How to Make an Indoor Climbing Area for Toddlers
Toddlers climb to build muscle strength, coordination and flexibility, according to the University of Illinois Extension, and indoor climbing areas allow toddlers to play without fear of injury. Climbing areas incorporate safety as part of the basic design, and feature0 various types of stages and platforms to add interest and encourage play. Building an indoor area for toddler adventure involves some basic planning and evaluating the home, basement or garage to select the best space for the special play area.
Things You'll Need
- Environmentally safe upholstery glue
- Floor mat
- Foam shapes
- Graph paper
- Quilted or terrycloth fabric
- Tape measure
Instructions
Evaluate your home to select an indoor room for the climbing area, and push furniture aside to create an open area in one section of the room. Select a room that can be made toddler-proof, one without windows or outside doors, if possible. If that isn't an option, chose a room with high windows and a door with a childproof lock. Cover electric plugs with child caps, tie up cords for blinds and remove long draperies. Toddlers see these as an invitation to climb. Measure the boundaries of the area with the tape measure to give you the overall size to create the formal plan. Transfer your area measurements onto graph paper, and plot out a formal plan for the climbing zone. The University of Illinois Extension suggests using a variety of shapes, sizes, colored fabric and textures in your climbing area. Think in terms of exploration and create areas to hide and climb. Buy soft flooring and wall covering for the area, using your graph paper for measurements. Fill the entire climbing area with the padded covering. Foam tumbling mats work well for toddler protection. This foam mat helps prevent toddler injuries, offering a barrier if your child falls into a wall. The mats can also roll up for storage when not in use. Buy or make large foam blocks and sturdy pillows in various shapes and sizes. Select cut foam or preformed inserts with a firm or extra-firm label. Soft, pliable foam has suffocation risks for young climbers, according to the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services. Start with approximately 24-inch shapes, and think in terms of stacking or piling these to create a climbing opportunity. The Biokinetics Research Laboratory at Temple University found that toddlers less than 35 inches tall had the ability to scale the sides of a standard crib, approximately 26 inches, and this information offers informal height-limit guidelines to determine the climbing object sizes. Cover the firm foam blocks and pillows with terrycloth toweling or fabric using the upholstery glue, and allow to dry. Check for any loose edges, and reapply the child-friendly glue to these areas. Make or buy at least one climbing tunnel with safety features, including fabric construction, secure pockets for the tunnel structure and large openings at both ends. Avoid plastic-covered tunnels and structures with interior hanging toys. These have risks for suffocation and injury from the hanging attachments. Place the pillows, blocks and tunnels in position using your graph-paper plan. Mix up the configuration every few weeks to keep toddler interest in the climbing area. Previous:Behavior Changes in Toddlers to Look For Next:When Children Begin to Talk, What Words Do They Mix Up?
