Alone for A While: How Climbing Structures Foster a Child’s Sense of Independence
The long-running Japanese hidden camera show My First Errand (renamed Old Enough! for American audiences) showcases young children, typically four or five years old, undertaking tasks such as going to the grocery store to buy a bag of rice or heading to a local community garden to harvest a cabbage and bring it home. Remarkably, these little ones complete their errands alone, without parental supervision. Along the way, they might encounter adults—like a cashier at a store—who patiently and kindly assist them, but never question the process. In Japan, very young children acting independently is considered a normal part of life.
It’s difficult to imagine such a scenario playing out in America without sparking outrage or police intervention. In several recent, highly publicized cases, parents have been arrested for child endangerment simply for allowing their children to walk a few blocks to school unescorted, even in safe suburban neighborhoods.
A Different Kind of Childhood
Many of us recall a different kind of childhood, when we spent long hours unsupervised, climbing trees, exploring fields, building hideouts, inventing games, riding bikes, or stopping by a local hamburger shop for a snack. In contrast, today’s children rarely experience moments outside adult oversight. Parents or caregivers structure every hour of their day, manage their activities, and closely monitor their every move. This approach has become known as “Helicopter Parenting.”
However, many parents are beginning to question this approach. The rise of the Free-Range Parenting movement, along with initiatives like the Let Grow program, has highlighted the importance of giving children time away from the constant presence of adults. Children need opportunities to develop internal regulation—rather than always relying on external authority—and to engage in the kinds of experiments with independence that foster good judgment and a strong sense of self.
Yet, even for parents who value cultivating their child’s independence, finding opportunities for children to have unsupervised experiences remains a challenge. In a culture where the sight of an unaccompanied child often triggers alarm and even calls to the police, where can children safely find the space to be alone and explore?
An Opportunity for Independence
Climbing structures offer a unique and culturally acceptable opportunity. These environments, filled with a labyrinth of passages and climbing challenges, allow children to navigate physical and mental obstacles on their own. While parents are welcome to join their kids, they often remain on the sidelines as their children explore. For thirty minutes or an hour, children climb, crawl, and problem-solve independently, often two stories or more above the ground—out of their parents’ sight and beyond direct communication.
A climbing structure may be one of the few places in modern society where children can cultivate autonomy in a way that feels safe and acceptable. Especially for children ages 4 to 8, these experiences offer an invaluable opportunity to practice self-reliance. For parents, encouraging this kind of exploration is a powerful way to give their children the gift of time and space to be on their own.
