to panic about DD climbing trees?

[oopslateagain]

And before you all say "she's a child, they're supposed to climb trees", she's 14yo and climbs the tallest trees - I'm talking 30ft + up a pine tree.

My parents have a caravan where there are lots of trees, she has been climbing them for years but only sort of 10ft up. Then last year she started having a go at the bigger trees, and this summer she went up a pine tree while we were camping and almost gave me a heart attack. I had a talk with her after this, and said that if she was climbing up like that she had to have a friend with her in case of an accident - I did say I wasn't happy that she was climbing that high but got the look.

She argued quite reasonably (!) that if she did fall she'd bounce off all the branches and 'only break a bone or something'. She seems to have forgotten that the neck and back are bones too.

There aren't any 'climbing' trees within walking distance so that's not a worry, but when we go out it's usually to NT places or the local forest.

Might be worth pointing out that tree surgeons wear harnesses - then signing her up with the local climbing club!

Your DD sounds fab. I agree with BadKitten's ^

Idea

Don't watch her.

MrsRobert she waits till she's waaay too high then calls me to take a photo.

Climbing club isn't a bad idea actually, I wonder if we have one.

Climbing club may or may not work. Most people I know who climb trees (I used to be just like your daughter) don't like climbing rocks and I have never yet met a rock climber that was happy up a tree (trees move).

I think you may just have to live with it.

there seems to be an awful lot of threads about climbing children at the moment

Agree with Narked, she sounds ace :)

Google comptetitive tree climbing - there are championships and everything.

My son does climbing at the club.

Where do you live?

OMG competitive tree climbing...

We're in W Norfolk. Climb a tree and you can see everywhere

I have put a photo on my profile to show you all what I'm up against here.

Don't worry, harnesses are used in competitive tree climbing. Have a look here. Might be just the thing for her!

I was going to suggest a climbing club too.

On the other hand if it is the same trees she climbs she will have her own 'route'. Not sure if that is a good or a bad thing.

I agree you need to channel this skill into something with structure and safety rules. Climbing club sounds great.

IF she is familiar with the trees then leave her I wouldnt look though I cant stand heights, but I agree tree surgeons would use a harness if up that high, she sounds fab get her into a club , Oh dd broke her foot falling down the tiniest step sigh your dd is up tree with no broken bones

So your DD likes to climb trees and have photos taken, does she wear black?

enter the pictures here, and see if you can get a maximum high score of a five

quote don't encourage her!

Aaaarghh..... my DDs best friend climbed a tree at the park last year, slipped and fell. As she fell a branch dug in to her under her arm and cut her TO THE BONE! Was faint-worthy to look at and she needed to be bandaged up for the night, then admitted the next day (when all the Sat night drunks had been processed and sent on their way), given a general anaesthetic and stitched up.

She now says she has 2 smiles. One on her face and one in her armpit.

I'm sure that my e.g. is one in a million, but the DDs are banned from climbing trees at the park now and are limited to climbing the equipment instead.

climbing club as others have said. she clearly has skill and interest, so teach her how to climb safely with the right equipment.

waves at Barbarian I am a girl who climbs rocks (when not pregnant) and who would have spent her life up a tree if allowed when I was younger.

OP, your DD likes being up high - sounds like a natural rock climber to me. Find out about local climbing clubs here and get her signed up quick. As she is under 18, some clubs will only permit her to attend with a responsible adult so you or her father may have to go along with her. My dad always took me climbing and it was a great bonding experience, it's still the biggest thing we have in common.

Good luck