Why Treehouses are Great Teaching Tools for Kids

They’re fun, but they offer a lot more

Growing up, most of us had that one friend (unless you were that friend) who seemed to have everything: the best toys, the latest video game system, and – the greatest thing of all – a treehouse. Even if you did nothing more than climb up there to play a board game or just to avoid a little sibling, a treehouse represented the ultimate in kidhood: your own special place seemingly free from the oversight of parents.

But treehouses aren’t just fun; they offer many benefits for kids and can teach them lessons they’ll use for the rest of their lives, including:

How to think analytically

If you’re planning to put a treehouse in your yard, be sure to get your children involved in the process. In addition to learning about tools, materials, and measurements, this will encourage them to think about how items will be incorporated into the tree and other logistics. And with multiple people working on the treehouse, they’ll also learn about sharing, collaboration and teamwork.

An appreciation for nature

If you think back to your childhood, most likely a large part of it had to do with being outside. (I know mine sure did!) But these days, kids spend more time indoors than ever, thanks in large part to all the tech we use. A treehouse allows kids to expand their world view and get in touch with nature. Being surrounded by elements like leaves, insects, and birds will help open their eyes to the incredible natural world around them.

That being active doesn’t have to just mean playing sports

One of the main reasons for the childhood obesity epidemic is lack of activity. Usually it’s not difficult to get sporty kids outside and active, but what about children who aren’t very athletic or don’t show an interest in sports? This is where a treehouse can be a big help. Getting them engaged in the building process gets both their minds and bodies moving. And when completed, they’ll need to exert some energy to get up there, and just the fact that they’re outside may get them interested in other backyard activities.

It’s important to take some risks

Think back to your childhood again. Were your parents always hovering over you, monitoring everything you did? Probably not. But are you taking this same approach with your kids? Of course you want to make sure they’re safe, but kids have to be free to be kids, and sometimes that means letting them do things you may think are risky, like climbing up a rope ladder to get into their treehouse. Skinned knees and splinters are part of the childhood experience.

 As a parent, the best thing you can do for your kids is to get them started with things that they can then take over and make their own. A treehouse fits this bill nicely. But if you’re not ready to fully commit to building one in your yard, JumpSport has the perfect option: a  trampoline tent. This will get your kids outside and might be the jumping off point (pun intended) for their very own treehouse.