Backyard Climbing Structures

Climbing is not just for fun (although kids do love it). It’s a full-body, mind-boosting activity that supports healthy growth and development. Whether you use a climbing dome, climbing frame or other outdoor climbing structure for kids, the benefits of climbing for children can be immense:

- Improved physical strength and coordination. Climbing helps engage your core, arms, and legs in dynamic movement, developing muscle for children as they grow.
- Enhanced balance and motor skills through navigating different heights and handholds.
- Boosts problem-solving and spatial awareness as kids plan routes and make decisions mid-climb.
- Builds confidence and resilience by encouraging risk assessment and celebrating small victories, like climbing to the top for the first time.
- Promotes social interaction and teamwork when climbing in group settings or taking turns.
- Supports emotional regulation by offering a healthy, active outlet for energy and stress.

Yes, climbing domes are safe if you use them properly and get a well-constructed structure. Certain safety rules must be followed to ensure that your children are safe when embarking on their climbing journey.

- Always have a parent around to supervise.
- Don’t wrestle or rough play on a backyard climbing structure.
- All climbing domes have a weight limit – follow the single and multi-user weight limits accordingly.
- Dress appropriately - no loose-fitting clothes, hood and neck drawstrings, scarves, cord-connected items, capes, ponchos or helmets.   
- Don’t attach any items that aren’t supposed to be there.
- Make sure you assemble your climbing dome fully and properly.
- Anchor your climbing dome to the ground for extra stability.

The age for a climbing dome varies depending on the size and features of the model you’re looking at. For our gobaplay Climbing Domes (including the Climbing Dome With Tent), 6-10 is a good age range to follow. This doesn’t mean you can’t use the Dome if you’re younger or older than that range – this is just a recommendation based on the construction of our specific Domes. Consider your child’s size (both current and future growth expected) when buying a climbing dome or other climbing structure for the backyard. If they really take to climbing as an activity, you don’t want to have to buy a new climber because they grew out of the old one. This is generally why we recommend buying bigger if you can.

Whether a climbing dome for kids is worth it for your family comes down to your goals. Compared to other quality backyard play products, climbing domes are not a significant financial investment. There are good-quality structures that will last for multiple years for under $550. It really comes down to:

- Can you fit the dome in your backyard?
- How much does your child enjoy climbing? Will they realistically use it consistently?
- Would they rather have a backyard climber or another play product like a swing set or trampoline? Answer these questions first before deciding – it’s important to have a plan in place before buying outdoor play equipment.

You can find a kid’s climbing frame or dome in New Zealand at multiple places, both online and in-store. Some brands (like us at gobaplay) sell climbing structures on their websites and ship the product directly to your home. Retailers are likely the more popular option for finding a climbing frame or dome. Places like Harvey Norman sell children’s outdoor climbing structures – mostly online, but some New Zealand retailers may offer a few in-store. If you want to see a climbing frame/dome in person before buying, you may find some local backyard stores in your area that have them on display.