Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Would you go to a rock climbing party? 4yo birthday.

42 replies

Butterfly94 · 19/02/2023 13:20

So we've just come back from a rock climbing/soft play place with DD (3) which she LOVED. They do birthday parties and it's slightly cheaper than a soft play place with higher numbers needed. She said she wants her birthday party there. Would you let your child go to this, or would you be put off by the rock climbing? They could just do soft play and not go near the rock climbing, but I'm worried parents just wouldn't want to say yes to this.

YABU - I wouldn't let my child go
YANBU - that sounds like fun!

OP posts:

gogohmm · 19/02/2023 14:29

Check to see what the situation is with accompanying adults - someone posted before and every child had to be accompanied 1:1 by an adult who was fully chargeable and couldn't be pregnant or have another child with them meaning many of the children couldn't come (birthday child family only was paying for the kids!)

Badbudgeter · 19/02/2023 14:30

I've always thought these things were realy safe. Local climbing wall in leisure centre does kids parties from P1 on climbing wall kids always keen.

IndiaDreamer · 19/02/2023 14:30

Sounds fab!

drpet49 · 19/02/2023 14:32

TeenDivided · 19/02/2023 13:44

Not at 4 no. Neither of my DC would have enjoyed it at that age as not coordinated enough.
At 6 or 8 then yes.

This

zingally · 19/02/2023 14:37

My recently-turned-6 DS goes to a rock climbing club on a Saturday morning!

One of his little mates started doing it when they were reception age, and had his 5th birthday there. My DS really enjoyed it, and has been going for about a year now.

Original poster

Butterfly94 · 19/02/2023 14:39

Thanks for all the replies, seems mostly positive! It's Rock Up, so some might have heard of it - we did the toddler climb and play session today which is the party option we would go for, so I believe 3 year olds would be allowed. Parents were allowed in for free unless they wanted to participate. I would make it clear on the invite that soft play only could be an option - it was all open plan so kids could come and go as they chose. Will check all this is the case for a party though before booking!

OP posts:

TheGoogleMum · 19/02/2023 14:41

If we don't have to pay as party guests I'd let my 4 Yr old try I think. She's small for her age so might be best just going in the soft play but would see what she wants to do

Rainbowshit · 19/02/2023 14:45

Yea. My two would have loved that.

Chasedbythechaser · 19/02/2023 14:52

florafaye · 19/02/2023 13:31

We've been to a couple, it's quite popular around here. My son loves it! Tends to be a couple who are scared/don't even attempt it though so worth considering that.

Similar experience here. My own DC love it but it isn’t much fun watching other people’s kids sit out for the whole duration. You may end up babysitting a couple of crying kids instead of being able to take photos and watching the other kids having fun.

I think it’s a great sport but I also think it’s probably something your kids can move o to once they are a couple of years older ie when they have outgrown soft play. Don’t be in too much of a rush to move on, you will run out of ideas by the time they finish primary school and the more interesting venues just get more expensive!

MelaniesFlowers · 19/02/2023 14:54

No. I would make an excuse.

JudgeJ · 19/02/2023 14:57

Pinkflipflop85 · 19/02/2023 13:24

I think it would probably be a great party when they are a bit older and more physically able to climb.

I would assume that the place would tailor the party to the age, they won't be tackling Mont Blanc! More children need challenging activites rather than constant molly-coddling.

Chasedbythechaser · 19/02/2023 15:03

JudgeJ · 19/02/2023 14:57

I would assume that the place would tailor the party to the age, they won't be tackling Mont Blanc! More children need challenging activites rather than constant molly-coddling.

Show quote history

They will cater according to experience and height.

We’ve been to a lot of them. What I meant by my post is the OP’s child is 4 or 5. It’s really their last year of running around in soft play. Next year they won’t want to do it and will ask for more of a specified activity. In my experience, the venues get more expensive as the specified activities require trained people to supervise them and usually have a minimum number of participants.

But my kids are nearing the end of primary and after spending hundreds on parties every year, I just wouldn’t be in a rush to speed up what will happen organically anyway.

crazytiggerlady · 19/02/2023 15:12

My kids have all climbed from age 2/3 so yes absolutely. You keep them on a tight belay at that age so they don't jerk at all when they fall off.

Our local wall only offers parties for older kids too and we've been to several - never had anyone not join in. Even the kids that are scared of heights will have a go and just go a little way up the wall.

ferneytorro · 19/02/2023 15:34

Don’t say it’s rock climbing that’s a different sport! It’s a climbing wall I assume and yes fab party.

Flev · 19/02/2023 16:01

My 4 yr old would probably freak out about trying climbing, so I'd decline a party that was just climbing - not that I'd be worried about safety, just I know her tendencies (preschool have described her as "very risk-averse"). However if I knew staying in the soft play was an option I'd definitely be happy for her to come and maybe give the climbing a go.

Pinkflipflop85 · 19/02/2023 16:51

JudgeJ · 19/02/2023 14:57

I would assume that the place would tailor the party to the age, they won't be tackling Mont Blanc! More children need challenging activites rather than constant molly-coddling.

Show quote history

It's not about molly coddling. It's about whether all of the children would actually fully enjoy it at that age.

modgepodge · 19/02/2023 17:00

I would go but I think a fair few kids at that age might not been keen on climbing. I took my 3 (almost 4) year old to clip and climb the other day, she loves climbing at the park is generally pretty fearless and was super excited. She never got more than a foot off the ground during the session 🤦‍♀️ she found the harness extremely uncomfortable. Clip and climb do sessions from 2 upwards but to be honest I think it’s better suited for primary age upwards, the majority of the kids were 8+.

Flip

1 2