We have 2 clematis in the garden and there was a huge one in my garden when I was growing up. I have never heard of anyone being ill because of one.
I think it's far more important to teach your kids to not touch or eat plants or leaves etc unless you tell them they are safe rather than avoid planting things. Tom knows there are a couple of plants (mint, lemon balm, lavender) where he can pick the leaves to play with but the others are left alone.
Agreed. It's just a bit more difficult to enforce this with a sneaky 22 month old who knows very well not to put random things in her mouth, but does so anyway, coupled with guilty sidelong glances at you. She hasn't tried it with leaves yet though.
Thanks for all the perspectives! I think I might go ahead and plant it anyway. I just can't find too many replacement climbers that aren't poisonous.