Why Rock Climbing is Good for Kids | LydiaScapes Adventure Travel Blog

Why Rock Climbing is Good for Kids

Rock climbing for kids and toddlers is surging worldwide...

In some countries, there will be about 2-3 gyms in each capital, but just in the tiny island city of Singapore alone, it has almost 20 rock climbing and bouldering gyms for both adults and kids, a lot more compared to what was available just a good 3 years ago when I first started rock climbing as a young working adult.

great pleasure and fulfillment derived from climbing | The Life of the Adventurous
Great pleasure and fulfillment derived from climbing | The Life of the Adventurous

And it is not surprising – it is to cater to the growing demand and interest in climbing as a recreational sport, from 20,000 about 6 years ago to 50,000+ till date, according to the Singapore Mountaineering Federation (SMF).

With the influx of climbing available, rock climbing gyms are also aware of the necessary precautions needed to ensure the safety of their rock climbers, from female school students, young toddlers to beginner climbers just coming to give this activity a go.

But one trend we see growing is – more kids and toddlers starting rock climbing. And why is it so?

Perhaps we should dive deeper into why this is a healthy andd perfect outdoor activity for the inactive ipad addicted Singaporean kid these days.

Benefits of Rock Climbing for Kids and Adults Beginners:

1. Work that Body + Brain

Rock climbing is one of the most holistic outdoor sports/ activities you can find around Singapore and Asia. Being such a good workout, it engages not just the limbs movements, stronger core as well as..sharper brain development as you have to think and work your way up the rock wall.

rock climbing for kids. Challenges push the kids to think. Photo credited to rockclimbinggym.net
Mental challenges push the kids to think and overcome their fear by aiming for the next tile. Photo credited to rockclimbinggym.net

So if you do not have the luxury of a weekend to bring your kids on outdoor activities around Singapore, drop them off in the climbing gym and let them play. Kids at a toddler age can usually just climb in their own shoes, if not you can likely rent kids size climbing shoes and kids climbing harness for them to wear.

2. Rid the gadgets, get active

Playground for the monkey within all of us. Have we forgotten how we use to be fearless and curious as kids.

Rock Climbing for Kids - Trying out the bouldering wall. Photo credited to inflatablestartup.com
Rock Climbing for Kids and beginners – Trying out the bouldering wall. Photo credited to inflatablestartup.com

Well, the best way to enhance that part of your child but pulling him/ her away from their iPad videos, Pokemon Go, and get that young body moving. If they ain’t moving when they are young, what would they be like when they hit your age?!

Climbing Playground. Photo credited to Fractus Learning
Climbing Playground. Photo credited to Fractus Learning

Where are the Climbing gyms in Singapore to do your rock climbing certification?

3. Mental Growth and determination

YES..Everyone needs to train this aspect of their mind, and it should start young! Mental capacity/ strength and health is very helpful to overcome many challenges/ mental blocks as you get older. While you climb, you are forced to focus and clear all distractions from your head to reach your next step.

Rock Climbing for todders, kids and children
Climbing trains the mental capacity, best nurtured when young
Climbing trains the mental capacity, best nurtured when young. I wish I could have started when I am much smaller.

So forget those tuition classes, bring them out to scale some rocks too!

And once your children/ kids grow older, they can decide if they want to explore the great outdoors and bring climbing to a whole new level beyond what we envision ourselves to do when we were young. Some of the places I have gone climbing are like Long Dong in Taiwan and Siurana in Spain.

rock climbing for kids - moving from indoor rock climbing to outdoor climbing in older age

Once your child is ready, they can move from indoor rock climbing to outdoor climbing as they get older.

To read more about the best climbing gyms in Malaysia and where to get the cheapest rock climbing courses/ take your level 1 belay certification, leave a comment below!

rock climbing is good for kids to start from young


Start your kids young! It will change their lives!

More articles/ tips about the benefits of bouldering:
10 Reasons to start bouldering
Is bouldering a cheap or expensive sport?
Top bouldering gyms in all of Asia
Kickstart outdoor bouldering as a sport

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13 Comments

  • Avatar of Sandy
    Reply
    Sandy
    April 24, 2018 at 9:00 am

    Hi Lydia
    Love your write-ups. My 8 year old loves rock climbing & has been going to Clip n Climb. Is there any summer holiday programme or certificaton that she can pursue?

    • Avatar of Lydia Yang
      Reply
      Lydia Yang
      April 25, 2018 at 6:52 am

      Hi Sandy!

      So nice to hear from you and glad that your kid is enjoying the sport. There are quite a few gyms in Singapore that have courses for kids, but one I would recommend would be at Climb Central Singapore. They are very kids friendly and your child with maybe be able to make some climbing friends as well;).
      Hope this was useful!

  • Avatar of Rosa
    Reply
    Rosa
    November 10, 2018 at 9:04 am

    Amazing! Kids like to climbing. I think it’s a great way to keep kids busy at home. Its really good fun for kids and also good for kids health and physical and mental growth. Thanks for such a lovely ideas.

  • Avatar of Marria
    Reply
    Marria
    December 20, 2018 at 10:36 am

    Such a nice idea! really amazing thought. Kids really loved to climb. It’s a great idea to keep kids busy with fun at home.

    • Avatar of Lydia Yang
      Reply
      Lydia Yang
      December 21, 2018 at 6:55 am

      Hi Marria,

      Indeed it’s one of the best things kids can try! I would strongly everyone to consider this activity for their children at a young age to build their mind and body.

  • Avatar of Anthony
    Reply
    Anthony
    September 8, 2019 at 10:19 pm

    Hi there,

    Do you happen to know of any places that conduct or have courses for toddler rock climbing? My kid is around 18 months and he simply love climbing! I think he can climb better than he can walk. Thanks in advance.

    • Avatar of Lydia Yang
      Reply
      Lydia Yang
      September 10, 2019 at 11:06 am

      Hi Anthony,
      Great that your kid is loving climbing! Don’t we all wish we started young too.
      From what I see, most gyms only offer rock climbing classes from 24 months onwards, and I can recommend you a gym that offers a great todder’s programme at a special rate, but you just need to give your kiddo 6 more months to get stronger!:D
      Let me know if you are keen:)

      • Avatar of Olivia
        Reply
        Olivia
        November 26, 2019 at 12:43 pm

        I’m keen! Could you send me the info pls?

        • Avatar of Lydia Yang
          Reply
          Lydia Yang
          November 27, 2019 at 12:13 pm

          That sounds great Olivia. Your child will definitely love it so much! Have dropped you an email with more details about a great course you can enroll him:)

      • Avatar of Joan
        Reply
        Joan
        July 13, 2020 at 11:45 pm

        Hi Lydia

        Thanks for your post. My 5 yo and 3 yo boys are interested in rock climbing, me as well. I wonder if you can recommend good program for kids, even better, if whole family can go together in a private session.
        Thank you!

        • Avatar of Lydia Yang
          Reply
          Lydia Yang
          August 14, 2020 at 5:22 pm

          Hi Joan,

          Look forward to having you check out climbing one day with your boys. Its a great family bonding activity!

  • Avatar of Regina
    Reply
    Regina
    December 13, 2019 at 5:58 pm

    Hi Lydia,
    I am looking for rock climbing lessons for my kid who is going to p3 next year and he is new to rock climbing. He has some issue in bilateral coordination, visual motor integration and midline crossing.

    • Avatar of Lydia Yang
      Reply
      Lydia Yang
      December 18, 2019 at 5:32 pm

      Hi Regina!
      I just dropped you an email about a new exciting kids programme that’s up:)
      You can also read more about it at lydiascapes.com/rock-climbing-classes-best-gift-for-children/
      Let me know if you have any more questions:)

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