Summer Fun: Climbing, Swinging, and Playing in Trees!
Summer is a time-honored season of fun, innovative methods of exercising in attempts to cool-off or just relax. Trees have inspired children across the ages to partake in rigorous activities, from climbing, swinging, or playing amongst their leafy branches. Witnessing the intense engagement kids have with trees inspires us all to reach up and climb higher!
Stretching up from the ground to grasp the nearest tree branch brings up nostalgia: memories of our childhood adventures us, illustrating our whimsical ideas took root in action. Annabel Freyberg, author of Tree Climbing: Branching Out For a New High states, “Tree climbing: This exciting, calorie-burning activity takes social climbing to new heights…Although the whole experience is magical, it is only achieved with a certain amount of effort and concentration.” This is definitely an active exercise, as Zach Dundas notes in The International Tree-Climbing Championships “This is no childhood idyll, but rather a highly technical, physically demanding test of professional skill, on-the-fly problem solving, and aerial courage.” To ensure the safety of your children, or your whole family, check out WesSpur for safety harnesses and helmets to use when tree climbing.
Those that deny the urge to climb amongst the branches of these great trees are swayed by the allure of the swinging leaves blown by strong gusts of wind. .Sarah Jane, an illustrator & blogger captures such an image in The Tree Swing in which “My kids have spent hours on this thing…And it makes me so happy to see them swinging up to the sky without a care in the world…I am thankful for reminders from a tree swing.” Time ceases to exist while swinging on a tree, although the challenge of reaching higher is not diminished! John Vivian, professional tree-swing assembler, recalls in Swing Into Fall with a Tree Swing, “At the old family homestead, a swing at the river bank was fastened so high that the rope disappeared forever into the canopy of a huge black oak. Pumping hard, we could swing 15 feet above the water … let go and fly almost to midstream … and land in a cannonball worthy of the name.” Swinging high and jumping far, this is the vigorous exercise that trees can provide us all with!
For the special few that want to fully embrace all that trees can offer, we explore the idea of creating a habitat amidst its safe shelter. In advising Building a Tree House, author Katherine Louise James commends: “A treehouse or children’s playhouse enables children to master the art of climbing- great for their motor skill development…Apart from brain and social development, a playhouse in a tree can help combat childhood obesity” Kids are actively moving when they are playing in a treehouse, as oppose to be sedentary while watching television. Parent and blogger Tom Norian accounts, “The tree-houses give the kids other places to play, and serve as retreats for them on those days they feel a bit grumpy and could use a little time by themselves in their own ‘domain.’” Kids get to climb to their retreat, and then descend when they need to, fully engaged in physical activity!
Trees definitely provide a plethora of engaging activities that get kids fit and healthy!
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Summer Fun: Climbing, Swinging, and Playing in Trees!…
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