Dr. Kim D. Coder Warnell School of Forest Resources The
University of Georgia There is an attraction between trees and
children. A tree’s constant motion even in the stillest air, and
its great size and reach make a tree fascinating. At some stage
during child development, when motor skills and hand grip are
refined and strong, tree climbing becomes a play task. The world
is filled with trees to climb. The next logical step after tree
climbing and attaching swings in trees, is imagining a
treehouse. As in all imaginative play, the most basic structure
in a tree can represent a castle in the clouds or a jungle hide-
a-way. When you see your ten-year-old headed with a hammer,
nails and scrap lumber toward your yard tree, there are some
immediate decisions to be made. Safety to children is the only
major concern. Here will be reviewed some minor tree issues you
need to think about. Trees do not heal wounds, but seal them off
and grow over old injuries. Once wounded, the tree is injured
for life. Minimizing the nu