White paper

Climbing clever

How novel movement patterns benefit the brain

Climbing can make us clever. It is an essential and fun developmental activity for children to strengthen motor skills and muscles. But climbing also connects body and mind.

This white paper aims to:

  • Establish understanding of the link between motor skills and cognitive development

  • Describe the popularity of climbing among different age and user groups

  • List 5 important features for climbing playground equipment that develop children's brains

White paper

Climbing clever

Download white paper
Connect ##body and mind## through climbing

5 important features for climbing clever playground equipment

  1. Present age-appropriate novelty to the children, so that new ways of moving benefit working memory skills.

  2. Offer graduated challenges and multiple pathways to extend play and develop skills.

  3. Feature entry points and ground-level activities accessible for children of all abilities.

  4. Enable the movement and coordination of multiple body parts at once, for example with kids climbing nets or the pieces in a wooden climbing trail playground.

  5. Have meeting points and social spaces in the climbing playground equipment.

Play webinars and white papers

6 tips to dramatic play outdoors

Play

White Paper

Nature Play: 8 Tips on encouraging outdoor play with nature playgrounds

Tweens love playgrounds: 5 new science-based tips for school playground design

Sensory play: The why, how and what of sensory stimulating playgrounds

a children's play area with children playing on the playground.

A Design Checklist for Success with Inclusive Playgrounds

Inclusive Public Playgrounds: 10 new, science-based practices for play spaces

Nature play and natural playgrounds

Sensory Play: Science behind child wellbeing in playgrounds

Innovative products - The key to more play

truly inclusive section

Truly inclusive - the reward of thrill in universal play designs

Equality in play - Survey on playground use in children with disabilities

Play for all - Universal designs for inclusive playgrounds

Designing unique playgrounds that match your story and your scene

More play and no conflicts

Play value - The influence of playground equipment

Play value increases with sensory play

The more thrilling playground

Physical activity among preschool children

Unique Play Designs - Increase play duration

Tweens love playgrounds

Energy expenditure on a KOMPAN school-age playground

The risk-benefit equation of challenging playgrounds

Children playing on a large playground tower made from more sustainable materials in Olins Park

Play for the planet: redefining outdoor design to minimise carbon footprints

The cover of a book about playground equipment

Families love thrilling and sensory playgrounds

Sign up to our newsletter

Fill in the boxes, and you are all set.