Top five benefits of climbing for children and young people

1. Increase strength, endurance and flexibility

Climbing is a total body workout as the motion of climbing works every part of the body. Regular climbing will strengthen a child's arm, leg and core, developing strong supple muscles.

2. Teach hand, feet and eye coordination

In order to successfully complete their climb, children have to look, plan and coordinate their hands and feet to a chosen spot.

These enhanced coordination skills developed through climbing can be transferred to many aspects of life and learning. In the simplest terms knowing colours, shapes and left/right.

3. Build confidence and self esteem

Climbing offers children a chance to go outside their comfort zone and by overcoming any fear, step by step on the climbing wall, this can significantly boost their self esteem. Building belief in themselves can improve a child's confidence in their own ability to handle other problems in life.

4. Increase problem solving, planning and decision making abilities

There is always more than one way to conquer a mountain. This is the same with our climbing walls. Children need to plan and decide their next moves at every stage.

Over time a child will be able to problem solve and visualise a route on the wall prior to starting.

5. Stress relief

A fast paced life and constant pressures to achieve can be a lot of stress on little shoulders. Rock climbing requires children to be fully focussed and concentrate on the immediate task. This mindfulness, by living in the present moment, can reenergise children and they can leave being able to face their situations with a clear head.