Pikler Triangle: Perfect Buy
From the experts at Studio Belize® - Design studio for children's products:
What to look for when buying the Pikler triangle?
The Pikler Triangle, also called the Climbing Triangle, is a 70-90 cm high wooden triangular stand with rungs that children use as climbing equipment.
Playful climbing on the Pikler Triangle promotes gross & fine motor skills in children between the ages of 8 months and 7 years. The name pikler triangle is derived from the name of the Hungarian inventor, educator and pediatrician Emmi Pikler.
RICKI RACKA®
Pikler triangle with slide
The pikler triangle is an educational climbing triangle that promotes gross & fine motor skills in young children.
Children especially train their hand-foot coordination and strengthen their muscles. The fun of playing and the sense of achievement when climbing, also promote the self-confidence of toddlers. Besides sliding and climbing, older children use the climbing triangle Pikler Art especially as a fantasy toy. The gym equipment transforms from a wooden toy into a cave, a teepee tent or a stable for cuddly toys. The climbing triangle with slide thus also promotes the imagination and creativity of young children. Kitas & children's rooms are transformed by a climbing triangle with slide into an educationally valuable adventure playground.
For home, a Pikler triangle with a height between 70 and 90 cm is perfect.
For safety reasons, the Pikler triangle should not be larger. To serve as an indoor climbing frame in the long term, the height of a climbing triangle should be well considered. If you choose a small Pikler triangle (about 60 cm high), be prepared to buy twice. Small Pikler triangles usually offer children a challenge for only a very short time (age: 8 months to 1.5 years). The playtime of large climbing triangles is significantly longer (age 8 months to 7 years) and their purchase is therefore more worthwhile. In addition, with large Pikler triangles, children also use the space under the Pikler triangle to play.
Pikler triangles and the accompanying slide should be made of untreated wood. Most often climbing triangles with slide are made of birch or beech.
Pikler triangles made of pine should be avoided due to lack of stability. Plastic Pikler triangles may contain harmful substances and should also be avoided.
The Pikler Triangle is suitable for children between 8 months and 7 years of age.
The older the children get, the more the type of play changes from pure climbing and sliding to imaginative play. For the latter, the Pikler Triangle is used, for example, as a crawling tunnel or, in combination with a blanket, as a tent. The play time specified here applies only to high-quality and robust Pikler triangles that do not break.
Well-designed Pikler tri angles with a slide and a height between 70-90cm cost between 300-500€.
What are the characteristics of a good Pikler Triangle?
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High-quality workmanship, the edges should be rounded and the surfaces sanded.
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The right height approx. 70 cm - 90 cm
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Made of untreated wood (birch or beech, preferably multiplex for best possible robustness)
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A rung distance of approx. 12.5 cm, for best possible safety
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Foldable and therefore space-saving for easy storage at home or transportation
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A foldable Pikler triangle should have folding locks to protect against unintentional folding while playing
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Robustness, stability and high quality workmanship ensure durability
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Pikler triangles treated with chemical paints or varnishes should be avoided. These may contain harmful substances
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Accessories such as slide and chicken ladder for additional play possibilities
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Sufficient space between the legs of the Pikler triangle (large opening angle). This is more advantageous for fantasy play such as building dens or using it as a tent or crawling tunnel
Since many Pikler Triangles are in constant use and children usually play wildly with them, durability and robustness are the main considerations when buying the Pikler Triangle as a climbing device.
The problem with cheap Pikler triangles type is usually the savings that the manufacturer has made to achieve the low price.
Cheap Pikler triangles are sometimes unsafe because rungs have been saved and thus the rung distance has turned out to be too large (danger of egg crushing for the child's head). If cheap materials such as pine wood are used and the rungs are glued and not screwed, this can lead to splintering or even to the rungs breaking off.
Some manufacturers also skimp on the finish of the Pikler Triangle. Often the surfaces are rough and splintery because they have not been sanded properly. Edges can be sharp because they have not been rounded to save costs.
Parents' experiences are, of course, individual. Nevertheless, it can be said that the overwhelming majority of parents are enthusiastic about this play equipment. Children independently engage with the Pikler Triangle and constantly invent new ways to play.
Climbing triangle with slide as a gift for 1st birthday or Christmas
The climbing triangle with slide has established itself among parents as a popular gift for 1st birthday or Christmas. It is educational, sustainable and offers long-lasting fun from the age of 1. Because it is a wooden toy, it is particularly sustainable and an asset to any child's room. With the slide board, which can usually be played on two sides, even more climbing opportunities are created.
Great play ideas for the climbing triangle with slide:
"Babies train to pull themselves up"
Babies usually lie on or under the climbing triangle until they start pulling themselves up the rungs. Babies pull themselves up until they are squatting on their knees and finally until they are on their feet."The extra dose of fun - climbing triangle with slide".
Toddlers love to climb. The progress they make while doing gymnastics on the climbing triangle or even crossing the climbing triangle makes them especially proud. Babies and toddlers use the slide on their bellies or in the classic sitting position to whiz down the slide board.
Conclusion
Hopefully, the information on this page will help you to make the purchase of your Pikler Triangle successfully. If you have any further questions or would like a personal consultation, please feel free to contact the Studio Belize team.