Climbing on/jumping off couch and kid furniture... do you let you let your kids?

[nickle730]

No climbing on the furniture in my house! Feet are allowed on the couch if you are curled up, but shoes must be off. If you want to jump and climb, go outside! It is a constant battle with my DS (8) but I don't see it so much as a safety issue as a matter of respect. Perhaps you could set up some climbing equipment or an obstacle course in the yard? Or regular visits to the park?

I don't think risk taking is something to be discouraged in young children, but we should be teaching them about risk assessment!

I am always surprised when we have visitors and they let their children climb all over my furniture or they do the same in their own home. I address it in my home, but would only tell my own children to stop in someone else's - although DS is old enough to know better now!

[Arimeh]

No climbing on the furniture in my house! Feet are allowed on the couch if you are curled up, but shoes must be off. If you want to jump and climb, go outside! It is a constant battle with my DS (8) but I don't see it so much as a safety issue as a matter of respect. Perhaps you could set up some climbing equipment or an obstacle course in the yard? Or regular visits to the park?

Exactly the same here. We are VERY strict on our kids jumping and stuff on our couch or the beds. Not just because I see it as a matter of respect as well, but also because their combined weight destroys furniture and given our income, we can't just go out and buy new furniture all the time because the kids wanted to jump on it. They have already put several holes in the bottom of the couch (the part that the cushions sit on) and its the same with the beds - they can destroy them and we can't afford to replace them, so we do NOT allow our children to jump on them. They have a trampoline for that - and thats its purpose. The couch is to be sat on, the beds to be slept on - their purpose is not to be a trampoline.

Its a constant battle here, but thats only because my children are rebellious and once one starts, they all start.......