All new to skiing - how to get started

[Voliday]

We would like to take our kids skiing. DH and I have never skied, (skiied?) so we are all brand new.
Our children are seven and nearly three. The nearly three yo is physically a super capable kid at physical activities BUT there is absolutely no way she will manage in a lesson without me present. I'm not keen to leave her either (she does not go to nursery and is not used to not being with one of her parents or GPs).
So. As we are all beginners, is there somewhere that will take us as a family of novices, and teach us together? I expect the kids will be better than us adults, so we don't mind going at their pace.
Thanks.

[Voliday]

Also, will anywhere take her at 2.10/2.11 or does she absolutely have to be three?

[Fantasticmissfoxy]

You'd have no problems getting lessons for yourself and DH and older child but no one is going to teach a 2 year old.
If you really don't want to leave her (in childcare or with a nanny) the best way would be to book yourself into morning group lessons and DH into afternoon group lessons and take turns staying with the little one. The older child would learn best in a kids group lesson - it's totally different teaching adults to kids and I wouldn't advise you all trying to learn together.

[innagazing]

Fantastic has provided you with the perfect solution-Can't think what better way you could organise it.

[Voliday]

Ok, thanks.

WHY is it different teaching adults and kids?

[AvoidingDM]

Personally I'd leave it a couple of years, with until your LO is either old enough for ski school or at least happy to go into a creche.

Most ski resorts have little entertainment for an almost 3 year old. There's a limit to how much sledging can be done before they are cold.

[Fantasticmissfoxy]

It's different in lots of ways - typically younger kids need lots of short bursts to stop them getting tired / distracted. Adults can handle more focused instruction and longer runs. When young kids ski for the first time they tend to do a lot of the teaching around games / activities / fun rather than hardcore instruction.
Listen, you can probably find an instructor who will do all 3 of you if that's what you really want but then what do you do with the toddler? It also wouldn't be optimum learning conditions for any of you. As an instructor (not skiing but another sport) I would hate trying to teach Mum Dad and kids at the same time.

[wobytide]

WHY is it different teaching adults and kids?

Because kids are thinking "oooh I'm getting another coke when we get to break in the lesson let's see how fast I can get there" whilst the parents are thinking "shit I've got to drive us back to the airport on Saturday and if I break my arm we're screwed" and "I've got work next week, if I break my leg we're stuffed"

[SeaToSki]

Adults dont need to use the toilet every half an hour and almost 3 yr olds do. Getting a 3 yr old in full ski equipment to the toilet is a 20 min hurdle race in undressing, tripping and whining. Adults can tell if they are getting cold and tired and say they need to go in to warm up, 3 yr olds cant so the instructors tend to take them in every 45 mins just in case.

If you want to try a little skiing with the 3 yr old, see if you can borrow some boots and skis and a backpack style lead. Take her onto a small slope with you wearing very grippy hiking boots. Then let her go down the slope while you hold the lead and see if she can figure out how to do pizza skis to turn and stop (youtube videos are your friend). She will get the feel for it and have fun, and its quite easy to achieve. They might not let you do this on the actual bunny slopes, but there is bound to be an edge of the resort you can use around a base lodge

[dontcallmethatyoucunt]

good advice from people on here.

[10thingsIhateAboutTheDailyMail]

We went skiing for the first time ever last year, and loved it.

Kids were 12 and 14, and were learning MUCH quicker than DH and me. Glad they were in a different group. They progressed much quicker

Also, forexample, I fell off the ski lift twice (Bridget Jones style) but the kids had no trouble

In your shoes, I'd put the oldest in a class, and take turns with your DH who skies and who has the toddler (morning sessions for one of you, pm ones for the other. The pm skier may need a private instructor though as most classes are morning)

[10thingsIhateAboutTheDailyMail]

Wobytide, yes those are exactly the differences in kids and parents' thought processes

[cestlavielife]

"Make like a pizza" is kid language.

The instructor is down at their level language and games wise.

Adults get more age appropriate language and instructor might explain the technical reason behind something at an adult level.

[cestlavielife]

Think of a swim lesson for a 7 yr old vs one for adult who can t swim.

[xyzandabc]

Adults and oldest have a few lessons at an indoor ski slope in the UK before you even think of spending loads of money going to an actual ski resort.
You'll find out if you enjoy it and if you can do a basic snowplough before you go in to on the slope lessons you'll get so much more out of your holiday and won't spend the entire week on one nursery slope.
I'd also wait until the youngest is 4 then put them in lessons too.

[LIZS]

Either book lo into a creche, where she can get some outdoor play , decide that only your older child and h will ski or save the money and wait until she is older. It can be a very long 3 hours for a toddler who has to wait to take turns, follow instructions and wander around in cumbersome skis and many skischools start at 4/5 due to physical development. Have seen many a lesson where disgruntled small kids have been left to cry or play at the side while lesson continues without them. That you say she can't do without you suggests she is not ready. You will not be able learn alongside your toddler and need to be very confident on your own ability before you can help.

[museumum]

Yes yes yes to learning the absolute basics here in the U.K. snow done ideally or dry slope - at least how to put your skis on and move around without falling over.

[PointeShoesAndTutus]

I used to be an instructor. Someone will take the 3 of you (most places won't touch 2 yo) but it won't be the best.

One of the main differences mentally I noticed with adults v kids is expectations. Kids don't care if they spent a week lying on their back in the snow, or hitting things with a stick. If they want to stop, they stop. Adults are conscious (perhaps it's subsconscious!) they've paid X for the trip, and they want to be able to tell Margaret they did the blue run, and they don't want to be the rubbish skier. They put more pressure on themselves to succeed. Ironically, the kids almost always do better.

Then there's a whole host of physical difference. Children's centre of balance is much lower. If they fall, they tend to bounce. I taught for 5 years and had one child break a bone (he was 9 and an incredible skier already, fell on a jump). Most weeks at least one adult in ski school will fall and break something (although often when they're not in lessons but practicing independently in the afternoons ). As such, children are less scared of falling and often see it as fun.

Children often don't have the physical strength to run skis parallel until they're around 7 years old, so spend far longer in snowplough/pizza, which is a comfortable position for them. For most adults, the pressure on the knees and thighs in snowplough is painful so they want to run skis parallel asap.

Then there's what you can do as an instructor. With a 5 year old, for example, is often take them up the drag lifts between my knees. If they got tired or there was a tricky bit of piste I could ski with them laid back on my legs between my skis. I can use reins with the more maverick wild child style kids. I can ski backwards and catch them if they can't stop. There's no way I can take an older teen/adult between my skis or catch them at speed, it'd knock me (and them!) over!

[cestlavielife]

Most snow domes do a 2 or 3 hour basic learn to ski session. Well worth it.

[FinallyHere]

You might want to start building up some strength. Look out for exercises to prepare for skiing...the one i remember is to sit with your back against a wall...and no chair. Sit so your thighs are parallel to the ground and well, just maintain that position.

Agony, but better get used to it before you get to the slopes.

[Oblomov18]

Lots of dry slope ski lessons, starting now.

[wonkylegs]

We've just come back from a family skiing holiday
Our group consisted of a 20mo, 4yo, 9yo, 10yo, 13yo, and 6 adults from 38-70
We went to LaTania - Courchevel

The 20mo just pottered about on sledges and in the snow and we did an at Aquamotion water park for him and his 4yo cousin. We could have got him lessons they will take them from 18mo in one of the schools but felt it was more hassle than it was worth so just made sure there was an adult in the party not skiing at all times

The 4yo did 2hr morning lessons with kids her age (small group) and was amazing after a week. She skied in the afternoon towards the end of the week with her parents.

The 9yo did 4hr morning lessons with kids his age (small group) and was also fab after a week. He skied every afternoon with the adults and wasn't fazed by his dad taking him on some hard runs.

The older kids (who had skied before) and adults had 2 private group lessons to improve technique but otherwise just skied. tBH the 10yo could have done with lessons too but her parents didn't want to pay for them.

I'd say pick a resort / accommodation with options for LO's to do other things besides ski. They will get tired and won't want to ski all day. Consider going with a larger group so you can split up and do things / lessons etc with some overlap for childcare so that no one feels put upon. Kids like the company too, it also meant we had critical numbers for board games after tea.

The youngest we've taken skiing was 2yrs and 4m and he did very little but pootle about on plastic skis. He was also very good on his feet and not bothered by falling over. If they are little consider putting them in pull ups under ski gear even if toilet trained just in case there is short notice for a toilet stop. I also choose ski gear carefully so it's easy to access - trousers and top combos etc

[relaxitllbeok]

The trouble with dry slope lessons is they're much less fun and it might put you off - might be better to get hooked on snow first and then use that to advance!

Does your 3yo actively want to ski this year? Our small kid wasn't keen enough for the sheer complication of boots/bindings/skis until 5, but we had great skiing holidays anyway. Pick somewhere with a good long sledge run in the village (Val Thorens has one for example) and take with you or buy when there one of the small round plastic sledges. Take a sturdy bucket and spade! Take turns with your DH skiing and looking after the little one. Some places (Flaine I think is one) have a parents' ski pass that is transferable between you for this purpose. (It's a pity you won't get to ski together, but if your 3yo can't be left that's inevitable: you won't be competent to ski looking after yourself and a 3yo and a newly skiing 7yo in your first week, anyway.)

My biggest general tip: remember it's supposed to be fun. (Then it will be!)

[Voliday]

Thanks for all the replies.
Happy to wait til youngest is four then. Just was sure I'd heard toddlers get started by now in Scandi snowy countries!

We are a family who likes to do stuff together - I would still be keen to have group lessons as a family rather than send my kids off - I don't mind if we have to go at their pace.

We'll get cracking on the indoor slopes in the meantime. Cheers.

[BubblesBuddy]

Yes but in snowy countries the parents teach them. They are not beginners together. Look at companies like Powder Byrne for lessons and child care. Most families do not learn to ski together. As said above, different needs and skills.

[LIZS]

But they will mind if they have to go at yours! Dd was on skis at 3 but we lived out there and took dd out regularly to slide and stomp around in fine weather during the season. It didn't really benefit her longer term though, when we only went for the odd week.