Climbing frames are found in almost every playground – and it’s no surprise when they offer so many benefits.

At Setter Play, we supply a wide range of outdoor play equipment for young children and can create equipment that suits their needs, as well as the needs of parents and staff.

From learning to walk and climbing trees, toddlers are constantly looking for ways to pull themselves up and what better way to help them than to invest in Climbing Frames like ours?

Climbing frames encourage individuals to explore and use their imagination and we cater for the instinct of toddlers – allowing them to (safely) take risks.

Toddlers are always looking for a challenge and the Bedrock is a fantastic solution! As with all our climbing units, Bedrock is designed to manage and assess risks – teaching children a vital life skill.

School Playground Equipment

As there is no right or wrong way to play, Climbing Frames help children to play imaginatively and to be creative. They also enable toddlers to understand when they are working dangerously and know how to overcome challenges.

Here we explain the ways that Climbing Frames can benefit toddlers:

Improve dexterity

When it comes to developing fine motor skills like grip and grasp, our Climbing Frames are an ideal addition to make to your school playground.

Our play units are not only great for encouraging toddlers to play; they also help them to learn new skills that can be utilised in the classroom when they get older. The dexterity from Climbing Frames can be used to assist with handwriting – making it easy for them to hold a pen or pencil correctly.

Boost climbing confidence

Instead of feeling anxious when faced with climbing equipment, we can help toddlers to feel confident. We provide equipment that promotes trial and error and risk-taking and ensures that there is no sacrifice made to safety.

The climbing units that we design can help children to face their fears and push their own boundaries.

Develop physical strength

Some playground equipment can enhance toddlers ability to climb. The Abstract units that we supply are ideal for building physical strength and promoting a healthy, active lifestyle.

There are various health benefits to be had from climbing, including the improvement of motor skills. Sometimes, Climbing Frames are used in an attempt to combat childhood obesity – making outdoor play more appealing and exciting.

Encourage problem-solving

Climbing Frames like the Skinny Spiffy can help children to discover different routes to climb. It promotes critical thinking – allowing them to think about where they are placing their hands and feet.

The Skinny Spiffy incorporates a spiders web for crawling and a rock climbing wall and wavy bar which are great for grip and grasp. There is also a combination of ropes and other bars which make it more exciting for children to reach their goal (which in this case would be the slide).

Could you benefit from one of our climbing frames? Find out for yourself by contacting our team of experts today on 01462 817 538.

Promote a healthy lifestyle

Studies have shown that children who play outside generally perform better at school – particularly from a writing, mathematics, critical thinking and listening perspective. Spending time outdoors can have a positive effect on the brain – allowing for the recovery and production of brain cells which, in turn, improves their ability to concentrate in class.

Having an active lifestyle is said to reduce the risk of problems, such as heart disease, diabetes and osteoporosis, which is why you should encourage toddlers to play outdoors and to use climbing frames. Plus, it gives them a dose of vitamin D which is good for the skin, bones and immune system!

Learn independence, risk-taking and survival

Arguably some of the most important skills any human being can have.

As children get older, they won’t always have their parents and teachers hands to hold. Learning how and when – or when not – to take calculated risks is a valuable skill for youngsters, and teaches them how to do things independently. If they don’t learn this early on, then it’s likely they will struggle in later-life.

When kids climb, they are continually assessing risks so as not to fall off and injure themselves. Investing in climbing frames, and other exciting pieces of nursery playground equipment, allows them to climb in a safe environment and helps them to assess and navigate risk – including what they will do to overcome it.

Develop logical and creative thinking

It might not seem like such a big deal, but climbing frames are challenging and require logical thinking. In fact, kids have so much fun that they are blissfully unaware of just how hard their brains are working – not to mention their arms and legs!

For starters, they have to plan how they’ll get to the top. It makes them think about how best to move their bodies within the framework and how to get up or across to the end destination. Climbing not only stretches the muscles, it stimulates their minds too. Once little ones get into it, they can use their imagination. It may look like a climbing frame to you and me, but to them…it could be a princess’s castle, a giant’s den or a spy’s base.

Strengthen social skills

As we’ve already mentioned, climbing frames aren’t just for climbing. Some are specifically designed to spur imaginative play. They set the scene for made-up scenarios – allowing children to adopt different personas – which requires a lot of social interaction.

So, if you’re looking to develop social skills, such as communication, negotiation and turn-taking, from an early age, it’s highly worthwhile that you invest in top-quality climbing apparatus for your toddlers.

Could you benefit from one of our climbing frames? Find out for yourself by contacting our team of experts today on 01462 817 538 or drop us a quick email at [email protected], and we’ll get back to you. Alternatively, why not take a look at our case studies? Here you will find some of the many projects we have completed and, who knows, maybe you could take some inspiration for your own playground!

Benefits Of Climbing Frames FAQ’s

With the appropriate supervision and instruction, climbing is absolutely safe for 2-3 year olds.

Children will start to climb from an early age, gradually getting higher and preparing themselves for mini adventures.

Introducing them to climbing frames in their toddler years is a brilliant way for them to safely manage and assess risks. It will help them to understand when they are doing something potentially dangerous while overcoming challenges and discovering their limits.

To ensure the safety of little ones when climbing, it’s crucial that you regularly inspect the apparatus. This includes sweeping up any dirt and debris from the area surrounding the climbing frame and ensuring handrails and ladders aren’t too slippery.

For more tips on maximising safety on your playground, contact Setter Play on 01462 817 538.

Choosing a climbing frame for toddlers can be tricky.

Naturally, you want it to be lots of fun, so they actually spend time using it – but you also want to trust that it’s of the highest quality and safe for them to play on.

Another important factor to consider when choosing climbing apparatus is the size of the frame and the layout of your play area. After all, you want to make sure there is enough space for toddlers to climb, run and jump without bumping into each other.

At Setter Play, we understand that you want your climbing frame to be perfect. That’s why our team of designers will discuss your requirements in more detail, and take into consideration what activities you’d like to include, before putting a plan together.

If you’re lacking inspiration, why not take a look at our case studies? We’ve created countless climbing frames for nurseries and pre-schools and would love to help you to do the same.

Every one of our climbing frames here at Setter Play is designed and constructed from top-quality materials, with the safety of toddlers in mind.

Despite this, maintaining your apparatus frequently will help to prolong its life and maximise enjoyment for the kids.

As a general rule of thumb, always inspect the safety surface around the climbing frame. Remove any foreign objects and regularly inspect metal parts for rust.

Make sure there are no sharp edges or protruding screw threads that could potentially harm little ones and check the wood for splintering and splits between 8mm in size, over 600mm in height from the ground.

For further advice on maintaining your climbing frame, drop us an email at [email protected], and we’ll get back to you shortly.

The team at Setter Play has been designing, manufacturing and installing playground equipment at nurseries and pre-schools for over 25 years.

Our climbing frames are not only great fun for toddlers, but they also teach them about risk-taking and problem-solving – both skills that will come in handy in later life.

In addition to this, our climbing frames for toddlers are sturdy enough to withstand the most enthusiastic children’s play. They incorporate swings, slides, rock climbing walls, monkey bars and balancing beams – giving youngsters the perfect opportunity to use their imagination and develop new skills.

If you’d like to know more about our climbing apparatus and how we can tailor it to suit the needs of the toddlers in your care, talk to the team today.