Convincing parents to take the kids climbing already

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Messages 1 - 15 of total 15 in this topic
Domingo

Trad climber
El Portal, CA
Topic Author's Original Post - Nov 19, 2008 - 10:58pm PT
I have two cousins, 8 and 7 (I'm quite a bit older than them). I'm trying to convince their parents that indoor gym climbing is a reasonable hobby. Their parents are concerned about injuries (sprained/broken ankles, shredded tendons, etc.), so they have their kids, no joke, playing tennis instead.

So parents, what say you? Ever taken another parent's child out climbing? How'd you make the parent feel safe?

I don't want yuppies for cousins!
MisterE

Trad climber
My Inner Nut
Nov 19, 2008 - 11:00pm PT
You will be an awesome uncle to them, D.

Keep the faith of risk as discovery of self.

Tennis?
Ben Harland

Social climber
Baltimore, MD
Nov 19, 2008 - 11:25pm PT
Every activity has their risks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1-NpyaOWV0&feature=related
Jaybro

Social climber
wuz real!
Nov 19, 2008 - 11:34pm PT
I've accompanied my daughter and my nephew to the top of Devil's tower. My oldest niece has been up there too. I taught my youngest niece to climb in a gym, she's too young for deto, right now. Climbing has always been part of our family, so there was no convincing. I think it's a positive life thing.

I don't know how you talk the parents into it, but just seeing the confidence the kids get from these adventures makes it all self evident. Though it's not for everyone.
the museum

Trad climber
Rapid City, SD
Nov 19, 2008 - 11:41pm PT
Yes you can do it. One of these kids is not mine.

MisterE

Trad climber
My Inner Nut
Nov 19, 2008 - 11:47pm PT
Funny, Ben - thanks

;^)
rich sims

Trad climber
co
Nov 19, 2008 - 11:55pm PT
I was in a coffee shop and the young barista woman said, you are Richard Sims aren’t you.
Well I took every kid that wanted to go and was a friend of my daughters on trips. We went climbing, kayaking, rafting and snowboarding.
You really get to know your kids friends in outdoor situations. Beside many of these kids folks have no life after drinks at the club and the big screen.
Any way I replied to the young lady you must have been a friend of Rox’s or Monica’s.
When she told me her name I remembered her as she told the rest of the people in line I taught her to Climb, Kayak and drive a truck with my daughters when she was twelve.



I never had a problem or had to convince a parent that climbing with me would be safe.
Most were glad to be free of the kids for the day or weekend.

Some people are afraid of life and will never be convinced.
You can only try as it’s the parent’s choice that needs to be respected. How ever short sited they maybe. Good luck!

TM
they are smiling and having too much fun. What kind of dad are you any way.
Jim E

climber
Nov 20, 2008 - 12:29am PT
tennis. pfffffffttt

Maxine, age 7, Cathedral Ledge, NH, Aug 2008
She calls climbing in the gym "practice".
Domingo

Trad climber
El Portal, CA
Topic Author's Reply - Nov 20, 2008 - 01:09am PT
"TENNIS !?!?!? YOU MUST BE F KIDDING !!!! Death to ankles AND wrists. Oh, el-blows too."

Don't forget knees! They're worried about ankles and ligaments and they have them in TENNIS. I think maybe they're concerned about the girls wanting to go outside, which is a bit more dangerous due to rockfall... but ack. Just keep convincing, I guess.
MisterE

Trad climber
My Inner Nut
Nov 20, 2008 - 01:13am PT
gotta admit, this stuff inspires one!
rgold

Trad climber
Poughkeepsie, NY
Nov 20, 2008 - 02:37am PT
Its one thing if parents and kids are willing, but I would never try to talk parents into letting kids climb if the parents don't want them to.

Many years ago, I took some high-school kids climbing (with parental permission and even encouragement). The kids liked it. I taught them a lot of stuff, they went off to college and continued to climb. They were killed together in a climbing fall before either of them was 21.

Think about that before you talk anyone into anything they don't really want their kids to do. Tennis may really be the better option.
Jaybro

Social climber
wuz real!
Nov 20, 2008 - 02:42am PT
I wonder how they compare on the chronic injury list.
Clint Cummins

Trad climber
SF Bay area, CA
Nov 20, 2008 - 03:09am PT
Becca,

Sprained ankles are more for bouldering than toproping, although if they go to a gym, they might end up bouldering a lot.
Tennis is pretty good, and usually at least gets people outside. But if they live someplace where it's cold in the winter, maybe tennis is not an option during winter, but gym climbing would be possible if they live near a gym. Tennis can be good for something to do with the opposite sex; usually guys don't have that big of an advantage over girls.

As rgold may have implied, gym climbing can be an "gateway" sport that can lead to outside sport climbing, trad climbing and mountaineering. Those involve significant risks. You don't often hear of people falling playing tennis and dying. Of course if some kid is terrible at tennis but is a natural climber, maybe they will end up being a climber.

For my kids, we definitely do not push climbing on them. They have done the usual stuff like soccer, swimming and running. (They all just run now). We have experienced the death of a family member in a climbing accident, as well as other climbing accidents and injuries, so the risk is quite real. I feel kids should be able to try whatever sports are available and have acceptable risk in the judgement of the parents. The kids might have a preference of one sport over another.
sibylle

Trad climber
On the road again!
Nov 20, 2008 - 02:23pm PT
I've taken my son climbing since he was 4. He's been leading since he was 10 and has had no injuries.

Sea cliffs at Capo Noli, Italy
salad

climber
Escondido
Nov 20, 2008 - 02:40pm PT
my sister in law made me swear i would never take my nephew climbing, indoors or out, until he graduates college.

she fears he will turn into a climbing bum and not go to skool.
Messages 1 - 15 of total 15 in this topic
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