In reply to Gecko'sMama:
Plus one for learning yourself! Most centres will do this as a two- or three- hour course (two centres I work at offer a choice: adult beginner, or parent and child "learn to belay"). It's cheapish, especially if you remember you can then take son (and friend) to climbing walls all over UK, without booking or paying for instructors. Where I am, we let adults in free if they are only belaying and not climbing themselves.
So, reasons FOR doing the course:
-save money
-son can climb whenever you're available
-good bonding experience with son
-take son plus friend; be the cool Mama!
-understand what it's all about
-extra rainy day activity you can do
-you might meet other parents and get into it yrself
- after a while, you could take son "sport climbing" outside!
fifty quid and you're in. Less in some places.
as you can tell, I am constantly trying to get repeat "party", "taster session" or "beginner" parents to learn to belay - useful and cool life skill!
good luck!