Photograph courtesy Jeremy Kramer
If your kids are bouncing off the walls, maybe it’s time to take them to walls sanctioned for scaling—that is, those at a rock climbing facility. The sport, which has become increasingly popular, has no age limit and is excellent for developing motor and social skills. Whether you’re sport climbing (with a harness, ropes, and belayer) or bouldering (free climbing shorter routes), it’ll burn loads of energy.
“In addition to expanding fine motor skills, climbing also plays a big role in how sensory processing is developed,” says Gina Vitucci, occupational therapist and founder of Functional Interplay Therapy. “It’s how we learn about our environment and [interacting with] others.”
The region offers plenty of spots for climbing. Recently opened is Mosaic in Loveland, which is now the largest climbing gym in Ohio. The 20,000-square-foot facility has belay classes, rec and competitive teams, and summer camps for young climbers of all skill levels. Your options don’t stop there: The UC Campus Recreation Center, Climb Time of Blue Ash (opening a second location in Oakley soon), Zip City, RockQuest, and the Blue Ash Recreation Center give your kids a safe environment to climb.
Facebook Comments