Fun Fact Friday – Going Up in the World

Initially designed to train tumblers, astronauts, divers, gymnasts and freestyle skiers, Trampolining made its first Olympic appearance at Sydney 2000 – and Paris 2024 will see 32 athletes compete across two events.

Although serious trampolinists can bounce over eight metres in the air while performing a series of complex twists and somersaults, lower level jumping on safely-designed and appropriately supervised rebounders and trampolines in a school gym, sports and leisure centre or home garden is just as valuable for the health, fitness and enjoyment of the everyday user.

Trampolining can:

• Improve balance
• Increase cardiovascular activity
• Relieve stress
• Increase confidence
• Build strength
• Improve bone density
• Offer social opportunities

“When you jump, you use the entire momentum of your body, which forces all of your different muscles to work simultaneously,” explains Exercise Coordinator, Lori Lyons. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/trampoline-workout-benefits/ “All of that up-and-down works everything from your abs and glutes to your leg and back muscles, building a strong core and beyond.”

But if all this bouncing around is a bit much, then there is a calmer way to climb to the top of the ladder…literally.

Whilst a baby Barbary Macaques Monkeys are ready at just six weeks to independently explore the forest trees at great height (https://monkey-forest.com/), a small indoor climbing frame – designed to improve motor and agility skills – could be a good fit for a human child aged two to three. (https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/five-things-you-need-to-know-if-youre-buying-a-kids-climbing-frame-aZyir9Y2knYr)

As children climb, they need to make decisions, solve problems, and even visualize the solution: What will it take for me to get to the top? Do I have to put my hand or foot in a specific place to move upward? Climbing requires focus, concentration, and perseverance. Climbing helps children gain confidence and learn to cope with fear and stress and develop self-reliance in this play element.

All the stretching, reaching, swinging, pulling, and pushing with their limbs enhances awareness of their bodies and improves spatial awareness and reasoning. Climbing does not have to be technical or complicated; children just need to go out and give it a go. (https://thegeniusofplay.org/genius/expert-advice/articles/elements-of-play-climbing.aspx#.ZFOhMHbMKUk)

Getting to the top of the climbing frame for a young child can feel just as big an achievement as experienced by Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tensing Norgay on May 29th 1953 when they stood on the top of Mount Everest (the first climbers to get there from the Nepal side)… and Malavath Purna, the youngest girl at 13 years 11 months and 15 days also to enjoy the view! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Mount_Everest_records

So, keep on bouncing and climbing your way to the top – “The summit is what drives us, but the climb itself is what matters (Conrad Anker)…we should be less afraid to be afraid (Emily Harrington).” https://www.climbing.com/people/best-mountain-climbing-quotes/