Safety Series Part 3: Climbing Safety

Climbing equipment comes in many shapes and sizes — including climbing walls, arches, and vertical and horizontal ladders.

These types of equipment are usually more challenging for children than other kinds of playground equipment so there need to be rules established, and play of younger children needs to be supervised, to ensure the safety of everyone climbing.

The rules should not eliminate risk completely because risk-taking is an important skill to learn, but it does need to be in a controlled environment to reduce the seriousness of the risk. Read our previous article on how play teaches thoughtful risk taking

Rules to allow children to climb freely and safely

Children should:

• use both hands when climbing

• stay well behind the person in front of them to reduce the risk of accidental or deliberate pushing

• look out for swinging feet

• look before they jump down to make sure there is no one below (Remind them to land on both feet with their knees bent.)

• wear suitable clothing – they need to avoid loose clothing, drawstrings that could easily get caught in the equipment and prevent their free movement, and accessories like necklaces or binoculars which could present a strangulation risk

Children should be taught NOT to:

• push, shove or try very risky stunts

• climb during rainy or very windy conditions to avoid slipping

Find out more about our climbing frames