Would you bother putting a 3yo in ski school?

[thescruffiestgiantintown]

DD will be 3 this season so technically old enough for ski school in the resort we're looking at. Last season she messed around on plastics, did a couple of runs between DH's legs etc so this won't be her first time on snow.

DH thinks she would benefit from ski school but I think she'd be as well doing the same as last year. He is actually BASI trained Level 1&2 so perfectly capable of teaching her himself. I'm completely torn between whether she'll enjoy it or be put off. Has anyone had any experiences of kids in ski school at this age?

[dontcallmethatyoucunt]

Both mine went in from 3.

Was it worth it? Well it gave us childcare for 3 hours... not convinced it did that much for their skills, but they are both good skiers now (6 & 8) so it didn't put them off.

I think what can be achieved in a group lesson for 3 year olds is quite limited, but mine were happy and by the end of the week would ski down a green slope, make a pizza and stop. I'm not convinced you'd get much further. I think having the example from other children the same age definitely eggs them on.

I think teaching your own kids depends on personality more than skill and what works for you. I liked the separation and my youngest won't listen to mummy anyway (plus I'm a bit pushy).

[thescruffiestgiantintown]

Thank you. I'm not really bothered about what happens on the skills front, I'd just like her to have a fun holiday, and maybe a sense of achievement if she is able to do what yours were doing.

There's no way I'd be able to teach her (I'm the opposite, not pushy enough!) but DH is very patient and gentle - I agree that being with other kids may be incentivising though.

[Shurelyshomemistake]

I wouldnt bother personally. Childcare and snow play yes, ski school at that age will be like pulling hens' teeth and you'd have all the getting her ready hassle...

[anotherdayanothersquabble]

I think it's a huge effort for not much reward and better to wait a year. One of my three went at 4 and loved lessons. The other two went at 3 and didn't! (We didn't learn from the experience of the first two, oh well!)

[elastamum]

I wouldn't. DS1 who skis like an angel did ski school from 3, but I dont think he learnt much. I have watched quite a few tots lessons from afar to check out what is happening and most don't seem to be enjoying themselves much. After watching the class DS2 was in when he was small after 15 mins I walked over and picked him up - it was miserable and he was so pleased not to have to go back. He eventually learned to ski well at about six and can ski pretty much anything now and I cant keep up

You DD wouldprobably be much happier just doing a few runs with your DH and you. If you need childcare ski with esprit or such like

[Selfimproved]

My eldest loved it, my second tried it last winyer went off it by the end of the week. He is talking about ski school again so it hasn't traumatised him and he will do it again in February.
We love ski school. We get some time alone and the kids get to learn something.
A private lesson would probably be better though. We are considering it for our second child this year.... I would have been sure, except he's talking about ski school like it's the best thing ever.

[thescruffiestgiantintown]

Thanks all. Sounds like a no on balance. We don't need the childcare, it would be nice but we're happy to take it in turns to go off for slightly more exciting skiing.

[anotherdayanothersquabble]

Depending on where you are you could get a nanny for a day or a half day. We have done that over the years and it can be a good way of skiing together as adults for a few hours.

[SienaSun]

My 3yo did club piou piou last season and absolutely loved it. Not sure he learned much in the way of skiing skills but he had a great time.

[dontcallmethatyoucunt]

happy to take turns fucking hell yours a better woman than me. I don't NEED childcare, but I bloody want it . I love skiing so much it's the one thing the kids have to accommodate mummy on.

[dontcallmethatyoucunt]

We did hire a nanny one year and that worked really well, T4 nannies were excellent.

[thescruffiestgiantintown]

Haha! I'll be happy to ski at all, poorly timed pregnancies and very late snow mean I've pretty much missed the last three seasons.

[dontcallmethatyoucunt]

3 seasons? . For the love of god woman, book em in, they won't worry, you've made the necessary sacrifice I am so mean I'm not the person to listen to