Rock climbing is an excellent option for homeschooled kids because they can challenge themselves, learn valuable life skills, and create friendships while doing something rewarding. Are you interested in getting your child into a sport or activity, but they have yet to express interest in team-based sports? Look no further than the climbing gym!
Rock climbing is an activity that fosters individual growth. There are no teammates to rely on or to blame, and a climber is solely responsible for their progress. This makes it an ideal activity for children who may not enjoy team-based sports, as it allows them to focus on their own journey and development.
Furthermore, many homeschooled children's learning is flexible throughout the day. You can take your kids to the climbing gym during the least busy time of the day, where they can learn how to challenge themselves without too many distractions.
The Benefits of Rock Climbing for Homeschooled Kids: Skills, Friendships, and Confidence
According to the CDC, children should spend at least an hour daily doing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Rock climbing is the perfect activity to get a child's heart rate up by climbing around the walls like Spiderman. Not only is climbing a muscle-building activity, but it also improves cardiovascular endurance. The British Journal of Sports Medicine (bmj.com) found that indoor rock climbing required the same amount of energy expenditure as running an 8-to-11-minute mile! These physical benefits of rock climbing can contribute to your child's overall health and fitness.
Physical Activity
Rock climbing is an activity that can be adapted to suit the physical abilities of children. It requires continuous pushing and pulling on the wall, providing a full-body workout. While great for strengthening muscles, contorting their body to reach different holds also helps develop flexibility. Whether your child is a beginner or an advanced climber, they can benefit from this adaptable activity.
Develops Motor Skills
Climbing is an excellent way for kids to learn how to move their bodies and develop their fine motor skills intentionally! It takes incredible focus to accurately reach out for the next handhold or shift their hips to step on that next foothold. By developing fine motor skills, kids are learning body awareness, or in other words, how to move! This learning aspect of rock climbing can be a valuable addition to your child's homeschool curriculum.
Improves Confidence
Confidence is a learned trait that requires practice to improve. By overcoming a challenging climbing problem, kids learn that they will have to believe in themselves to reach a goal. They know they'll never make it off the ground if they don't try! That translates to everyday life because they understand that trying something new takes confidence. This emotional support of rock climbing can contribute to your child's self-confidence and resilience.
Developing Problem-Solving Skills
Another skill fostered by climbing is the ability to problem-solve. When a child is tasked with climbing a wall, they must figure out a way to do so that works for their body. That could be reaching up with their other hand, stepping onto that other foothold first, or turning their body ever so slightly to stay on the wall. This mental stimulation of rock climbing can contribute to your child's cognitive development and problem-solving skills.
When children think of new ways to accomplish a task, such as climbing a wall, they think of new ways to accomplish other things. As a bonus, experiencing the efforts of their problem-solving skills helps develop their confidence. This cycle then cycles back and forth, providing them with the confidence to problem-solve any situation in life.
Making Friends!
One of the most rewarding aspects of rock climbing is the opportunity for homeschooled kids to make new friends. In the climbing gym, children engage in collaborative exercises, encouraging each other to push their boundaries and overcome new obstacles. By spending hours together, and working towards a common goal, children will naturally form new friendships, creating a supportive and encouraging community.
They'll offer their tips to each other to help accomplish their goals. It's impressive to see a child advise another about a specific climbing route and then watch them achieve their goal.
Being Okay with Failure
Rock climbing teaches homeschooled kids that it's okay to fail. Every climber in the world has fallen off a boulder problem. Whether they're one foot or ten feet off the ground, falling and failing is part of climbing! They may get a little further or even reach the top when they try again! By failing, they learn that life won't give them the answers every time and that they must work hard to achieve their goals.
Rock climbing is a great way to keep homeschooled kids active, strengthen their little bodies, develop their problem-solving and motor skills, improve their confidence and social skills, and is a great teacher of failure. The benefits of climbing for homeschooled kids can be seen far from the climbing wall!