Kids who Rock Climb Really Do Go to the Top

Squirrels are gathering, leaves are beginning to fall and I am in a total panic. The onset of an endless winter presents a seasonal challenge. Do you think The Shining could have been set in the summer? Thus I’ve begun crafting a robust itinerary for the kids. Active ones where they are not losing themselves in digital worlds. One sport that stands out is rock climbing.

Rock climbing is an exceptional outlet for kids in a digital world.

What to expect at an indoor rock climbing facility

For a kid to get excited using his hands for something other than clutching a controller and I am in. What further amazes is watching them learn the sport. At BETA Climbing + Fitness there was a brief review on the types of indoor climbing such as bouldering, top rope and lead. Rules of the facility are established. Learning to respect the wall and safety is foremost.

: Taking on the wall.

: You have to make choices.

: Having fun while doing it.

Getting started

Kids put on their climbing armor, which includes a harness, lock-in carabiner and special shoes that appear to be a cross between a water slipper and cycling shoe. After what seems like endless prep time in a cavern adorned with jewels of fluorescent colored stones, which happen to coincide with the shades of a rainbow on difficulty level (purple being the hardest), they are ready to take on the walls. To watch your child thoughtfully consider each step and you cannot help but think of life goals, difficult routes and all the morals learned from their summer reading list.

: Brief instruction.

: Learning the basics without needing the harness.

The benefits

After speaking with Nora, BETA’s floor manager, she gave personal accounts of the benefits her regular climbers experience. For kids who do not connect with team sports and the pressure of turning down your fellow athletes, rock climbing gives them confidence while allowing them to engage in physical activity. Children set their own goals and have a fun time doing it. It helps them to focus, problem solve and is a lot more fun than a stack of worksheets.

Colors and motion build the internal drive to conquer the wall. It also channels one’s inner Spiderman.

Above all, children fulfill their tactile needs, interfacing with a wall in a one-to-one medium that’s real and invigorating. It’s also a great way to wander away an afternoon as a group or on your own. Just don’t be that guy who needs to take a stellar social media picture and gets injured in the process.