How to prepare for a kid-friendly cave adventure

Simon Edward • November 24, 2023

Stump Cross Caverns is the ideal destination for a family day trip. Join us as we run through some important considerations for a child-friendly trip.

Bringing a child to a cave can feel like a daunting challenge. But it doesn't have to be. This guide attempts to take away some of the guesswork when it comes to thinking about supplies and norms for accompanying a child on a cave tour.

The following article also attempts to give advice to those seeking to bring a neurodiverse child on a tour of a cave. We want explorers of all stripes to feel welcome and safe here at Stump Cross Caverns. If everyone has a positive experience, we consider our job done.

General tips for all explorers

Most parents think about snacks. A lot. Few children under five can go an hour without a snack. Luckily, a tour of Stump Cross takes about 45 minutes, so don't plan to bring food beyond a few bites for the journey.

In point of fact, food isn't allowed in the caverns themselves. This is so staff can keep the caves clean and safe for everyone. However, we do have a lovely cafe on site in case you need to fuel up.

Parents' second general concern is what a child will wear. The caves stay about 7°C (44.5°F) year-round, so dress accordingly. Comfortable shoes are also encouraged.

Picture of comfy, cafe-appropriate kids' shoes.

And, of course, parents are always worried about whether there's a bathroom.

Unfortunately, while there's a loo in the visitors' centre, there's no bathroom available in the cave. So, it's important that your child (and probably the parent or guardian as well) uses the bathroom before the tour.

(And if children are at that "in-between" stage in their potty training, we ask adults to use their best judgment.)

There are a couple more points to be aware of.

First, large bags are not allowed in the caverns. So, like Bilbo Baggins, be sure that whatever you may need for going in and out of a cave can fit inside your pocket.

Second, back-facing baby carriers are forbidden for safety reasons. If you're bringing an infant, make sure to carry them in a front-facing carrier.

Welcoming diverse explorers

At Stump Cross, we want everyone to enjoy their trip, no matter their needs.

There are two general pieces of guidance that we'd like to share before diving into the specifics of each set of needs.

First, we'd like to remind guardians that the absolute most important factor in helping any explorer feel comfortable in a cave tour is to ensure that they have the one-on-one attention of an adult that the child deeply trusts. It's impossible to know how each child will react to the various stimuli of the cave experience and a trusted adult will help a child feel safe and calm.

In addition, routine is a necessary tool for any neurodivergent person. For some, that may mean giving extra preparation time and decompression time before and after your journey. For others, it may mean keeping your routine exactly the same before and after your trip. We recommend discussing this with your little one beforehand.

Considerations for explorers with autism

One of the reasons explorers with autism should visit a cave at some point in their lives is that the sensory experience is extraordinarily unique. It's difficult to know what a person with autism will find to be a calming or an exciting stimulus. A cave presents an important opportunity to find out more about how your child will react.

That said, the sensory experience may be completely overwhelming for a child with autism. This happens sometimes. That's why communication is key. We suggest visiting the grounds of the cave and exploring the website beforehand with your child before booking a tour. Kids above the age of eight should be able to view pictures and know whether the experience is for them. But talking about it before the tour will also be important.

What kinds of sensations can be expected?

Before 3 PM, the lights stay on. The caves will be bright, but a little gloomier than your average living room. During a busy season, it could be crowded. After knowing this, if the child is still comfortable with a tour, a trusted adult can make sure they're comfortable and feel safe.

Picture of Stump Cross with the lights on

After 3 PM, we turn off all the lights except for essential safety lighting. Adults get UV torches. They can shine these on the limestone walls and watch them glow in the dark like alien crystals. At this point, the caves take on a magical, echoey, otherworldly feel.

Picture of Stump Cross during the UV experience

Considerations for explorers with ADHD

Children with ADHD have varying bandwidths with respect to the types of activities they thrive in. It's objectively more difficult for a person with ADHD to follow directions – but, luckily, cave tour directions are broad in nature.

There's a general path the explorers must follow and some things an explorer may or may not be able to touch. The tour, as we said above, lasts 45 minutes. For some children with ADHD, this is the perfect amount of time for an activity. For some on the younger side, it could be a tad long.

So, in all, for explorers with ADHD (and autism and other forms of neurodivergence), the key component in making a memorable and formative experience is to talk about it beforehand and decide if it's right for you.

Conclusion

Exploration is an inclusive endeavour. The spirit of exploration itself is to find something not only new within our environments but new within ourselves – something that we didn't know was there before.

Formative moments of this kind are essential to the growth of young people. We encourage kids to come and see our caves and learn about the world underneath their feet.

And, if nothing else, they'll get to meet Cavewoman! Feel free to book a tour today – or get in touch with any questions you may have.

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