It's slackline season!
I thought it would be timely to repost these tips I put together a while back to have some fun with kids on a slackline. Enjoy!
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What is slacklining? Slacklining is a portable outdoor activity that puts the ideas of tightrope walking and bouncing on a trampoline together in a portable, simple, yet challenging activity that practices balance, focus, and coordination.
We purchased an ENO Slackwire slackline at the beginning of the summer for outdoor play. At first, it was a little too challenging but then we added a simple guide-wire. For us this simply meant setting up the slackline parallel to our clothesline and tying a jump rope to one end to make it easy for the kids to pull down the guide-wire within reach for independent play. This simple adaption makes slacklining fun for kids and beginner adults. Now our slackline has turned into a daily go-to place for play.
Once you get your slackwire and guideline set up it's time to play! Try these suggestions for kid-friendly slackline ideas, tips, and activities for outdoor fun on a slackline:
- Walk the Tightrope - Start by simply working to walk across the slackline without falling off using the guide-wire whenever needed. As confidence, balance, and coordination build work to measure the distance or count the steps you take without the guide-wire.
- Slackline Balance - This can be done as an individual or as a competition. Count how many seconds you can balance unsupported on the slackline or see who can stay on the line the longest.
- Slackline Trampoline - Jump! Practice some tricks! Start training for the Slackline World Cup!
- Play Slackline Champion - This game was developed by our four kids. The gist of the game? Do everything you can to knock the other person off the line. The last one standing wins!
- Slackline Obstacle Course - Create a backyard obstacle course with a slackline as one of the elements of the design.
*note -the top picture with 4 kiddos on a slackline was photographed just mere seconds before pandemonium. Stick with the aforementioned recommendations - forego the effort to photograph four children smiling and engaged on one slackline. :-)