Kid´s climbing

[Ibuki-Germany]

What do you think, how old must be a child to climb. What is the best age to beginn

 

[Tom Dunlap]

I started climbing with my nieces when they were two years old. I put them in full body harnesses and then clipped them to my chest harness. This kept their whole body above my friction hitch and they are centered right in front of my face. They got a huge laugh!

They started to climb in a rope and saddle when they were four or five. Now, they both are able to go up and down with a foot loop assist.

I've learned to put them in trees where they don't have to climb the rope very much. Its way more fun to climb the tree than to climb the rope. The rope struggle can get too frustrating and not fun sometimes.

Tom

 

[Ibuki-Germany]

kid age

my son is now 5 1/2 . next summer he like to climb a little bit with me, but i didn´t find a shop for kid climbwear in germany. I´m looking for a .... (don´t know the english word for "Klettergurt" - i mean the thing with the sliding D

 

[tophopper]

I first put my daughter in a tree at about 5-5 1/2 years old. Petzl has a good harness, the Ousisiti(sp?), works good for introduction i think but doesnt look real comfy. when my girl gets a little bigger i will get her a new tribe kids saddle (i think), right now she is still a little small to graduate from the Ousisti. It does not have a floating dee but is full bodied harness designed for kids. All buckles and such are in the back where little hands cant touch. i usually secure her directly to a line using a figure 8 knot without a ******. this eliminates another piece of hardware little fingers need not touch.

It is amazing how well kids can climb trees!!
They are so uninhibited and show no real fear, it seems to come more naturally the younger they are!

 

[Ibuki-Germany]

that´s really interesting. Are there some more guy´s with kids ?
My biggest problem is that all of you use unknown words, and i don´t understand some of it.
What is Ousisti ?
figure 8 knot - have you a discribtion of this knot ? Iám sure i know him but in germany he may has another name.
thx

 

[treeclimber165]

The correct spelling (according to Sherrill) is 'Ouistiti'. Look at this link and go to the bottom of the page-
http://www.wtsherrill.com/SHTML/sad.shtml

 

[Greg]

I have 3 kids 6,4,&2yrs old. My 6yr old boy and 4 year old girl love to play in the trees. Really I have them on rope more than they are in the tree. I have been looking for a good kids harness, and I think you are right that the New Tribe would be a good choice. Also have been watching EBAY. Right now they both use harnesses that I made for them out of webbing -A "Swiss Seat" I think it is called 3 bowlines, one around each leg and one around the waist, grab all 3 loops with a biner and you are in there! I know that this is not ideal , but their "climbing" consists of me connecting them to the rope and hauling them up about 10-15 feet until they say stop, and then slowly lowering them down. They say the harness is comfy. I belay them with an 8.

I also frequently set up zip lines across the yard that they can play with on their own. I always make sure to have the low end bottom out at the ground rather than into the tree. This brings kids out from the whole street to play. Even sent a few parents flying.
Greg

 

[Ibuki-Germany]

harness

hi, after search a while, i have found this kid harness. What do you think- is it ok to climb trees ?

http://www.outdoor4all.com/shop1/shop/ProdukteBilder/168_gr.jpg]

 

[treeclimber165]

I just wanted to repeat what John posted about keeping carabiners/ buckles/ easily opened connections away from tiny hands. Someone posted something about tying the rope directly to the child's saddle. This sounds smart. I'd use a standing bowline or something with a 2'-3' loop so the knot was out of reach. This would also give the child two ropes to hold on to.

 

[Crispin Hoar]

kids climbing

When I found my 4yr old 15ft up a maple my wife and I felt they inherrited it from me and that I had better teach the children to do it safe. We first purchased a childs rock climbing belt. That was OK but only one of my two kids could climb with dad at a time. I found the New Tribe kids saddle great. Only one ajustment and much better padding. I love comming home from climbing trees al day and then go out back and climb with my kids. I can ask a million questions about thier day at supper and get nothing. When we climb the kids tell me everything. I know thier friends and what they are doing in school and who did what. I would suggest you get a tandem pulley for doing zip lines. We set up an 85ft. zip every birthday party. It is so cool to hear "YOUR DAD IS COOL"

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

I think i would use a backed up follow-through bo'lin for attachement. You cannot get much safer, it's what the rock people use for belay attachment.