9 tips for your first kids ski lesson are a good insider to follow. Especially when the ski vacations are the entire family’s favourite type of winter holidays, but you wonder what reaction of your little one to this wonderful snow sport will be. Outdoor activities, good food, fun and a lot of movement, what else to wish? Sounds perfect for you, but what about the little ones – children who never tried skiing before?
Here are our 9 tips for your first kids ski lesson as follow.
Ideal age
The ideal age to start skiing depends on every child apart. But normally, from the moment he can stand on the skis and got used to the snow, can be introduced to the art of skiing. In general, should be around the age of 3-4.
Excitement
You love skiing and want your children be as happy as you are on the slope. That’s understandable and that’s the goal, but sometimes, at least at the beginning, the little ones may not be very excited about it. That’s why it is very important to create a ski fairy tale for them. Tell them funny stories about skiing, show nice videos, say that their favourite cartoon character can also ski, etc. This way you can make them to dream of skiing even before they know what skiing really is and from this point on learning process will be much easier.
Professional help
If you decide to let your child ski, it is very important to choose professional ski instructors. The teacher is essential in the learning process! You might be very good at skiing, but that may not be enough for teaching. The little ones should learn from the beginning to ski correctly, as it is much harder to correct the bad habits later. Thus, you should look for a child-friendly instructor who knows how to talk to children. And, moreover, for ski training that turns into real performances full of fun for children.
Private or group ski lessons?
A private ski instructor that will be able to concentrate on your kid’s individual need is advisable. But if you still tend to opt for group ski lessons, get familiar with the offer and choose the best option for your child. Choose a ski school that offers a well prepared teaching program and a small sized group (to make sure that your child is well monitored) where children are all of the same age and the same level of skiing. More detailed info about private kids ski lessons.
The right ski equipment
Strictly necessary ski equipment for your child includes ski suit – warm and waterproof jacket and trousers, gloves, boots and helmet. Equipment must have thermal isolation, breathability and impermeability. Seeing that at this age the children grow very fast, you might not be willing to invest too much in the skiing clothing and look for second hand items. You can find plenty on ebay or amazon websites, but don’t sacrifice on quality!
Getting used with the ski gear
Before going on the slopes for the first time, it is good for your little one to get used with ski boots. The more he wears the boots before (not necessarily on the snow), the better he will understand how to move on the slopes and develop the leg muscles either.
Getting used with the snow
Another important step is to get your kid used to the snow. Normally kids love to play and have fun in the snow. Try tubing, sleighing, building a snowman or making snow angels together. This will help him to get used to the texture of snow and the cold weather outside.
Après-skiing reward
We love skiing, but we are definitely in love with après-skiing experience. That Glühwein mug is like a well-deserved reward after the pleasant effort of going down the slopes. Well, your child should also receive his reward. No, don’t take him to a pub, but a cup of hot chocolate, a delicious panna cotta or any other treat you know he would like should be mandatory.
Pictures and videos
Like the first steps, you’ll definitely want to have in your family collection the first skiing experience of your children. If you prefer to leave the kid alone with the ski instructor for better concentration and learning, ask the instructor to take some pictures and videos. Most of the schools can provide this service. This way you might also have a video analyse of the ski performance and gradual improvement.
9 tips for your kids first ski lesson + 1
Don’t be very stressed about the entire process, focus on the fun and your child will definitely get to love the skiing experience just as much as you do!