Please reassure me I'm not the only DP in the UK that allows and actively encourages my dc to climb trees

[keepyourchinupdear]

As per the caption... Am I wrong in doing this? I never see dc climbing trees or playing outdoors - am I the only one?

I believe trees, plants and flowers are for every ones enjoyment.

Do you include children in 'everyone'?

I once received a phone call from my DS2, informing me he was stuck up a tree in the park

Thankfully I could send his 6ft 2" brother to get him down again!

Yes I do.

Nope, I train mine! My sons four and he's nimble as a cat.

Baby can't walk yet but can somehow climb to the top of my decorating ladder unaided, although we shout encouragement from the bottom. He can get six foot up no qualms. Then we coax him down using Cheerios.

I find a fruit shoot really improves their performance.

I live in the middle of nowhere.

I often lose my dc aged 5 & 7. They are up a tree somewhere or bombing around the cornfields or playing at the pig farm

You never see dcs climbing trees or playing outdoors? Where do you live?

My eldest climbs trees incessantly, dc2 couldn't be arsed. dc1 isn't allowed to climb spindly trees.

Ooh very good changejustforyou!

As long as the tree is large enough, children climbing won't harm them. You only have to look at old trees in established gardens, woods etc to see they are much tougher than a few children, its hardly like trampling bluebells. ICANSEE do they walk on grass and the beach?

Don't trees grow to their natural height in all countries?

They also are never given a chance to argue or to sort out their own squabbles which is even sadder.

That ^^ is definitely a skill that can be learned by playing with the kids in the street, isn't it?

I remember having squabbles in the street and we had to sort it ourselves...although the older kids would often calm things down and help the younger ones see what's fair.

Kids don't really get to do that if they're constantly supervised by adults.

I find it a bit odd that you 'actively encourage' your dc to climb trees tbh. If your child wants to climb a tree, let them...if they don't then it's a bit weird to try to make them do it.

DC are 6 and 4 and yes, climb trees.

Mine are tree climbing fans. We made a special trip to Wallington Hall in Northumberland to climb the tree that the National Trust voted 'the best climbing tree' for the "50 things you should do" challenge

www.thejournal.co.uk/news/north-east-news/wallington-tree-named-best-uk-4392189

no in summer I don't see children climbing trees. It's in the winter when there are no leaves when you see them

I think you may have something there. I've stood at the bottom of the wrong tree more than once.

I doubt that many kids damage trees by climbing them. My brother did manage to pull down a big bough from our apple tree by swinging from it but he was fully grown at the time.

Yes, my DD has always been a tree climber. Its a very normal thing for little apes kids to do.

Your children will be far less likely to have accidents later on if they're taught common sense confidence and agility from a young age. I watch my kids like a hawk but yes climbing is a priority. It's up there with learning to ride a bike. My son has never hurt himself climbing a tree.

Maryz you & I could be friendz

Theamazing I live in Southern England.

I don't allow DC to climb trees, I don't want them hurting themselves and I don't know if they could damage the branches by climbing trees.

Sorry, but this is one of the most ridiculous things I ever read on Mn.Why are people so sodding precious about their children? ( I refer not solely to the pp). Were children not loved and cherished 50 years ago? Is wanting children to stay safe a new parenting phenomenon?

Trees WANT to be climbed. They have low branches specifically for the purpose. Remove the cotton wool and get climbing people!!

Mine climb trees when they see a good one, especially ds1!

We walked past a house today and dd asked if we could buy it for the fantastic climable tree in the garden (its on the seafront and over 1 mil!)

The trees I climbed as a kid are still there now, so obviously not damaged by me, my brother, our friends clambering up them for many years.

Mine are allowed to climb trees, in fact they were going up some trees, and playing in a stream last weekend. Admittedly we were with them as it was too far for them to go alone, but I let them get on with it. We all came home caked in dirt and very happy (yes, I joined in!)

My dc are frequently out enjoying nature in its raw - we have two dogs and live in the New Forest but yes I restrict their tree climbing to lower branches - this is merely common sense. It struck me watching the Paralympics how many of those athletes became paraplegic due to falling from a tree.

A good friend is a tree surgeon and damn right he restricts tree climbing for his dc

Of course they walk on the grass and the beach.

As I said I don't know what trees are safe to climb on and if they would damage the branches or disturb wildlife.

My boys climb trees.

Unbelievably, my DDs got told off by the police for climbing trees in the local park.
My youngest DD aged 4 particularly likes climbing trees whilst wearing her ballet outfit. Her tights needless to say are not in good shape.

You never see dcs climbing trees or playing outdoors? Where do you live?

I live in South London and I rarely see other kids out and about in the woods, climbing trees and generally mucking about. I've been out in the school holidays and we've been the only people in the woods" with no other children playing, climbing or building dens.