Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/a-tree-climbing-advocate-speaks-out-counterpoint-to-dr.-sue/5009277/
In "Tree Climbing and Care of Sand Play Areas" (March/April 1993 Child Care Information Exchange), Dr. Susan Aronson suggests we ban tree climbing in early childhood play yards. This child care practitioner says: NOT!To Dr. Aronson tree climbing is hazardous to children's safety because ". . . trees are not uniform, are not safety tested, and are surrounded by unforgiving surfaces." She believes climbing heights are difficult to control. "Children will want to climb higher and higher without realizing how hard it will be to come down again." Based on these suppositions, Dr. Aronson therefore believes risk of injury is too great to allow children to climb trees. She recommends cutting low branches from trees so children cannot reach them to climb. Her rationale: "Caregivers are unlikely to be able to control or reduce the risk of tree climbing."
I adamantly take issue with Dr. Aronson's assertion that early childhood professionals are not capable of helping children learn to cope with the challenges of tree climbing. For 17 years I have worked in a child care program that serves children two through ten years of age. Our play yard is blessed with ...