The Quandary ...

The post I wrote last night has had me pondering all day. I don't really like how it came across, yet equally I stand by what I said.

In discussion with my mentor in such matters, Suzi Rees of iDID Adventures, she made the following initial observation when I asked her opinion:

"It's a really interesting read actually but some does read a little invasive ... Perhaps just reiterate the incorporating games into engagement rather than ripe attachment to harnesses - that's not to say a game connecting rope between hands wouldn't be right but it shouts out (toddler harness)"

I believe and hope as most instructors do, that I know how to judge when a situation is appropriate and how to make my sessions enjoyable, such that people want to come back. The mantra of many instructors is that the following order of importance should be followed during sessions:

Safe >>> Fun >>> Educational

Once you're happy a session is Safe, you ensure it's Fun and if every one is having fun then you try and teach them something new and help them develop. In the ideal world every session would be well on the righthand side, everyone learning and improving, having a great time doing it and at all times safe. The more difficult the group, perhaps the less experienced the instructor, the more sessions can seem to be about getting everyone out alive than getting better at climbing. We've all had kids on groups who's parents are making them come to sessions which they really don't want to, or young kids who get so excited about the massive crash mat in the bouldering area that they hurtle about underneath climbers already on the walls, in these situations it can be really challenging.

It's so critical ensuring users are safe from the offset, that they understand what the risks are, how they can be mitigated and then move on to the fun stuff as soon as possible. When it's a more challenging individual then the number of actions required on your part to ensure safety increases, less assumptions can be made.

As Suzi says making things a game can be really beneficial, and it's all about context.

In a Mountain Leader training what would be called Short-Roping is a useful and valid technique, using that with kids you're concerned are going to run away and endanger themselves or others is a different context again - you don't want to be seen as treating them like a toddler on a rein, but you need to ensure safety.

As with all these things it's a learning game, with time you start to notice nicer and more effective techniques with less associated concerns, it's just a case of being open to suggestion and trying things to see if they work.