Go Climb a Tree! 13 Reasons Parents Should Encourage Kids to Climb Trees by Teacher Karen

A 30-foot pine tree was the chosen place for my son and his friends. It morphed into forts, castles, mountains, whatever their imaginations could come up with for hours of pretend play. While pretend play confers all kinds of benefits to children, climbing trees does, too!

Note that climbing trees adheres to the Universal Truth: All learning and growing requires some risk. Yes, there is risk, but the benefits children reap rising up into the branches are worth it.

Climbing trees develops these physical benefits:

• Gross motor skills.
• Physical strength.
• Physical agility.
• Sensory awareness.

Climbing trees develops these cognitive benefits: 

• A positive "can-do" attitude. 
• Problem solving and spatial-awareness skills. 
• More complex neural networks (bilateral motion). 
• Creative thinking, focus and concentration.
  

Climbing trees develops these emotional benefits:

• Reduces stress.
• Develops self-confidence and self-esteem. 
• Connects children with nature.

Climbing trees develops these social benefits: 

• Communication skills. 
• Cooperation.

Encourage climbing! Stay close at first, but ease off as they get proficient. If they get stuck, don’t reach up and rescue them. Talk them down, branch by branch. Climbing trees, like play, sets roots for life!

Learn more about pretend play at PlayandGrow.com. 

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