Are you considering a climbing triangle, but not sure when your child will be ready to use it? One of the best features of the Pikler climbing triangle is that you can get years of use out of it! There’s really no right or wrong time to start.
So when can you introduce the climbing triangle to your child?
The short answer is: right now!
Whatever your child’s age, there is a way to incorporate the Pikler climbing triangle into your gross motor play. All kids are different of course, but here are some ideas for introducing the Pikler at some common stages in your child’s development.
Young babies
If you have a young baby (under 6 months), you don’t need to wait to set up that beautiful climber you have. Many people like to use the Mini Triangle in place of a standard play gym.
You can use a pillow for baby to lay on under the climber, and hang toys from the bars. Are you planning to use Montessori mobiles for the first few months? Hang them on your climbing triangle!
You can adjust the height of the toys easily because there are so many bars available. This will make it easier for baby to reach out and grab or kick toys as they develop these skills.
6 months
6 months is usually thought of as the typical time to start using the Pikler climbing triangle. This is because at this time, babies are usually learning to sit and will be ready to pull up to standing soon.
When your baby begins to sit and pull up to standing, the Pikler fun really begins. The stable triangular shape provides a solid foundation for baby to begin to stand and cruise around.
Emmi Pikler, who designed the Pikler triangle, noticed that babies who have the opportunity will begin to climb when they're ready - and it’s often much sooner than you might think! The triangle allows the freedom of movement babies need to learn how to use their bodies.
Toddlers
Toddlers love to climb! When you first introduce the Pikler, be careful not to hover or pressure your child to use it a certain way. Let your child climb as high as they are comfortable. Then - this is the hard part! - give them the time and space to maneuver their way back down independently.
As your toddler grows more comfortable with climbing, you may want to add some fun accessories, like a climbing ladder for an extra challenge.
Preschoolers
3-6 year olds not only use the Pikler for climbing and physical play, but they also often incorporate their creativity at this point. You can add a triangle tent over the rungs to create a hidden space for imaginative play.