SAIRA KHAN’S PICK OF THE WEEK

‘ This story about British four-year-old Jackson Houlding becoming the youngest person to climb the 11,889ft Pingora Peak in the Rocky Mountains is incredible – and very close to my heart. My heritage is from the Himalayas and my family and I go trekking in the French Alps every year, so the mountains are a special place for me.

When I showed my children, Zac and Amara, a picture of little Jackson (who was led by dad Leo, an expert rock climber, and GP mum Jessica, pictured inset above left, with Jackson and his sister Freya), they were inspired to go climbing themselves. Children inspire children.

Along with eight-year-old Freya, who became the youngest to scale nearby Wolf’s Head at 12,165ft during the family’s action-packed holiday to Wyoming, Jackson was using ropes to climb, navigating an environment that would be challenging even for adults. Those kids will never forget the skills they used. I also love how the family listened to Harry Potter audiobooks as a soothing tool when things got difficult.

This is also an amazing parenting story – what a great bonding experience. It shows that if you lead the way, show your kids not to be scared and give them the chance to try, your children can achieve the most amazing things. Their brains are like sponges – they want to be challenged. Exploring is a natural instinct and that should be more than playing with toys and sitting in front of the TV.

I hope this story encourages other parents to take their children outdoors, but also I think other children

‘ will be inspired. Perhaps not climbing a big Rocky Mountain straight away, but just spending time outdoors. Nature is a natural stress-buster and if children learn about their surroundings and different landscapes from as young as four, they will be so much more at one with the environment as they grow up.