Teach your kids to use the monkey bars

Are children’s monkey bars a source of fear or fun for your child? For some kids, playing on the monkey bars is a thrilling test of balance and agility. For others, they may be a source of stress — because they’re afraid, or because they find them too challenging. 

Whether your child is afraid or simply needs practice to master the monkey bars for kids, there are ways to help them feel more confident and comfortable. The key is creating an appropriate environment in which your child feels safe to experiment with new skills. Here are some ways you can teach your children to use the monkey bars.

Are monkey bars easy?

Actually no. Monkey bars require a rock-solid grip and a good use of bodyweight momentum. Also, you’ll need mental strength to get you past each bar when you feel the ache setting in.

Set the stage

If your child has a high level of fear about using monkey bars, the first thing you’ll want to do is create an environment that’s as safe as possible. This can help reduce the anxiety associated with the bar. You can do this by finding a playground with a safe set-up. Ideally, you’ll find playgrounds that have a soft surface, like natural sand or wood chips. 

This will make them less jarring on joints and sensitive parts like knees and elbows. If you’re at a park with a harder surface, you can also put a mat down to provide some cushion. You can also ask the playground supervisor if they can turn down the volume on the surrounding playground equipment.

How to use monkey bars – Go slow: start with holding and balance poses

If your child is afraid of the bars, start by having them hold their position at the bar for long periods. This will help them get comfortable with their position and the feeling of the bar underneath them. 

Try saying something like:

“OK, you’re holding the bar. Try to stay still. See how the bar feels in your hands. Try to focus on being still.”

You can also help your child to focus on their breath.

This will help them feel more grounded at the moment and less anxious. You can have them practice this before they climb, or while they’re holding the bar. 

While they’re holding, you can also encourage them to look at the ground and keep their head still. You can also have them focus on a specific point on their body, like their feet or the space between their toes.

Have your child choose a hold they’re comfortable with

Some kids will naturally gravitate towards one type of hold or another. Others may be less sure of what they want to try. This is where you can have your child decide for themselves which hold they want to try. 

You can ask them:

“What do you think would be the easiest hold to start with?”

Or

“What do you think would be the most fun hold to start with?”

If your child is feeling unsure of themselves, you can help them choose a hold that’s easy to start with. 

This can give them the confidence boost they need to feel ready to move on to more challenging holds.

Encourage your child to try new positions while holding

As your child feels more comfortable, encourage them to try different positions while they’re holding, like extending their legs straight out in front. Or bringing their legs up towards their chest. You can also encourage them to swing. This will help them get a better sense of the momentum of the bar. 

You can also encourage your child to see if they can move their legs to the other side of the bar. This can help your child feel more in control of the bar and more familiar with the way it moves.

When you’re ready, have your child shake out their arms and legs

Before you let your child walk along the bar from one end to the other, have them shake out their arms and legs to help them release any extra tension in their muscles. This will reduce the risk of injury. And it will help them stay focused and relaxed. 

You can say something like:

“OK, now shake out your arms and legs. Loosen up. Get ready to walk on the bars.”

This can help your child stay focused on the task at hand and reduce the chance that they’ll get overwhelmed or anxious.

Have your child walk along the bar from one end to the other

Once your child is relaxed and focused, they can walk along the bar from one end to the other. This will help them become more familiar with the way the bar moves and gain a better sense of balance. 

You can say something like:

“OK, now you can start walking on the bars. Let’s try to walk all the way to the other side and back.”

Then encourage your child to focus on moving their legs to maintain their balance.

Give them a boost so they can jump up on the next bar or platform

If your child is ready to move on to the next bar or platform, you can give them a boost to help them get there. Have them hold on to the bar below them and have you hold on to their legs so they can focus on using their upper body for the jump. 

You can say something like:

“OK, hold on to the bar below you. I’ll hold on to your legs. Ready? Jump up.”

Then help them lift their knees to give them a boost, and give them a little a push so they can get up onto the bar above them.

Bottom line

Monkey bars for kids are an ideal way to help your child build strength, agility, and confidence. By finding a safe setting, either at home or at the playground, you can help to reduce the anxiety of your child. 

While it’s important to set the stage for a successful experience, it can sometimes be helpful to encourage your child to go slow and steady. This can help them build the confidence they need to master a challenging skill. 

If your child is afraid of the bars, then it may take some patience and creativity to help them overcome their fear. It’s a personal choice, so don’t force the process. With the right approach, i.e. take a backward step and view from afar how your child is before you proceed, then they can learn to appreciate the joy of this fun play structure.

FAQ

Are monkey bars banned?

No, but there have been some talks of getting them banned because they can be dangerous. More information can be found here.

Are monkey bars good for you?

“Swinging forward and backward with their legs tucked up helps children improve and develop the right posture. They will also improve body strength at the same time. In the meantime, they also train to attain full control over their balance and hand-eye coordination.”

https://www.fitnesskid.com/blogs/news/understanding-the-scientific-benefits-of-monkey-bars

Can I use my school monkey bars?

As long as they are safe, you can use the bars.

When were monkey bars invented and who created the monkey bars?

“The first jungle gym was invented in 1920 and patented by lawyer Sebastian Hinton in Chicago. It was sold under the trademarked name Junglegym™.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jungle_gym

Are there are any stand alone monkey bars for sale?

You can find a standalone monkey bar set for sale on Amazon here*

Can I buy a kids monkey bars kit from Amazon?

You can get swing sets with monkey bars for your backyard from the Amazon shop like this one* which also has a playhouse too! Make sure you have the right height and width in your garden to house all the accessories as well. You can hire someone to come to your home to build this for you, but remember, the installation might not be free. So be sure to factor in all the costs before you buy.

Where can I find indoor monkey bars for toddlers?

You can find toddler monkey bars on Amazon here*

Where can I find jungle monkey bars?

You can find a great jungle gym from Amazon here*

I have old monkey bars, which haven’t been used. Can my child still use them?

You need to make sure that the bars are safe to use. Is there any rust? Any breakages? Make sure the bars are safe before your child uses them.

Are monkey bars a good workout?

“Many of us have plenty of experience playing and swinging on monkey bar when we were young. Other than it being fun, the strength needed to use the monkey bars is also a great form of exercise. They are extremely effective for building on core and upper body strength.”

https://www.fitnesskid.com/blogs/news/5-excellent-monkey-bar-exercises-for-your-kid

Do monkey bars build muscle?

The bars are extremely effective at building upper body and core strength, so it definitely helps to build muscle.

Are monkey bars good for shoulders?

“Swinging on monkey bars, or any implement, is a fantastic way to strengthen your grip, develop your lats, and improve your posture. It also provides decompression on your shoulder and is a great way to train your scapula to function properly.”

https://www.t-nation.com/training/tip-swing-for-strong-healthy-shoulders/

Do monkey bars make you taller?

“While pull-up bars may not directly work in increasing your height, they actually help in improving the overall posture which helps an individual look taller.”

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/parenting/toddler-year-and-beyond/can-hanging-from-pull-up-bars-help-the-children-grow-taller-heres-all-you-need-to-know/photostory/77875492.cms

Do monkey bars make you stronger?

The bars are a total body workout, so they will definitely help to strengthen your child’s muscles.

Do monkey bars help with pull ups?

“Pull Ups – Playing on the Monkey Bars can improve your Pull Ups by increasing your grip, back and core strength.”

https://redefiningstrength.com/monkey-bar-exercises-fun-9-moves

Do monkey bars help you grow?

See above. The bars can help improve your posture and make you appear taller.

Do monkey bars work biceps?

See above under the question where the bars help build muscle.

Is monkey bars a good workout?

See above.

Are monkey bars dangerous?

The bars can be dangerous if not used properly. Read the above article and take it easy. Always maintain good posture and cushion the ground under you.

Is monkey bars aerobic or anaerobic?

The bars are mostly an aerobic exercise (as it’s a good cardio) and are a great workout.

Are monkey bars good for adults?

Absolutely! When done safely, the bars are great for kids of all ages.

*Collaborative feature post*