Hi we are flying into Malaga 13th dec for 20 nights (covid permitting) with our 2 and 5 year old. My sister is also coming for 1 week with her kids. We are taking our gear and hope to leave the kids with her for a 1 day escape and go explore what el chorro has to offer. Also looking for something closer for short trips with the kids - safe area for the kids to potter about whilst we climb and not a long walk in. We can also travel about, the only accommodation we have booked is benalmadena for 4 nights over Christmas. The rest of the time we will move about. Thanks!
It must be 25 years ago but Mijas sounds like a good bet for you? It's close to your base and when I was there it was on the edge of a housing development. You actually belayed from the pavement for some routes. Other routes were in a kind of cleft that back then was used as a donkey stable. Softer than usual landings if you fluff the first clip.
Look up Puerto Rico, near Marbella, I've heard there has been a lot of development since I lived there, don't know how comfortable it is but I heard it's good.
Mijas is OK if you can put up with dirt and pigeon shit...
Benahavis might be a reasonable venue - it's about 50 mins drive from Benalmadena, but has a short walk-in and a rocky river bed with swimming pools below the crag which could be nice for the kids to explore (with adult supervision).
David Munilla is currently preparing a new guide to the Malaga South Area. I have been assisting him with translation. If he can muster enough support advertising it may be published before Christmas