Thinking of taking our kids (3 and 5) to the local climbing wall. They have a toddler section with lower walls but they can go on any of the larger walls if they fancy it, as long as you are with them.

Anyone take their younger kids to climbing walls?

I did when my daughter was younger – 5 to 7 I guess. She loved it, but got all horsey instead 🙂 There were younger kids there too. It helps if you know what you’re doing/have some experience. I take it you’d be belaying them? Dunno if I would take two at once though. I found it a full-time job looking after one.

Where do you live?

I’d be belaying. A friend and I used to go to the local wall every week, until he moved to the Caribbean. They’ve moved back over there now, and he’s booked a refresher course to take his son climbing. Our wives will be coming along too, so four adults and four kids.

Where do you live?

Darlington. We’ll be going to Rock Antics, in Newton Aycliffe.

Sorry, only know of a place in Bristol.

miketually – Member

I’d be belaying. A friend and I used to go to the local wall every week, until he moved to the Caribbean. They’ve moved back over there now, and he’s booked a refresher course to take his son climbing. Our wives will be coming along too, so four adults and four kids.

Ah – you’ll be reet then. btw – my daughter actually preferred the bouldering walls.

Been taking my lad since he turned 5. He’s nearly 8 now.
Funnily enough, haven’t been for a couple of weeks as now just entering Cubs and they’re both on the same evening.
Climbing is available on other nights too, so we’re going to have to shift.

He’s always loved it… though it’s never been super-pushy.
To be honest, it has been a nice place for him to socialise outside of the more formal extremes of School and Beavers.

I’ve never been a climber – though would like to – and he showed me up scrambling over Stanage the other week 🙂

Thanks for the feedback. I’m thinking my 3-year-old might be a bit young (and she’s a bit loopy too), but my 5-year-old is very sensible and I think will love it.

They’re both pretty good on climbing frames and climbing trees, and are freakishly strong while being very light – when they were smaller, we could get them to hold onto bars and things and leave them hanging 🙂 – so I think they could be pretty good.

I took my daughter when she was 2 she got on ok and was happy to climb to around 2m until she wanted do come down she had to use a full body harness as a waist harness would not fit her and she was too light for me to use any form of belay device so a couple of wraps of the rope in a karabina surficed although not a recomended form of belaying. The BMC (British mountaineering council) give out great advice to parents whishing to take theit children climbing. I have taken my daughter again and she seems to be keener on bouldreing oh and jumping on the mats do bear in mind climbing walls are usually filthy dirty with old chalk dust.

Had a great time at the wall yesterday. My eldest didn’t climb, as she’d managed to split her lip open on Saturday (her first stitches!), but the youngest loved it.

Me and a mate had a refresher course first as it has been years since we last went; the instructor was really good. My friend must have been at the pies in the last six years, as I used to be able to belay him without being clipped to a sandbag but was being pulled about all over the place this time round, despite being a stone heavier myself!

We had to use the smallest full body harness, which only just fit her. I’ve never seen her looking so serious as she did when we were strapping her up.

She made it to the top of the toddler wall and had a great time. Only problem was getting her down, as she’s very light, so I was literally pulling the rope through the belay device. I found the best thing was to slowly walk backwards while pulling the rope through so she stayed in the same place, then walk forwards to lower her down.