Ropes & knotsGames
Low rope bridge
Two ropes between two trees, knee height and hand height, and the challenge is to cross without touching the ground.
How it goes
- Choose two sturdy trees a few metres apart, checked for dead branches.
- Tie a foot rope at knee height and a hand rope at chest height, padding the trunks.
- Tension the foot rope with a trucker's hitch; older children can help tie it.
- Children cross one at a time with a spotter alongside.
- Add challenges: cross backwards, cross with a partner, cross with eyes closed.
Risk-benefit starting point
Shared by the author as a starting point, planning this idea imports it into your own risk-assessment library to review and make your own before use.
Why it's worth it- Balance, core strength and the thrill of a challenge they choose.
- Knot tying with a real job to do.
- Falling from the rope, Bumps, sprains residual: Low
- Rope failure or slipping, Sudden fall residual: Low
- Foot rope no higher than knee height; ground cleared of sticks and stones.
- Knots and tension checked by an adult before each session.
- One child on the bridge at a time, with a spotter.
Questions & comments
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Ask the first one: how long does it take, what age did it work for. The author gets a nudge by email.