A toddler in the Workshop
Climbing the Rungs to Fitness: Exploring the Benefits of Swedish Ladders
We get asked this question all the time! With so many options out there, we know it can feel so overwhelming to pick the right one. Pikler triangles have become an essential in many homes. What more could a little one want? An eco-friendly open-ended toy, little ones can climb, slide, play and hang underneath, and balance, all while building a solid foundation of gross motor skills. Perfect for indoor play where parents can easily oversee their little one’s play.
Where does the Pikler Triangle come from?
The Pikler was created by Emmi Pikler who was a Hungarian Paediatrician who ran the Lóczy orphanage in Budapest for infants who lost their parents during WWII. She practiced her new theories on early education, which focused on a respectful way of education where nothing was done ‘to” a baby but rather “with” the baby instead, at the orphanage. She believed in respecting each child and caring for them in line with their own natural development. She has been an influenced many childcare specialists including Magda Gerber the founder of RIE (Resources for Infant Educarers).
What are the benefits of a Pikler Triangle?
Depending on the Pikler Triangle you have, they generally are suitable for children from around 6 months to 6 years. They will start by playing on the side, playing with the slide, playing underneath until they are ready to start pulling up and eventually climbing and climbing over the top. It is said the benefits of Pikler Triangles include:
- Supports natural motor development
- Provides challenges for spatial awareness and climbing.
- Improves proprioception.
- Supports, concentration, sense of achievement, self-confidence, and autonomy.
- Develops strength
- Develops full body coordination
- Creates a space for imaginative play
- It is a great tool for open-ended play
Which Pikler Triangle is right for my child?
With all the choice of Pikler’s these days finding the right Pikler Triangle can feel completely overwhelming. There are big ones, small ones, triangle one’s, square ones, modifiable ones, arc ones and more. So how do you find the one which will be most suitable to your child.
Things which are important to consider when purchasing a Pikler Triangle are design, materials, stability and longevity of use. Depending on the Pikler that you choose, your child could be climbing on it anywhere from 6 months to 8 years on some of the bigger frames. Always check the weight limits of the frame you choose. You want to get the frame which is the most-sturdy and can carry the most weight for your budget especially if you would like to add balance beams, ramp bridges and monkey bars into the mix later on. Children really put a lot of pressure on the cross bars when these are added so you want something that can handle that force. It is also something which is likely going to be inside your home, so design can be a factor too.
When we get asked for advice on which Pikler triangle you should get we usually ask four questions. How old is your child? What is your child’s temperament – cautious or fearless? Do you have any other Pikler Triangle’s and what is your budget? Here are a few frames and when we recommend them.
The baby frame is a perfect little frame for babies who are crawling and starting to pull up. They will first start to use it to pull up, in time will start to push it around and eventually will start to climb. Not only will they push the baby Pikler, but they will also walk around it. When learning to climb over the top, they are at a low safe height which is a little easier for mom to watch than on the bigger frames. This can later be used as an add on frame for ramps, monkey bars or balance beams in conjunction with a bigger Pikler.
We generally recommend the Small Pikler Triangle for children (or parents) who are more cautious and would be too overwhelmed by the Large Pikler Triangle. Is a lovely little frame for your child to learn how to climb up and down at a comfortable height and start to develop some strength and balanced going up and down the slide. It is a little low to climb underneath although children will still crawl underneath the triangle. This is also a perfect frame if you have a bit of a tighter budget. This can also be used as an add on frame for ramps, monkey bars or balance beams in conjunction with a bigger frame when your child grows and is wanting something more challenging.
This is our number 1 Pikler Triangle we recommend to clients. It is the most played with Pikler in our home as due to its height. Standing at 1065 when open it allows children not only to climbing over the top but also to play underneath. They can practice hanging (our boys like to pretend they are rock climbers) which builds hand, core, arm, and back strength. Throw a blanket over and they have a little playhouse. The ramp/slide can be moved up or down the frame for different climbing and sliding experience levels. It is a little intimidating at first if you have a young climber, but most children are climbing over the top comfortably between 16-24 months. If you want to add on monkey bars at a later stage, one of the frames should be a the large Pikler Triangle to allow for enough height under the monkey bars. They can be connected to a second frame of any height.
A foldable Arc frame is a great frame if you are looking for something a little different. In its folded position it can also be used a seesaw if they are 2 children playing. Small toddlers can play underneath and children between 3-5 can start practicing hanging upside down and little “flips”. This is a frame we would recommend if you already had another Pikler and were looking to add onto your range.
This is the most versatile Pikler. With a little assistance from mom or dad the Modifiable Pikler can change shape giving children endless possibilities for climbing experiences. It can change into a house, small triangles, large triangle and so much more. It is the highest frame when it is shaped like a triangle. As a connector frame for Monkey-Bars it is ideal. Its height means that it can be used as a monkey bar connector for years as it will take a long time for your little feet to touch the floor. We do not recommend this frame for children younger than 2 and it is better as a frame for 3 years plus. While younger children will certainly be able to use this frame on some levels when small, they will only be able to use it in all configurations from 3 upwards.
We hope that helps a little on your journey to buying a pikler for your little one. If you are still a little unsure get in touch, that is what we are here for!
1 Comment
This is so amazing and super fun