S.M.A.R.T. Tips for Parents - Overhead Ladders

In this week's S.M.A.R.T. Tips for parents, we look at Overhead Ladders.

​Children love the Overhead Ladder or Monkey Bars! What they don’t know is they are working on their pencil grip and vision skills which are essential for reading! At school, they may use an Overhead Ladder (where the ladder is adjustable) in the S.M.A.R.T. Program. At home they will likely use outdoor Monkey Bars, which help to develop the same skills.

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Encourage your child to hold onto the rung of the Monkey Bars by wrapping their fingers and thumb around the rungs like when they hold onto the handlebar of a bicycle. Using this grip supports the development of the fine motor muscles used when writing!

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Is there any feeling better than the 1st time you made it all the way across the Monkey Bars? Help your child to be successful by guiding them across or, even better, starting 2-3 rungs from the end so they can finish.

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When your child begins practicing the Monkey Bars they may form blisters on their hands. It is best to wait until the blisters are healed before doing this activity again. We find limiting the number of times per day or using batting/golf gloves can help. Eventually they will form calluses which prohibit blisters. We love seeing the calluses because it means they are finding success with this wonderful activity!

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Once your child is able to make it across the Monkey Bars you can think about other fun things to add as they make their way across. They could practice reciting their telephone number, one number for each bar. You could even get some sight word practice in, outside on a sunny day, by taping small pieces of paper with the words onto the rungs. Use your creativity, your kids will love it!