a slide
Angled Ropes	Pyramid ropes on a playground
Angled Wall with Supports	Climbing wall on playgrounds
Platform	Table, ledges and bookshelves

7-9 Years Old

Climbing Tool	Object(s)
Irregular Objects	Playground and climbing frames with unique openings and trees
Wall without Supports Higher than the Participant	Climbing wall/fence
Angled Slope with Supports	Side of a slide and a mattress propped against another object to create an incline
Wall with Supports	Climbing Wall (Rock Climbing)
Vertical and Angular Ropes	Ropes, rope bridges and rope swing

10-14 Years Old

Climbing Tool	Object(s)
Irregular Objects	Trees
Vertical and Angular Ropes	Ropes, rope bridges, rope swing and ropes attached to an angular platform with or without supports
Wall without Supports	Professional Climbing Wall
Platform	Sheds and small buildings
Ropes	Rope pyramid and moveable climbing nets

(ANEC, 2004)

Types of Climbing Activities

Bouldering

Ascending boulders that are often done with climbing shoes and a chalk bag. Instead of using a safety rope, a crash pad and a human spotter (who directs the faller) are used to avoid injury

Canyoneering

Climbing along canyons for sport or recreation

Ice Climbing

Using equipment like ice axes to ascend ice or hard snow formations

Indoor climbing

Artificial walls with bolted holds in a climbing gym

Mountaineering

Ascending mountains as a sport or for recreation and it often involves rock or ice climbing

Rock Climbing

Using climbing shoes and a chalk bag to ascend rock formations

Rope Climbing

Climbing a short, thick rope for speed

Tree Climbing

Recreationally ascending trees using rope

(Climbing, 2015)

References

1. About. (2015). Managing Toddler Climbing and Safety Tips. Retrieved February 27th, 2015, from http://babyparenting.about.com/od/toddlermilestones/a/Toddler-Climbing.htm

2. ANEC. (2004). Children's Climbing Skills. Retrieved from http://www.anec.org/attachments/r&t007-04.pdf

3. Climbing. (n.d.) In Wikipedia. Retrieved February 12th, 2015, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climbing

4. Climbing. (2015). In Merriam-Webster.com. Retrieved February 12th, 2015, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/climbing?show=0&t=1393842398

5. Frost, J. (2004). The Developmental Benefits of Playgrounds. Retrieved from http://www.ooeygooey.com/the-developmental-benefits-of-playgrounds/