Well, when I was 8 years old, I remember getting into all kinds of trouble with all kinds of things. I learned to make judgment calls if the "crime was worth the time" .... sort of say.
And the end result, in an 8 year old mind, was.... "Yes!" So I learned I could go ahead and do the deed, and if my butt got whallopped afterwords, well .... it WAS worth it!
I had to make those same judgment calls in grade school too. So, we all knew what the consequences were for climbing up the slide backwards.... but we did it anyway. We all knew the consequences for jumping out of the swings, but I did it anyway. (never got caught.... so you know ... it was worth it!)
By today's standards and practices, a lot of stunts I pulled in my young life before the age of 13 years would be considered unthinkable today!
Climbing on the roof is really not ALL that bad. But ... I wouldn't want my grandson climbing around up there either. But if I were 8 ... you bet! I'd do it! What's "good for the goose, does NOT apply to the gander".... double standard, hypocritical??? absolutely yes!
So, you can threaten, spank, even ship them off to a deserted island, and they'll still find a way to do EVERYTHING you don't want them to do.
So... about your ladder? Block it! It might be as easy as cutting a sheet of plywood the same width of the ladder and strapping it onto the ladder. Whatever you do, find a way to keep the ladder from being usable. You cannot depend on the kids to behave. They are kids and they WILL do what you don't want. So, just find a way to prevent them from climbing up the ladder from the beginning. Their little butts will be happier, your nerves will be happier, their parents will be happier.
A lot of people will hang a blue tote (for your holding tanks) on the ladder. Some folks hang bicycles on them. Some strap on portable grills. Do whatever you can, but do something to block using. That's your best and easiest solution.
But in all reality, now that the 8 year old's curiosity is satisfied, having seen what's up there, he'll probably have no more curiosity to go up there again.
