If you are considering doing some climbing with them, here are some tips.
10 Tips for Climbing with Children
1. Avoid doing the activity on a day that is excessively hot or excessively cold. Regarding the first, we know that it is not advisable to perform physical exertion by exposing yourself to high temperatures; Regarding the cold, your hands or feet may become so cold that you cannot sit, consequently, your attachment to the rock by both extremities will be at risk.
2. Choose a simple climbing school, where you know there won't be too many people so as not to hinder them or the children. Furthermore, the best of all is that the access to the route is the perfect place so that you can take your time and be relaxed between climbs. Here you have all the options.
3. The equipment to be used by the little ones has to be specific for them: helmet, jacks and harness. Regarding common material such as rope, harnesses or quickdraws, make sure it is in the best condition for use.
4. It will be more than recommended that some adults go in the group, since only one will not be able to keep an eye on the child who is climbing and those who will be running around at the foot of the track. The fewer mistakes there are, the better.
5. Before starting your practice, you will have to make clear all the techniques that will be carried out during the ascent and descent. This is important so that the participant does not get hurt in any way. Explain the rappelling technique or, at least, if you are not going to practice it, make it clear that when we lower you, keep your body relaxed and do not hold on to the rope.
6. Pay attention to the equipment at all times, especially before each climb, because, unintentionally, the child may have touched something that puts his or her integrity at risk, such as knots, helmet closure, etc.
7. Make it clear to him that he should never, ever hold onto the holds to help him in any step. Many climbers, including adults, have had this temptation more than once, but it is very dangerous.
8. It is very important that the chosen path has a linear direction, that it is straight, because if there are several turns and the child slips away or even when descending, he can roll from one side to the other along the wall.
9. Be especially careful with materials such as rope or grigrias they are generally designed for adults and may not work in correct conditions (grigri is the safest, but with the child's light weight may not be secure at any given time).
10. Pay special attention to children who are at the foot of the road. As we mentioned, it is very necessary that there be an adult with them but, in addition, it would be advisable that they not be too close, as there may be rock falls and they may be harmed. Likewise, if there is a child in a stroller, it is highly advisable that it be secured in case it could roll down the mountain at any given time.
But above all and most importantly: common sense!!
Can you think of any more? Comment!
