1. Teach your child they must always let you know when they are headed out to climb a tree. (You might want to remind them to use the restroom before they go out to climb.)
2. Help children learn to recognize the difference between good climbing trees (not too tall, lots of branches, pretty thick branches, not prickly) and bad climbing trees (way too tall, only a few branches or thin ones, covered in ants or poison ivy). It's important they learn to judge this for themselves, for their own protection when you are not around.
3. Help your child learn how to recognize a good branch (thick-ish, but still small enough to grip) and where to stand on branches (near the trunk, and not too far out onto the thin part). Teach them how to test a branch gently at first, before putting their full weight on it. It's important they learn to judge this for themselves, for their own protection when you are not around.
4. Let children decide for themselves which tree they want to climb and how high they want to go. Don't be overly-encouraging and never boost them up into a tree. When they are strong enough and coordinated enough to climb safely, they will also be able to get into the tree on their own in the first place (and likewise, be able to get down on their own, too).
5. Don't put up ladders or nail up boards for steps or otherwise make a tree more accessible than it naturally is.
6. If you do decide to put up a board or otherwise make a tree more accessible, be sure you install it quite high on the trunk. That way, an older child can stretch or jump and manage to get into the tree, but younger children are still prevented from climbing before they are ready.
7. To make a tree less-accessible to younger children, simply cut off the lowest branches.
8. The best way to help a child get out of a tree is to leave them alone. Don't be over-quick to rescue your child by climbing up into the tree to help them down if they get stuck. Nearly all children can figure it out on their own, if left alone for long enough. It will not hurt your child to spend an hour in a tree solving this problem.
9. Try verbal encouragement as the second-best way to help your child out of a tree. Remember this is a great learning opportunity for them, and use words like "your left hand" or "the branch to your right" to teach important concepts. Here's a great phrase to encourage your child to come down from a tree, "When you get down, we'll have ice cream!" (be sure to follow through right away!)
10. Knowing how to climb a tree can be considered a safety skill - what about if they are chased by a dog, for example?
11. What to wear? Shoes or no shoes? Opinions vary. I personally think "no shoes" is best, but each family can make their own rules about this.
12. What to bring? An apple tucks into a pocket quite well and has no packaging to deal with. Older children who are experienced climbers can also bring along a sketchbook, journal, or any book they enjoy. Of course, "nothing" is also fun to do when you are up in a tree. Doing "nothing" is becoming a lost art. It is okay to leave your child in peace to day dream.
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(image by Karbyn)
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