With so many areas seeing their first snows in the last few weeks, let’s answer a question that many parents have. When you love skiing and you enjoy skiing, you really want to share that joy and that love with your children. More often as not, we are confronted with the concern of when we can take our children out there to enjoy this great winter wonderland and the wonderful world of snow skiing.
So, when is my child old enough?
Kids are old enough by about the time they are two years old if they are coordinated, relatively fearless and confident. This is a sport that boys seem to dive into faster than girls and that’s okay, because they don’t really have any idea about how much it can hurt if you collide with a tree. Still, by the time your child is four or five, they are usually ready to tackle skiing with gentle slopes (sometimes called nursery slopes) and instruction.
You want to plan the skiing time with them carefully. Young children have the stamina for about an hour of steady skiing. Depending on the area, you want to plan their time carefully and you want to target the warmer part of the day and the early part of the day so that they aren’t fighting the frigid cold and tiredness at he same time.
Most ski resorts and areas offer very gentle greens and kid sized skis. For most kids, the easiest way for them to learn is to sign them up for a couple of lessons with an instructor. Try to split the cost with another parent so that two kids can get lessons at the same time. While instructors may be expensive, the best thing in the world for your child is to learn safety and how to with a hands-on teacher and it’s not unusual for your child to learn better from someone else thn it is from you.
What About Ski School?
Ski schools are a great idea for older children if they have learned how to get on and off a ski lift by themselves. It’s also important to not push your child. You want them to enjoy what they are doing. If they’d rather ride a sled than skis, don’t push them to do more. If he or she would rather play with the snow and build snowmen rather than going up the mountain, then let them do it.
Whether your child is ready to ski down a green when they are 2, they are 4 or they are 10, when they are ready, they will be ready. You will love every moment of it because they are enjoying themselves and having a great time. So your child will be ready to ski when they are ready, take your time and don’t rush them – just enjoy and savor every experience.
When was your child’s first ski trip?
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