Finally got 8yo interested in something besides YouTube | DadHQ

Finally got 8yo interested in something besides YouTube

Jan 11 min read

This might sound dumb but I'm genuinely excited. My son has been glued to screens for like a year and my wife and I were getting worried. Last month I bought him a beginner's rock climbing wall for the garage (nothing fancy, just one of those $300 ones from REI). Figured he wouldn't care but he's been on that thing literally every day after school. He's even asking if we can get a gym membership. It's giving me actual hope that we broke through the screen addiction. Taking a small W here.

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Comments(6)

EEd P.Regular1h ago

This is genuinely one of the best dad wins I've seen. The fact that he went from "YouTube only" to something physical that takes actual skill and effort? That's huge. How many times a week is he climbing?

RRandy B.Regularjust now

My kid did the same thing with a skateboard. Not the expensive kind, just a $60 one from Target. Best money we spent. He's still into it 6 months later which for an 8yo is basically forever lol.

DDan M.Regular14h ago

This might actually be the key to getting kids off screens honestly. Give them something that requires physical coordination and lets them measure progress. Climbing walls, skateboard ramps, basketball hoops - things where they can literally see themselves getting better.

RRyan G.Regular1d ago

That's awesome and totally not dumb. My 8yo did climbing for like 2 weeks then quit. How often is your son actually using it now? Wondering if this is a phase or if the $300 stuck.

NNolan J.Regularjust now

Okay but real question: has he asked for a bigger/better wall yet? Because that's the trap. My son's addiction to his wall somehow cost me another $200 in upgrades.

TTony F.Regularjust now

Please tell me you're documenting this phase because the moment he becomes a teenager he'll pretend he never liked climbing and you'll need proof 😂