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Parenting

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Original poster

Do you let your child climb trees?

31 replies

belgo · 22/04/2008 12:36

I was interested to read this article here because dd1 aged four has just learnt how to climb a holly tree in our garden. We've been discouraging her because the tree probably isn't srong enough to take her weight and I don't really want her to break it.

But if it was a strong tree, I probably wouldn't be bothered.

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scattyspice · 22/04/2008 12:40

Mine climb the trees in the park. They are fantastic trees for climbing!

I'll never forget when I was about 17 looking after my neighbours 6yr old girl. She climbed right up a huge tree then couldn't climb down (its much harder to down climb). I climbed up to help her and got stuck too!

Luckily Ds is a much better climber than me.

Bridie3 · 22/04/2008 12:41

I let mine climb any sturdy enough. My husband has tried to teach them how to do it safely.

marialuisa · 22/04/2008 12:42

Yes, there is a partcularly good tree in the school grounds and the kids spend ages on it after school.

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Original poster

belgo · 22/04/2008 12:43

it's true about it being harder to climb down - dd1 often calls for us to help her climb down but dh is insisting that she learns how to climb down without our help. If she's going to do it, she may as well be good at doing it.

She can also climb to the top of our four poster bed.

OP posts:

Original poster

belgo · 22/04/2008 12:44

marialouisa - are they allowed to climb a tree at school?

There's a tree at dd1's school that she's tried to climb but I don't think she's allowed.

OP posts:

cadelaide · 22/04/2008 12:45

I make my kids climb trees

tonysoprano · 22/04/2008 12:46

I broke my wrist falling out of a tree as a 9 year old but still let my kids climb away!

Original poster

belgo · 22/04/2008 12:47

It does make me a bit nervous that she's break something. But then she knocked herself unconcious once by falling off of a chair, so I try not to think about it.

OP posts:

marialuisa · 22/04/2008 12:47

well...not sure what happens when school are responsible but when the parents are, we let them (and there has been a broken arm!) and nobody has ever said anything.

Original poster

belgo · 22/04/2008 12:50

I was never brave enough to climb trees. Also didn't want to get dirty.

OP posts:

cadelaide · 22/04/2008 12:55

Oh but this is all wrong !

Original poster

belgo · 22/04/2008 12:56

what's all wrong cadelaide?

OP posts:

lucykate · 22/04/2008 12:57

we do not let our dc's climb trees

dh's sister fell from a tree at the age of 12, broke her back, was in traction for 6 months, and had to learn how to walk again

marmadukescarlet · 22/04/2008 12:57

It is complusory at out gaff, couldn't pick the plums otherwise!

Original poster

belgo · 22/04/2008 12:59

oh don't tell me that lucykate, I'm nervous enough as it is.

OP posts:

katwith3kittens · 22/04/2008 12:59

Yes I do.

I can't / don't watch though

All part and parcel of being a kid IMO

francagoestohollywood · 22/04/2008 13:01

Yes we let them, ds is six and loves to climb trees. I loved climbing trees as a child as well.

cadelaide · 22/04/2008 13:03

Well obviously I don't really make mine climb trees, but if they want to we give them lots of encouragement.

They need to learn how to take risks, risk-assessment if you like, and yes, tree climbing is one of the more dangerous pastimes but it's fun.

Bike-riding is pretty dangerous, but I'd never stop them.

cadelaide · 22/04/2008 13:04

Not wanting her to break the tree, well that's fair enough imo.

Go on, go and find her a good strong one!

lucykate · 22/04/2008 13:08

it was a strong, big tree, she fell from, she just lost her footing and fell. dh saw it happen and said she was in a crumpled heap on the ground. they had just moved to a new house, only been there a week when it happened.

problem is, with an injury like that, there were only a few spinal units in the uk, but luckily, back then (the 80's), one was in southport which was nearby. she was very nearly paralyzed from the neck down.

WriggleJiggle · 22/04/2008 13:08

Original poster

belgo · 22/04/2008 13:08

I'm sure there's no way I could ever stop DD1 from climbing - and the more she does it, the better at it she will get and the less likely she will be to fall.

OP posts:

lucykate · 22/04/2008 13:10

sorry, don't want to sound like a killjoy, but from dh's point of view, once you've seen what the dangers of tree climbing actually are first hand, you do tend to air on the side of caution.

Threadworm · 22/04/2008 13:10

God that's horrifying. Glad she made a good recovery. My boys climb anything and everything. I don't want to stop them but I do get frightened.

One point is this, though: the more they climb, the better their climbing skills and judgement. So a climber might be less exposed to risk than a non-climber who has a go just that once.

cadelaide · 22/04/2008 13:11

Absolutely belgo, glad to hear it.

Holly though, blimey, she likes a challenge then?

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