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