The Climbing Arch: It's All About Finding the Right Balance!

Climbing arch or swing rocker? It appears as a climbing master, rocker, tunnel, swing, doll cradle and much more – my absolute favorite for any children's room! A multifunctional wooden toy that combines fun with a great learning effect: the climbing arch!

My all-rounder: the climbing arch

Today I'll show you lots of great ideas for how your child can creatively use the climbing arch in many different ways! In our creative workshop there's a great DIY with salt dough – not only fitting for the upcoming Easter season, but also perfect for promoting your child's fine motor skills and senses!

Balance, part of gross motor skills…

Your child still has to learn to use their seven senses reliably. They process external stimuli and influences differently than adults. This becomes apparent in everyday life and in dangerous situations.

Practice makes perfect

Many of us parents know the feeling when watching our child climb: between “Let them, it will be fine” and “Stop, this is getting too dangerous!”. Letting your child try things on their own is not easy; after all, you want to protect them. But too much protection can deprive your child of the opportunity to develop trust in their physical abilities.

“Help me to do it myself.” – Maria Montessori

Interaction of the senses

A central role in testing one's physical limits is played by the movement and balance senses, which are closely connected. For the movement sense one also speaks of proprioception – the ability to perceive one's own body. Without the sense of balance, however, the movement sense would not be worth much. The balance organ in the inner ear helps your child maintain posture and orient themselves in space.

To orient safely in space, the information the senses and the balance organ send to the brain must agree.

Body control brings confidence

When your child can walk, hop and run, they have well trained proprioception and the sense of balance. These movements are the basis for more difficult exercises like climbing, rocking on the climbing arch or sliding and balancing. Often it's enough to give your child the necessary space – their natural urge to move will do the rest.

“The child should not adapt to the environment; rather, we should adapt the environment to the child.” – Maria Montessori

My all-rounder: the climbing arch

Whether as a climbing arch or swing rocker – your little adventurer can play with it in many different ways. That way the climbing arch remains a loyal companion for years!

Benefits of a climbing arch

With the climbing arch, small and big children can safely practice climbing in their own room. Regular use promotes your child's movement confidence and coordination. Unlike climbing triangles, your child can also cross the arch lying on their stomach and change direction at any time.

Play fun and adventurous joy for all children

The climbing arch can be expanded at any time – for example with a slide or a Pikler triangle as a course. This gives your child new impulses again and again to test their climbing skills.

Finding inner balance with the swing rocker

The sense of balance is crucial for children's development. Once your toddler finds their balance, other motor steps become easier. Older children can continue to use the swing rocker for gymnastics exercises and thus support their muscle development.

Play ideas

The great advantage is the many uses our climbing arches and little arches offer. Even small babies can be gently rocked in them. Toddlers can not only rock in them but also pull themselves up, stand, and climb over them. To do this, turn the rocker over and a small bridge or a tunnel to crawl through appears. For older children the rocker turned over serves as a stool and lying on its side even becomes a cute counter for little shopkeepers. In the rocker your child can rock lying down, sitting or standing. Using their own weight they can quickly get moving and rock as they please. The rocker also serves as a doll or stuffed-animal cradle and with our matching sloth cushions (LINK) and the cozy blanket (LINK from baby blanket) the rocker becomes a cozy retreat.

Sustainable and effective

Suitable from 10 months: For babies and toddlers there are few toys as pedagogically valuable as the round arch. It can be used for years to improve your child's coordination and motor skills.

Today in our creative workshop:

Crafting with salt dough – Create individual Christmas ornaments

 

Tip: Halve the cup measurement for the salt dough so the amount is enough for small craft projects. When working with salt dough, use baking paper. This is already pre-cut. This way you avoid unnecessary stains on the table.

Example: Christmas ornaments

During the Christmas season we see decorations everywhere. I'll show you how to easily make decorations from salt dough with this free tutorial!

For the salt dough Christmas ornaments you need: salt dough, brush, acrylic paint, cord

Step 1

First form an oval plate about 0.5 cm thick. Don’t forget the hole for hanging. Let dry for at least 24 hours.

Step 2

Then paint the ornaments. Finally tie a string to hang them and the colorful salt dough Christmas ornaments are ready.

Example: Christmas elves

The funny Christmas elves are an absolutely delightful pair of helpers. The two elves are eagerly awaited at Christmastime. So let's start crafting!

For the salt dough Christmas elves you need: salt dough, toothpick, acrylic or watercolor paint, brush

Step 1

First form a small cone from the salt dough. That means you first shape a thick sausage and then roll one end thinner with your fingertips. You can smooth the edges with a little water. Then form two little sausages from the salt dough. With that you have the body parts for the Christmas elves.

Tip: Use a toothpick for fine details. For example, the indentations on the ear.

Step 2

In the second step assemble the body parts. To do this, break a match in half and stick it into the upper, narrower cone shape. Attach the ears to the ends of the toothpicks.

Step 3

Now use a toothpick to poke additional details into the shape: eyes and mouth. Let the salt dough air dry for at least 24 hours.

Step 4

Paint the dried salt dough shapes. Depending on intensity and preference you can use, for example, watercolor or acrylic paint. Natural dyes also work well. The funny salt dough Christmas elves are ready.

Dough left over? Cover the remaining salt dough with cling film. Then put it in the fridge. The salt dough keeps for about 1 week and can be processed later.

Have fun creating!