Why Do Kids Climb Everything? Here's What I See as a Pediatric PT

 

Have you ever watched your child climb up the outside of a playground when there's a perfectly good ladder right next to them?  Or climb up the slide instead of going down? The banister? The door frame?

Our first instinct is usually, "Get down! You're going to hurt yourself!"  But have you ever stopped to wonder WHY they're choosing to climb that way?

I've been a pediatric physical therapist for over 20 years, and I still catch myself looking at playgrounds and wondering what different movements are offering our bodies.

And yes, sometimes I have to try them myself!

Watch me climb to the top of the playground

When I climbed to the top of this playground, I wasn't just using my arms and legs to get up there.

I was pulling, pushing, reaching, shifting my weight, figuring out where to put my feet, and planning my next move. That's a LOT of work for the body!

All that pushing and pulling gives our muscles and joints information about where our body is in space. It's something we call proprioception, but I usually just explain it as our body's sense of where it is and what it's doing.

And then there's the planning!  Where do I put my foot next? Can I reach that bar? What happens if I need to change my plan halfway through?

Now imagine everything a child is getting from that same experience. Maybe they're looking for that heavy work of pulling and pushing their own body weight.  Maybe they're challenging their balance. Maybe they're figuring out a new way to get somewhere they've been a hundred times before.

Or maybe they just think it's fun!

And that's the thing. We don't always know WHY a child chooses a particular movement. But we can get curious about it.

Before We Tell Them to Get Down...

Of course, safety matters. I'm not suggesting we let children climb anywhere or put themselves in danger.

But when the situation is safe enough, I think there's value in watching for a moment before jumping in.

Look at how they're moving. Are they figuring out where to put their hands and feet? Adjusting when something doesn't work? Thinking about how they're going to get back down?

There's so much happening in those few seconds that we might miss when we're focused only on getting them to stop.

And climbing is just one example.

Think about the child who pushes against the wall, squeezes between couch cushions, hangs upside down, or jumps over and over again.

What might their body be getting from that movement?

It doesn't always mean they're seeking something specific. Sometimes kids are simply playing, experimenting, or having fun.

But sometimes that movement is giving their body information they seem to enjoy or need in that moment.

And that's what I want parents to start noticing.

Not every movement needs to be corrected. Not every behavior needs an explanation. But the next time your child does something that makes you wonder, "Why on earth are they doing THAT?"

Maybe ask yourself a different question. "What might their body be getting out of it?"

That's where my PT brain usually starts!

I'm Libby Kelly, a pediatric physical therapist with more than 20 years of experience and founder of Calmily Perfectly Weighted. Follow along on Instagram for more everyday childhood behaviors through my PT lens.