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The Athlete · № 02

Crossed the Monkey Bars

Made it all the way across a full set of monkey bars, bar to bar, without your feet touching the ground or a grown-up helping.

The idea

Keep trying. Get one more bar than last time, that's the only goal. Don't think about the whole set, think about the next rung. Hands will hurt for a few days. Most kids quit on day three when their palms blister. The kid who comes back on day four is the one who crosses.

Steps
  1. Practice short. Two bars first. Build to the full set.
  2. Don't let go to swing. Grip stays committed.
  3. Calluses take a week. Don't quit when palms blister.
  4. Try at every playground visit until they cross.
What counts

Your kid crossed a full set bar to bar, no feet touching, no help. A clip is plenty.