Climbing Frames

Why climbing holds a child's attention

Unlike a swing or a slide, a climbing frame does not have a fixed way to use it. A four-year-old works the bottom rungs; a seven-year-old goes over the top; a nine-year-old hangs off it upside down inventing games. The same structure means something different at each stage, which is why families get more years out of a climbing frame than almost any other piece of equipment.

Types in the range

Domes are the most space-efficient shape, offering climbing from every direction with no wrong way in. They suit a wide age band and sit low enough for younger children to attempt.

Towers and multi-level frames add platforms, which change the activity from climbing to somewhere-to-be. Platforms invite games, forts and sitting about, and pair naturally with a slide.

Cargo nets and rope walls demand more coordination than fixed rungs because the surface moves underfoot. They build grip strength quickly and are usually the last part of a frame a child masters.

Ground and placement

Level ground, clear on all sides, with room to walk right around. Grass is fine underneath; softfall bark keeps the base from wearing to dirt where feet land repeatedly.

Keeping it solid

Timber moves with the seasons and fixings loosen. Running a socket over every bolt once after the first month, then once each season, keeps a frame feeling tight rather than gradually developing a wobble. Check ropes and nets at the same time for fraying at the anchor points.