Boulder Planet

Want to introduce rock climbing to your kids but they are fearful of heights? Or maybe, you can’t belay them to climb up a 3-storey high wall because you don’t have the certificate to belay them on your own? You have no more constraints now. Because Boulder Planet is a kid-friendly bouldering gym that is fitted with low walls with no belaying required.

Located in Sembawang Shopping Centre, Boulder Planet is a fairly new climbing gym that aims to make rock climbing accessible for everyone, including kids! In fact, their motto is “Nothing is Out of Reach”

The 11,000 sq ft bouldering facility is operated by my climbing buddies in my younger days who are now very experienced climbers and trainers. Climbers’ safety and wall hygiene are one of their top priorities, regardless for kids or adults.

Everyone Is Included

Before we embarked on our climbing adventure, our coach sat our beginner climbers down to go through a safety video with her. It is very important to drill into the kids that they should not go onto the mat unless they are attempting a wall because other climbers on the wall may fall and land on them. The kids were also taught climbing etiquette and falling safely.

The gym has a corner that is specially allocated for kids to explore. They have their own problems (a.k.a routes) to solve too – adapted to little kids’ reach. So this corner is where my 5-year-olds spend most of the time. Safely away from the rest of the walls where the adults and their older siblings attempt challenging routes. But someone will need to eye-power them in case they wander off to search for their older siblings who are climbing in some other corners..

In the photo below, one of the twins was attempting the purple route.

Over at the adult’s section where my pre-teens tried out the bouldering problems with progressing difficulties, the walls are thoughtfully set at various angles – straight up, inclined and reclined. The problems on the walls are changed regularly, not an easy feat as a lot of creativity and thinking is required.

A Liberating Experience

Bouldering is liberating, especially for people like us who are afraid of heights and falling. Bouldering gives us the chance to rock-climb with less fear holding us back.

My kids are afraid of height. When they attempt the high walls on other climbing facilities, they often give up midway due to fear. It is discouraging.

With bouldering, they feel a sense of achievement immediately when they complete the beginner routes. Hence, they go on to try more, push themselves to tackle harder routes. They fully utilised the entire 2-hour bouldering session and did not waste a single second.

Rock-Climbing Complements A Child’s Development

Your child on the wall learns a ton. Rock climbing is never just about building brute strength.

It involves a lot of thinking on one’s toes, literally. Every professionally set climbing route presents a problem-solving opportunity for the climber because the way he grabs a hold, stand and balance on a foothold affects his next move. Hence, he will get to hone his planning and sequencing skills, which are basic executive skills that every child needs for growing up.

He will get to improve his self-awareness as he moves along the wall. The progressive problems available in Boulder Planet will also build his confidence and help him face his fears.

In fact, rock climbing has been prescribed as an activity for one of my kids by our occupational therapist to improve his gross motor skills.

Facilities

I am super impressed by Boulder Planet’s carpeted safety mats, which are not just functional, but aesthetically pleasing too. The gym comes with changing rooms and lockers. Climbing shoes are available for rental. My 5-year-olds find shoes of their size too.

If you like to introduce your munchkins rock-climbing, Boulder Planet is the perfect place to start. They hold introductory classes for adults and kids as well as proficiency programs for kids.

Click on the hyperlinks below for more details.

Trial Sessions

Kids / Youth Bouldering Proficiency Programme