What does the perfect climbing vacation with children actually look like?
As climbing parents, we are often asked what the perfect day of climbing with children looks like for us.
Well, in theory we already know:
In the morning, we have a leisurely breakfast together, pack our rucksacks and head to a climbing garden with a short approach and a flat wall base.
The children play together and we parents can relax and climb our routes or projects. In the afternoon we have an ice cream and after dinner the children fall tired into bed.
It can work like this, but the reality is often quite different. Of course, the children don't just want to play, they want to climb like their parents. This means that the perfect climbing day for us adults starts with belaying. And after belaying, we belay again and then take our first break. Because climbing is exhausting and the children are hungry.
After the break, the children are usually bored and want to go home. The "perfect climbing day as a family" is already over for us adults without climbing.
Of course, this is an exaggeration and doesn't always have to be the case. But to avoid any nasty surprises, we have put together a few of our experiences of climbing with children over the years.
Where we climb with children
It is very important to choose the right climbing garden. Climbing gardens with a long approach, falling terrain at the start and objective dangers such as falling rocks etc. are taboo.
Tip: Oberried or Ötz climbing garden in Ötztal. There are also easy children's routes here.
Who we climb with children
Climbing parents know this! Generally speaking, the children have to go to the loo, argue or are hungry when one parent is belaying the other and therefore no one can get to the children quickly.
That's why it makes the whole thing a lot more pleasant if you take friends with you, ideally also with children. Then an adult can look after the children and the children have their playmates.
How we climb with children
Bouldering is more suitable for climbing with children than rope climbing. Bouldering is not only good for our maximum strength, but also makes the chance of "the perfect climbing day as a family" much greater.
Bouldering in the Silvapark, Silvretta. Pic by Ingo Filzwieser | Climbers Paradise
The biggest advantage: nobody has to belay and you can look after the children at all times.
A forest or meadow full of bouldering blocks is not just like a big playground for children. Bouldering is much more playful. Everyone can try it out when they want and how they want.
Perfect family bouldering areas include the Silvapark in the Silvretta or Mandlersboden in the Pitztal.
Perfect for climbing with children: Mandlersboden bouldering area in the Pitztal valley
The right equipment
Of course, the equipment for little climbers should be well adapted to their height. This means that the climbing harness, climbing shoes and climbing helmet should never be too big. Make sure the harness fits well so that the children cannot slip too much when abseiling. Make sure both shoes are a "thumb's width" wide. And the climbing helmet should be adjusted to fit properly using the size adjuster.
Speaking of size! Look out for smaller climbing carabiners, as these are often much easier for children to use than very large carabiners. This is especially true for HMS carabiners.
Climbing vacations with children can be fun for everyone
The older the children, the easier the whole thing becomes. In the end, it's not about whether the children climb or whether we climb, but first and foremost about having a good time together out on the rock. Experiencing joy and disappointment together and then the climbing comes naturally.
Climbing with children, having a good time together | Climbers Paradise
