Health-Medical-Syringe Interface-Arrows-Synchronize Interface-Calendar-Mark Interface-Setting-Tool-Box Interface-Time-Clock-Circle Interface-Time-Hour-Glass Interface-Time-Three Interface-Validation-Check Mail-Chat-Bubble-Oval-Question hair injection laser scalpel skin stars tag Diamond Gold Ring body clock question-mark mpf-exit-arrow Lifted Logic Web Design in Kansas City clock location phone play check_box_outline_blank check_box chevron-down chevron-left chevron-right chevron-up facebook instagram google plus pinterest radio_button_checked radio_button_unchecked twitter linkedin youtube arrow-up send arrow-right man woman plus remove chat calendar close Down-Copy Up-Copy right left right-1 down-arrow-home right-arrow-long star play-update tiktok play-loop pause-loop down-arrow

Youth Aerial Yoga and Occupational Therapy

  • Shop Hammocks
  • Text (913) 289-0055
  • Contact
Mindful Child Wellness
  • Mindful Child Wellness
  • Who We Are
    Learn More About Us
    • Our Story
    • Meet the Team
  • What We Do
    Learn More About What We Do
    • Kid’s Aerial Yoga Classes
    • Occupational Therapy for Kids
    • Kid’s Yoga Teacher Training
  • Parties and Camps
    • Camps
    • Summer Camps for Special Needs
    • Birthday Parties
    • Kid’s Night Out
    • Girl Scouts
    • Workshops
  • Sign Up For A Trial Class
  • Program Match Tool
  • Share on Facebook
  • Click to share on Twitter
  • Click to share on Pinterest
Share

Benefits of a Climbing Wall

Increasingly, science is uncovering the value of one of the most fundamental forms of movement – climbing. Kids and adults don’t just love climbing for the challenge – there are developmental reasons that attract kids to it. Climbing actually plays a role in children’s mental and physical development. In addition to all the physical benefits, it has been shown to improve creativity, memory, and critical thinking abilities.

Here are a few benefits of a climbing wall:

  • A climbing wall enhances problem-solving and decision-making skills. Ascending a climbing route is like putting together a puzzle. Each move requires a decision-making process. Where do I go? What is the best route to get there? Learning to solve problems and think for yourself in the moment (without the help of a glossary or google) is part of learning to make smart decisions, which is a skill set that helps kids in everyday situations.
  • It provides sensory input and improves memory. Psychologists from the University of North Florida found that “proprioceptively dynamic activities like climbing” can significantly improve executive functioning, especially memory. Executive function is important not just for cognitive processing of information, but for behavioral regulation. The study showed that two hours after climbing, participants’ capacity for working memory had increased by 50 percent. WOW!
  • Climbing develops spatial awareness and motor skills.  Not only does climbing build spatial and directional awareness, but it also boosts physical skills such as balance, hand and foot coordination, and agility.  When children use both their hands and feet to maneuver varying inclines and distances between climbing holds, it enhances children’s proprioception, the ability to sense one’s own body’s position and movement in space.
  • It promotes healthy choices and a growth mindset. 
    Overcoming challenges and fear is fundamental to being successful.  Encouraging kids to leave their comfort zone, keep trying in the face of failure, and to face their fears helps them to see challenges as opportunities to grow.  Challenging situations teach children to believe in themselves. 
  • Climbing develops focus and concentration. Climbing requires attention to task, focus, and discipline to succeed. There is no multitasking when you’re balanced on a narrow foothold trying to find the best route to the top of the wall. No matter what is going on around them, children must stay present and mindful when climbing, by focusing their attention on their hand and footholds.  This builds the mind-body connection (how the movement of the body affects the development of the brain).
  • Climbing is fun. Kids love a good physical and mental challenge, and if you throw in a fun bell to ring when they reach the top they may never leave…

Climbing is a Challenge

Climbing a wall or aerial yoga hammock is a challenge. It promotes agility, flexibility, muscular strength and muscular endurance. We change the hand and foot hold patterns on our climbing wall, which adds a cognitive challenge. The cognitive challenge enhances executive function and builds a growth mindset making it a wonderful addition to our amazing Mindful Child Aerial Yoga Classes. 

References

Alloway, R. G., & Alloway, T. P. (2015). The Working Memory Benefits of Proprioceptively Demanding Training: A Pilot Study. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 120(3), 766–775. https://doi.org/10.2466/22.PMS.120v18x1

Emami Kashfi, T., Sohrabi, M., Saberi Kakhki, A., Mashhadi, A., & Jabbari Nooghabi, M. (2019). Effects of a Motor Intervention Program on Motor Skills and Executive Functions in Children With Learning Disabilities. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 126(3), 477–498. https://doi.org/10.1177/0031512519836811

< Previous Post
View All Posts
Next Post >
Mindful Child Wellness
Explore
  • Blog
  • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Our Story
  • Class Schedule
  • Teacher Training

Address

7830 State Line Road, Prairie Village, KS 66208

Phone

913-289-0055

Hours

Monday: 12PM – 7 PM

Tue-Fri: 1PM – 7PM

Saturday: 10AM – 3PM

Sunday: Closed

Resources
  • Contact
  • FAQ
  • Insurance
  • Privacy Policy
Mindful Child Wellness 2025. All rights reserved Web Design in Kansas City by Lifted Logic