CLIMB HIGHER!
Adaptive Climbing Wall & Sensory Gym
Sensation Station intervention and therapy centre has an amazing adaptive climbing wall at “Fun Junction” their Sensory Gym.
“Having access to an adaptive climbing wall where children can climb, reach, stretch and challenge themselves in a fun and safe environment, makes therapy FUN time instead of, well “therapy”. Stretching and building muscles can be difficult for some children, so a climbing wall that help make it more PLAY than work is so beneficial.”
The Everlast Adaptive Climbing Wall features grab-bar style hand holds and ledge-style foot holds to provide stability and extra support for children with physical disabilities. The wall also features other color-coded Groperz hand holds designed just for children that offer additional variety and levels of challenge. Green climbing holds are the largest and easiest to grab. The yellow holds are a little harder and the red holds are the smallest and most challenging. The climbing wall also has a dry-erase surface that can be written on and accepts magnets to provide learning opportunities for children with cognitive or communicative disabilities.
The Adaptive Climbing Wall is perfect for adapted or inclusive physical activities, occupational therapy and even speech-language therapy because it provides opportunities to simultaneously develop muscle strength, balance, body awareness, motor planning and even cognitive skill working on improving balance and decision-making and building upper body strength and self-esteem. And it’s also really fun, children love to climb, explore and show off their skills
There’s a lot more to it than climbing … it’s as much a brain challenge as it is anything else. You have to process things as you are going across, like which rocks would be better to grab. The wall surface is magnetic and acts as a whiteboard too, so we can also have our children do math, or make sentences, as they’re climbing across. It’s something different and it does not look like exercise.
The wall measures 8 feet high and is 20ft long. The size make it less intimidating for children at our centre, most of whom are only in the range of 3 – 8 years. It can appeal to children that don’t always find their place, maybe they’re not as sporty or artistic. A child who is not connected to other talents can feel success in “conquering” this climbing wall. The Adaptive Climbing Wall adds an element of fun for children receiving Occupational Therapy (OT), Speech-Language Therapy (SLT), that are enrolled at our Early Intervention & Learning Programme (EILP) or that are just attend our Spring, Summer and Winter Camps.
Some children may present conditions such as sensory disorders and fine motor deficits, speech-language disorders or delays. Some may have coordination deficits and muscle weakness. There are a lot of benefits to the wall, such as: Strengthening, increasing range of movement, enhancing motor planning and improving body awareness.
We have a few children that are either weak, have low muscle tone, or have postural insecurities. In the beginning it was a big effort for them to climb that wall. We had to call the parents and/or another therapist for added reassurance. In this case we asked the kids to just do the first level of rocks and start from there. It seems like when they complete that first level, they gain confidence and are more willing to complete to the top. For added incentive, therapists often put toys or other treats on the top climbing holds for children to retrieve. But most important is that the children always have big smiles on their faces, especially when they reach the top. A sense of achievement that they can be proud of.
Click here for more information about:-
- Winter Camp: https://sensationstation.ae/winter-camp-2017/
- Occupational Therapy: https://sensationstation.ae/occupational-therapy/
- Our Facilities: https://sensationstation.ae/our-facilities/
- Picture Gallery – Fun Junction Sensory Gym: https://sensationstation.ae/gallery/fun-junction-sensory-gym/