Start Children As Early As Reasonably Possible

What age should my children start skiing is question we are constantly asked and if you are new to the family skiing scene, from our experience, most people presume it’s between five and seven. Whilst five, six or seven are all good ages to start, the answer we would give is actually three, assuming practical to do so (your circumstances allow and the child is strong enough). Some Mother’s are horrified by such a young age, competitive Dad’s delighted, but before father’s get too excited,  a little restraint and context is needed here.

Stability, Control and Most Importantly Fun

Recommending children start at three (and we have practiced what we preach here with our own children) comes with a caveat in that children learning to ski at this age should be gently introduced into it. Please therefore don’t expect them to be racing down blue pistes in their first week, and we would advise not to encourage it either.

Standing on skis and making small turns in the snow garden are a giant step forward, celebrate this because this is the foundation for success.

Building confidence, stability, control and muscle memory at an early age is how champions are bred!Share

Anxiety Separation Is Greatest In Parents

Skiing is however just like parenting, it isn’t always plain sailing or a complete bed of roses, but it can become pretty special quite quickly if handled well. Like learning to ride a bike, there maybe a few tears before it becomes all so easy and therefore be prepared on the very first day that it might be a slightly traumatic process and experience (in many cases it isn’t), particularly for parents who are concerned at leaving their children in a foreign country and on the mountain (reputable snow gardens are appropriately monitored, controlled and secured of course). 

Our anxiety, as we all know, feeds our children’s who may also be a little anxious themselves when they are being taken and/or about to be left at the snow garden. A few tears (parents and children) are not the end of the world and we recommend you walk away and return covertly 15 minutes later to see the beaming smiles and fun once they except and start to enjoy the whole experience.

Or better still, select one of our family ski holidays where many of the chalet’s staff provider a children’s drop-off service* to avoid the separation anxiety (our experience is that children typically respond better to children’s entertainer’s and nanny’s when left at ski school garden  as the don’t feed off parents natural anxieties). Most importantly, have fun and you’ll enjoy a lifetime of fabulous family skiing.

*Please check prior to booking