The Play Their Way pillars of voice, choice and journey shape every session. Choice is encouraged from the start. Instead of running through the same drills each week, Abi invites the children to suggest activities, design challenges and play with new ideas. It might be inventing a game, trying out different routes, or setting personal goals. This freedom helps the children feel that the sessions belong to them, not just the coaches.

Voice is equally important. The young climbers are asked what they think, how they feel and what they want to try next. In a sport where safety is a priority, it would be easy to default to strict instruction. But Abi shows that listening doesn’t weaken structure, it strengthens trust. When children feel heard, they take more responsibility, they engage more deeply, and they build confidence that carries beyond the climbing wall.

Instead of prescribing activities, Abi often hands the pen to the children. On the whiteboard at the start of a session, she asks them what they’d like to try that day. Climbing games, challenges, all ideas are welcomed. The board quickly fills with scribbles and suggestions, and then together they shape the plan. It’s a small moment, but it tells the children their voices matter — and it gives them ownership of the session before they’ve even touched the wall.

Then there’s the journey. Climbing is never straightforward. Some weeks a move feels impossible, then suddenly it clicks. Setbacks are common, but Abi frames these moments as part of the process. Success isn’t measured by how quickly a child gets to the top, but by how they persevere, how they support each other, and how they grow over time. It’s a lesson in resilience that goes well beyond sport.