
What do we do when we see kids climbing? It is easy to say "Stop" for several reasons: damage to property (boot prints on sofa), damage to the child (falls), and concern about othere peoples opinons (what will they think of me if I let my kid climg on their fence). We can see the danger of climbing, more easily than we see what they gain. Say yes, and they gain large motor skills, balance, understanding of basic physics, self awareness and self confidence. They might fall, but might learn that falling is OK, and they can recover and use that knowledge for the future. This time there was no furniture to break, the ground below was soft, and the pile of logs less than 4 feet high. A perfect place to say yes.