http://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/t.php?n=440734(I know, it's obvious that I don't have kids and I can't possibly understand etc. But if I did, I would never take them climbing).
Strangely it depends on the kids wether they decide to or not. Amazingly they have the ability to make decisions themselves. From an annoyingly young age.
Not wanting to side-track this on a whole kids/no-kids debate but I really like seeing parents with their kids at walls (or out at the crag) having picnics, messing around, climbing and just generally having a boss time. I've always thought this was great, not just since I've had a nipper, and I can't really understand why anyone wouldn't like it?Of course if said kid is miserably following the parents round asking to go home then that's bad (unless it's my son, in which case it's character building).Surely parents being willing to spend time and engage with their kids is a good thing?
It's not making me avoid The Works at the moment but the car parking situation is a pain in the arse. It's not their fault but finding a decent place to park is quite limited at busy times...................Car park wombles = complete cunts
So, at the risk of sounding like Sloper, I blame the parents. Shark and I have little problem with our energetic children, neither I would hope does anyone else.
Quote from: Simon Brown on January 21, 2011, 12:36:12 pmSo, at the risk of sounding like Sloper, I blame the parents. Shark and I have little problem with our energetic children, neither I would hope does anyone else.Sadly I think the problem is prevalent amongst "muggle" parents who have little perception of how dangerous it is for kids to run about underneath you when you are sketching your way up something steep. Sadly at our local wall the instructors often let kiddies loose on the bouldering wall as a "treat" at the end of their wall session. So the bouldering area is suddenly inundated with half a dozen or so kids jumping up and down on the mats and doing somersaults.
Sadly at our local wall the instructors often let kiddies loose on the bouldering wall as a "treat" at the end of their wall session. So the bouldering area is suddenly inundated with half a dozen or so kids jumping up and down on the mats and doing somersaults.
Re: Kids at walls in generalMe and the mrs were at the EICA bloddering, where there are often tiny children running around and around on the mats between the freestanding boulders. mrs rodma was barndooring off the top of a problem, when one of the tots ran right under her, so I grabbed them and launched them out of the way, just in time to stop them from being squished.
Then again I got told off at the Foundry for waist belaying them
Quote from: shark on January 21, 2011, 01:49:45 pmThen again I got told off at the Foundry for waist belaying themSigns in the Foundry (which I happened to read again just the other day) clearly state that a belay device must be used and that "traditional"/waist belays are not permitted.
in real situations people more often just seethe internally rather than have a conversation.
Very true. Kids also make nice soft landing zones...
Clearly persisting with consistently bad or risky behaviour is not on but nobody is perfect and learning sometimes requires stuff pointing out and explaining to both parents and kids. Whilst I try to get the boys to behave well they are not grown up so 100% consistent good behaviour and practice is unlikely. I don't want to breathe down their necks because I want to climb too and also let them have a bit of personal responsibility and freedom.
This was probably 5 years ago - I don't know if the sign was up then. The boys only weighed a couple of stone at that age. I probably could have safely belayed them going hand over hand. However, it was pointed out that it was setting a bad example which was a fair point I hadn't considered.
A major aspect of climbing is to be able to judge and assess risk yourself, as you had done, as it would have been exceptionally unlikely for you to have dropped them being so light and using a body belay. Had you been outdoors it wouldn't have been an issue, but I guess they walls are understandably covering their arses against litigation.
I learned to climb when body belaying was normal.
Not wanting to side-track this on a whole kids/no-kids debate but I really like seeing parents with their kids at walls (or out at the crag) having picnics, messing around, climbing and just generally having a boss time. I've always thought this was great, not just since I've had a nipper, and I can't really understand why anyone wouldn't like it?I can appreciate that kids can be loud and even annoying. But so can boulderers/sport climbers/bumblies/adults/any member of the human race?Of course if said kid is miserably following the parents round asking to go home then that's bad (unless it's my son, in which case it's character building).Surely parents being willing to spend time and engage with their kids is a good thing?
having a wee one has changed my perspective somewhat
as long as there are sufficient herders