Rock climbing is a physical activity that combines entertainment and strategy with fitness. While it may not be the best activity for all children, most will enjoy a small rock climbing wall over and over. The key to a good wall is not to be so complicated that the child gives up, but to be difficult enough to keep them interested. One 4-by-6 piece of plywood is enough to challenge most children. Make a small rock climbing wall that stands alone or connects to a larger piece of playground equipment.
Things You Will Need:
Pencil
Paper
Measuring tape
2-by-6 inch boards the height of the finished wall.
1 box of 3-inch galvanized wood screws
Drill with bits
1, ¾ inch sheet of plywood or MDF
T-nuts
Hammer
Clamps
Rock climbing holds with bolts
Draw a quick sketch of what you want the wall to look like-such as one flat board or flat areas with outcroppings. Smaller kids do better with just a flat surface at first. Decide where you want the wall and what, if anything, it will attach to.
Create a frame for the wall to attach to from 2-by-6 inch boards, or attach the climbing wall to the side of the swing set. To build a frame, line the 2-by-6 inch boards parallel to one another, vertically on the work surface every foot to make the structure as wide as desired. Place one 2-by-6 board horizontally across the vertical boards every two feet to make the frame as tall as you want the wall to be. Attach the boards with 3-inch wood screws every two inches.
Mount the frame to an existing exterior wall for sturdiness. Screw through the horizontal boards into the wall with wood screws.
Place a sheet of plywood or MDF on the work surface, measure over from the left four inches and make a mark on the wood. From the mark, measure up six inches and make a dot every six inches until you reach the other side.
Measure over from the left side of the board 10 inches and make a mark. Measure up from the mark three inches and make a mark. Then, measure up from the mark six inches and make a mark every six inches until you reach the other side. Repeat down the length of the plywood staggering the marks.
Drill pilot holes at each dot on the plywood.
Flip the wood over with the rougher side facing up. Hammer a T-nut into each pilot hole across the plywood.
Center the plywood onto the frame and hold in place with clamps.
Screw through the plywood into the frame with galvanized wood screws every three inches.
Thread the bolts through the holds and insert the bolt into a T-nut. Tighten the bolts to secure the holds. Scatter the holds across the board and change them as desired. Not every hole that was drilled will have a hold, but with extra holes you are free to change the holds whenever you want.
Paint or stain the wall before attaching T-nuts if desired.
Mix a texture into the paint to give the child more traction while climbing.