Welcome To The Clamber Club

Did you know that clambering and crawling through objects is very good for early mathematical and vocabulary development? While a toddler climbs and clambers, he or she is learning words relating to spatial concepts such as ‘under,’ ‘over,’ ‘on,’ and ‘next to.’ This foundation will help a toddler understand more complex concepts later on. By climbing and crawling, your toddler is experiencing these concepts with the whole body and through most of the senses. These multisensory learning experiences aid your toddler’s memory and help lay a firm foundation for more advanced skills.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when your toddler starts to climb onto anything within reach:

• This behavior is a normal part of motor development. Don’t reprimand your toddler for being boisterous; channel his or her energy instead to more appropriate and safe platforms.
• If you have children who are particularly fond of climbing, it might be worth it to invest on a small plastic indoor slide where they can climb and slide to their heart’s content while in the safety of your own home.
• Phrase your instructions in a positive manner. When you guide your children’s behavior, don’t say, ‘Don’t do that! You are going to fall!’ Instead, tell them, ‘What you are doing now is dangerous, let me help you get a good grip,’ or ‘Hold on tightly when you climb onto the slide. Be careful!’
• Be physically there for your children. This phase of your children’s development can be very physically demanding not just for them but also for you, since you will have to guide their movements and antics by going everywhere they go. This phase won’t last forever though; soon they will have enough motor skills to do more things on their own.
• Find a park or playground with quality play equipment. Take your toddlers there regularly to satisfy their desire for climbing and clambering.                                                                                                                               

Good gross motor skills lay a foundation for living a healthy and productive life in the future. It facilitates growth in other developmental areas and may even be the start of an exceptional athletic ability later on.