How to build a climbing wall for children at home

Our little ones love to climb all kinds of furniture. What could make them happier than having their own home climbing wall?

Climbing is not only fun, but also develops balance, strengths, and coordination skills. Besides developing those skills, their future passion, climbing, can be encouraged.

Ideas for installing a home wall

At first glance, the installation may seem complicated, but it doesn´t have to be. With a little imagination and the necessary materials, the home wall can be realised without any problems. Here are some ideas for you on how to make the most of your living space

Use the advantages of your walls

The home wall can be placed anywhere in your home. It can be located in the children´s room or in the dining room, for example, and with the right choice of colour for the climbing holds, the home wall may even serve as a decoration.

Using a bunk bed

If you don´t have lots of space in your home to install a home wall, you can simply use your child´s bunk bed. To do this, attach a wooden board which can then be used for climbing up and down. All you have to do is attach the holds to the board and you´re ready to go.

Using pallets or wooden planks

There are so many creative things you can do with pallets, for example build a home wall. If you have a big garden, you can make the most out of the space and put up pallets or wooden planks on edge and install children´s climbing holds on them.

The benefits of climbing for children

Climbing is not only a lot of fun, but it also offers your children many physical and mental benefits. The most essential ones are the following:

• It improves the agility and sense of balance.
• It helps to master challenges, which is also useful for the child´s future in general.
• It helps develop psychomotor skills, whereby the body movements are mastered in a healthy way.
• It strengthens your child´s self-esteem and self-confidence.
• It develops flexibility, endurance, and muscular strengths, especially in arms and legs.
• It encourages your child to learn about and respect the nature and its environment.
• It improves cooperative skills and the ability to trust in other people.
• It helps to manage the energy and to get the nerves under control.

Which material is appropriate for the installation of a home wall?

Although the climbing holds can be attached to many types of walls or wooden panels, there are certain materials that are ideal for a better and easier installation.

Brick wall

If the holds are to be installed on brick- or the hollow concrete block walls, the Chemical anchoring with injection adhesive is the safest option. With this system, the holds can be repositioned as often as necessary to set new routes or to clean the holds to maintain their perfect condition.

Wooden panel

This is the best option for indoor climbing walls because the holes don´t have to be drilled directly into the wall, but only into the wooden panel itself. On the backside of the panel, a T-nut has to be placed in each hole where is climbing hold is to be placed later.

This system allows to reposition the holds as often as required, for creating new routes for the children when they get bored by always doing the same or need a higher level of difficulty.

Stone or cement wall

Three types of dowels or screws can be used for installation on stone or cement walls:

• Drive anchor: to install it, first drill a hole in the wall that matches the depth with the lengths of the dowel so that it can be completely sunk in the wall later. After sweeping the dust out of the screw hole, insert the dowel and drive it in deeply with a centre punch and a hammer. The dowel is now fully placed in the wall and the climbing holds can be installed.
• Safety screws: They prevent unintentional dismantling of the climbing holds and are only to advise if there is a risk that parts of the climbing wall might be stolen.
• Chemical anchoring with injection adhesive: see installation instructions in “brick wall”, because it is the same procedure. Even tough this system is more expensive than drive anchor, it should be used to be safer on walls with lower quality or if there are cavities inside.

Types of climbing walls for children

If you are convinced to install a home wall for your little ones, here we present some different types so that you can choose your favourite:

• For (two) siblings: in this case, the space is very important so that there is enough room for both or all of them. This way they can practice and play together – who gets to the top first?
• Mountain style: If you paint some beautiful mountain on the wooden panel of your home wall.
• Functional: You can find one of the ideas at “using a bunk bed”, taking advantage of available furniture or rooms. Your child not only practices climbing, but also arrives to its destination, on the top.
• Pyramid: With two wooden panels, you can build a structure of two ramps touching each other. This type is particularly attractive for younger children, as it makes climbing easier and increases the possibilities for play.

In short, installing a home wall is much easier than it first seems. If your child loves to climb, then don´t hesitate any longer, buy the necessary material and think about where to place the wall ideally. Your child will surely be thrilled with the idea and have many hours of fun alone or with friends.