Rock Climbing Tips
Recently Carmen, one of our readers, left a post on the Nature For Kids Forum wanting rock climbing tips for young kids. Here’s what she wrote…
“I just took my kids rock climbing “on the ropes” for the first time. They did great getting up, but were very uncomfortable getting down and I was totally unsuccessful at getting them to rappel. Any advice on teaching this to kids ages 3-5?”
This is a great question Carmen! We had the same problem with our own kids. Preparing a new climber for what to do after they’ve made it to the top of a climb is important and often overlooked. The truth is most people are more afraid of coming down than going up. After trial and error we now have a safe and easy to understand 5 step system for descending the rock after a climb. We use this system quite often when taking other small children and even adults on climbing trips.
5 Step System For Descending The Rock
Step #1
Before the climber even leaves the ground have them sit in their harness while the belayer holds their weight with the belay device. That way the climber gets used to the feeling of relying on the belayer and hanging from the rope.
Step #2
Have the climber climb up about 3 feet off the ground and once again sit in their harness. Tell them to put their feet on the rock wall, level with their bum. Then have them open their legs wide like they’re riding a horse. This will give them a good foundation. Have them bend their knees and put their hands out in front of them. Once they’re comfortable with that have them push off the rock and do little hops.
Now they’re ready to climb. If you forget to do this prior to them climbing you may be spending a lot of time trying to coax them down. Prepare them before hand. It’s not fair for a new climber to be nervous and unknowing at the very top of a climb.
Step #3
Once the climber has reached the top of their climb and they’re ready to come down tighten up the belay some more and tell them to sit in the harness once again just like when they were down on the ground.
Step #4
After they’ve unclung from the rock with a death grip 
tell them to get into their horse riding position (feet spread wide, level with bum, knees bent) gradually lower them down as they push off from the rock doing little hops.
Step #5
Encourage the climber to have hands out and ready to push off from the rock, in case they begin to roll from one side or the other. More often than not a new climber will feel more comfortable hanging onto the rope. This is okay, but be careful of small overhangs or other outcroppings that climbers can bonk their heads on.
Overall, getting a new climber used to being next to the rock, hanging in their harness and protecting themselves at the same time is the key. If these rock climbing tips aren’t enough and the new climber needs further assurance, explain to them about the climbing equipment they’re using, the anchors, back ups and why they all work so well.
If you have any further rock climbing tips for Carmen and other readers please leave a comment on this post. Also, dont forget to check out the Nature For Kids Forum every once in a while. It’s starting to become a great resource for everything concerning the outdoors! If you found this post helpful you might also want to check out the Rock Climbing Toddler and Rock Climbing With Kids posts.
rock climbing, nature, kids, climber, climbing, climbing equipment
Slackline
Slacklining…have you heard of it?
Every time we take our kids camping or climbing we seem to come across a slackline party. It’s where you take a long piece of webbing and stretch it between two trees about 2 to 3 feet off the ground. You walk the slackline like a circus performer. It’s a great way for kids to increase their balancing skills and coordination.
I came across a unique website, Natural Fatherhood, that lays out exactly how to create your own slackline. He explains what items are needed and provides a video to see exactly how it’s set up.
This next video gives some great ideas for beginners! The best tip that stood out to me was the additional line up above the slackline that can help provide something to hold on too.
This girl is eight years old! Check it out!
This would be fun to set up at a campsite, giving you and the kids something to do during some down time. It would also be fun to have in the back yard. I mean every kid is going to try balancing some type of line…better being a slackline barely off the ground than the peak of a barn roof, right. 
Have you or your kids had any slackline experience? If so leave a comment here at Nature For Kids.
camping, climbing, balance, coordination, slacklining
Retired Rope Rug
Recently I added a topic to the Nature For Kids Forum about making a retired rope rug.
I hate the idea of having a retired rock climbing rope sitting in my garage. I usually have nothing to do with it but tie down a truckload of tree trimmings every spring.
While looking through one of my favorite women’s clothing catalogs “Title Nine” I came across a picture of a lady weaving her retired climbing rope into a rug!!! Genius! And quite the conversation piece. I mean climbing ropes are somewhat sentimental. “Remember the fall I took in American Fork Canyon” or “That’s the rope our oldest son learned to climb on”.
Here is a great resource I came across that gives directions on how to make a simple rug using no weaving skills at all. It does involve duct tape and caulking however.
To weave your own rug check out this site. It helps you step by step and has some great pictures. I’m leaning towards doing this one.
Also Retired Rope Rugs is a company that does the weaving for you or you can buy a pattern from them to make your own.
And if you’re not up for making a rug at least be eco friendly and send it to a recycling company like Sterling Rope Company. They shred and melt the nylon to make up something new like carpet.
Once I get my rug made I’ll post a picture here and let you all know how it went!
If you’d like to add any thoughts about making a retired rope rug I encourage you to take part in the Nature For Kids Forum, where all things outdoors are discussed!
climbing, rock climbing, rope, climbing rope, rug
Rock Climbing Toddler
Over the weekend at Nature For Kids a question was asked by Rebecca regarding her rock climbing toddler and the post Rock Climbing With Kids.
“We have a 23 month old daughter who loves the rock wall at the YMCA, up until last week she just went up about a foot or so (the bottom “rock”) and came back down. This week she has started really climbing, to the point she is almost over my head. We have to find a good harness for her since they don’t have them that small at the Y. We don’t mind at all buying her one ourselves. We don’t want to stop her in any way! I just don’t know one that is small enough for her little body. Is there a particular brand that you have found works with your little ones?”
Rebecca got me curious. So I went out and shuffled through our climbing equipment and decided to try our full body harness on my 20-month-old. Something I hadn’t done yet because I just assumed it was too large for her. It is made by Rock Empire and is called the Apache. To my surprise it fit her quite well.
There is a little gaping above her legs and chest but not enough to have her slip out. The point where the rope attaches to the harness sits high enough that I don’t think she would flip upside down. Toddlers are prone to be top heavy though so always be cautious.
When our oldest child first started climbing we tied a harness for him out of pieces of webbing. It served it’s purpose but was time consuming and not as comfortable as a harness. So I would recommend buying a harness, especially if you have more than one child. Harnesses allow you to quickly release and tighten straps for the optimum fit.
Most full body children’s harnesses are made for 4 to 9 year-olds so look at the harness description closely before purchasing anything. Better yet, try it on your child first.
Thanks Rebecca for giving me the opportunity to realize our harness fits our little rock-climbing toddler. I’m sure she’ll be very thankful too…no more sitting by and watching her brothers have all the fun!
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