Ski school in Tignes - any recommendations?

[NormaSnickers]

We have the opportunity to go to Tignes mid-December and have a couple of questions: DS will be 3.8 - is that too young to learn to ski? And if not, is there a ski school you would recommend or have experience of?

DH and I are both competent skiers and have been looking forward to our first skiing holiday with DS but maybe weren't planning to go till he's a little older, however the opportunity has come up and we're wondering whether we should go for it - any advice/ suggestions gratefully received!

[Siennasun]

It's not too young. We've just booked for next March when DS will also be 3.
ESF will take children from 3 for their Club Piou Piou, which is like a ski-play session. I've always had good experiences with ESF, though never used the Piou-Piou club in Tignes.
If you want an English ski school for your DS you may need to book private lessons, as I think children's group lessons usually start at around age 5.

[stringbean]

Unfortunately, I think you will struggle to find a skischool that will take a child under 4. We've always used Evolution 2 in Val Claret which have been great (our ds started there when he was 6) but they don't take children until they're 5. My niece did the Club Pioupiou mentioned above this year at the age of 3; we were there in a week when Brits were mostly in the resort so I don't think there were too many French children there, but I know she would have preferred it if she'd had some company (a friend or her sister, who was a bit too young to start).

If you want proper lessons for your ds, you may have to book private lessons. You don't mention which village you're staying in. This website has some useful information about skischools - it looks as though Ultimate Snowsports will do private lessons for a 3 year old so might be worth looking into? If you can wait until your ds turns 4 he can join the group lessons with this skischool, or alternatively with New Generation.

[morningsarepants]

3.8 is not too young. Both mine started at 3.5. The French see it as entirely normal to start so young. It's just playing with skis on at first but DD was going up button lifts and skiing down a green after about 8 sessions (at 3.5).

[morningsarepants]

I tell a lie, 3.7 by the time she went on the drag lift/green, as it was a second week in the season.
She started in club Piou Piou but they took her out onto the slope instead with a couple of others kids.

[nowwearefour]

New generation might take that age. But we were v unimpressed with them in. Tignes last year.....

[NormaSnickers]

Thanks for all the advice so far, it's all very helpful.

[SarahBeenysBumblingApprentice]

ESF and esprit will take three year olds, New gen won't, in their group lessons anyway.

I had a fantastic private lesson with the development centre this year but I'm not sure what age they start kids. Might be worth a look?