Watch your child's development soar as they discover endless adventures on the hills

It may not seem like that long ago when your child was taking their first steps, and seeing their face light up with an enormous sense of achievement made your heart melt. Now they are moving in all kinds of ways and finding pleasure in experimenting and challenging themselves wherever they seem to go! And when they come across a slope or hill, well, their movement options really open up! 

Many children find the possibility of slopes exciting! They can be challenging, but also a fun and rewarding activity, here’s why... 

Adventure. When you're out and about, even the smallest incline can feel like an adventure to a child. They’re not something you really come across indoors and so they feel new and different.  

Physical challenge. Hills and slopes provide a physical challenge that can help children build strength and endurance, especially when they might move in ways that you wouldn't expect. 

Sense of accomplishment. Reaching the top of a hill or slope after travelling up it can give children a sense of accomplishment and pride in their abilities; and let’s not forget the thrill of coming back down again. 

Natural playground. Hills can provide a natural playground for children to crawl, run and roll. There are fewer spatial restrictions and adults tend to feel a bit more relaxed, making it feel exhilarating for a child. 

It can also be a great way to burn off energy and get some exercise.  

Playing and exploring hills and slopes is tremendous for your child’s development because it allows them to test and try out their own ideas in a safe space. 

It helps them develop their spatial perception. 

The joy of open space and a slight slope or hill helps children in developing an awareness of their own body space, as well as the space around them.^[1] Having this room to move gives them a wide range of choice and helps them experiment with speed, turning, moving in different directions and possibly rolling.^[1] While your child moves in a combination of ways, they are learning about which way up their body is and where they are facing – these are massive developments in their own awareness of space. 

It gives their proprioceptive perception a boost too. 

It’s good experience for them to explore different ways for their body to move. They’ll begin to learn about the different pressures on their muscles and joints as they roll, sidestep or crawl. These are movements they mightn’t have experienced much since they were a baby, so having the freedom to revisit them in a wide-open space can feel invigorating. They will also help your child learn about judging space and distance using proprioceptive and visual senses.^[1] 

Exploring a slope or hill can be a fun and enjoyable activity, although some children might need a bit more encouragement than others. 

Feeling the ground slope upwards or downwards can feel a little unsettling for some children. They might be used to walking only on flat surfaces and the reactions in their joints and muscles might feel a little strange when the surface isn’t level.  

Holding your child's hand and describing how it feels to you may help them make sense of these new feelings and sensations, as well as understand that they are still safe. 

No matter how your child feels about slopes and hills, if you have the opportunity to explore them, make it a safe and positive experience by choosing one with a manageable slope. 

When exploring a hill, plan appropriate footwear and clothing and take breaks as needed. 

Reference: 

[1] Woodfield, L. (2004) Physical Development in the Early Years. Continuum International Publishing Group.