AIBU to feel uncomfortable about my 5yo starting skiing?

[Comfortable8520]

I’d really appreciate some honest views as I’m quite torn on this.

I didn’t grow up in the UK, and where I’m from skiing wasn’t a social or normal activity at all. There wasn’t any sense that you might be missing out if you didn’t do it.

Because of that, I’ve always seen skiing as quite a risky sport. All of my friends who ski regularly have, at some point, broken something or had a fairly serious injury. So in my mind it feels like one of those things where, if you do it long enough, something will eventually happen.

Now my DC is 5, and I’m genuinely surprised by how many parents around us are already getting their children into skiing. Some started doing this every year, and I know school trips can become a thing later on too.

I feel really conflicted.

On one hand, I don’t feel comfortable actively encouraging a sport that I associate with a real risk of fractures over time. It feels like I’d be setting DC on a path that increases the chance of injury.

On the other hand, I don’t want DC to feel left out in the future if this is something many of their peers do and talk about.

So AIBU to feel like this and hesitate to get DC into skiing?

Would really appreciate hearing how others approached this.

They start them off gentle op. Nice gentle slipes and slow speeds. Make aure they start off with a qualified instructor.

Your kid might not even like it and then you won't have to worry any more.

We all ski. Ds broke his arm once slipping over in the car park. That's our only broken bone so far.

I would be anxious, it is risky. But I think it's one of those assessed risks that children can take and your/my/parental anxiety isn't a reason to not allow a child to do it.

Socially, not skiing isn't going to hold any kid back.

I guess you are the sort of family op is coming across! Not everyone’s experience though and can be an expensive way to find out.

Fwiw we had one who learnt to ski really quickly from aged 4 when we lived somewhere he could get lessons every weekend in peak season and the occasional long weekend or week, then just an annual week after we returned to UK. He is still an excellent skier, last went after a 10 year break and it was like he had last skied just the week before. Other dc only got annual holidays and never really gained that confidence, not helped by having a very slight frame. So nothing is certain.

Yes, it's disingenuous to pretend it's not a very risky sport. It's also a money pit. That said, it's also not the 5 year olds getting hurt generally so the risk is probably low at this stage.

Things my DS did that resulted in injuries-
Falling off the sofa - cut to the back of his head that needed stitches
Slipping on a wet floor - broken collarbone
Falling over in a shop face first onto a glass shelf - cut to the face that needed stitches
Riding his little scooter - compound forearm fracture of both radius and ulna that had to be reset under general anaesthetic and many months in two different casts

Thing my DS injured snowboarding-
Nothing, just the odd bruise because he learned on a dry slope and they’re harsh

I am sorry that was not my intention to make anyone feel that way at all! I am from a culture where people don't really ski much, it's just not a thing. I was quite surprised it's so popular in the area where I currently live😐

IME a lot of skiing injuries happen to people (especially boys/men) who go skiing for the first time in their teens or 20s and decide to try to keep up with their more experienced mates rather than having lessons.

If your son doesn’t learn to ski as a child he might well want to go on a ski trip later - and if all his mates can ski by then he might make exactly this sort of daft decision.

So arguably you are keeping him safer long term by getting him proper lessons as a child.

If 5 feels too young then why not wait a couple of years? They learn quicker at 7.

Skiing is not a part of British culture in the main. I don't know anyone that goes skiing.

Thank you for saying that! It sounds horrible but hearing I am not the only one anxious over skiing makes me feel a bit better. All the people around don't seem to have a slightest bit of a worry.

If you as parents cant ski, id wait until 8 or 9, so they are capable of carrying tgeir own skis etc. That sort of stuff is awkward for inexperienced parents.

Or dont go if its not something you enjoy. Let them get a bit of inexperience on an indoor slope, and on a ski trip at school if they want.

DH does go skiing with his job... and they teach people whove never been. He was oaid to get his instructor qualifications fir that reason. They see it as team building.

Maybe don't generalise the whole of the UK.....its common in large parts of Scotland on either the council run dry slopes (which is cheaper then most activities) or in Winter at the Scottish ski resorts (there are 5 btw!)

Also not incredibly expensive to rent, buy yes if from new but not so much second hand/ex rental kit.

TBH DH can ski (he lived in a country with snow/mountains). He enjoys it but not crazily in love with it. We agreed that he would not take DC skiing until I am ok with it.

Where I am, the school ski trips are for the less competent skiers or for those that have never skied, and the trip is
their chance to try it out. We are a family of skiers, kids started lessons at age 2 as we live in the Alps. Much better to learn as a very young child as you grow up to be proficient.

The dangers are the other skiers, mostly Brits who don’t ski often and don’t grow up skiing so are dangerous on the slopes, think their good, but I see so many trying to go fast in an egg shape on the flats but almost all of them put the sharp end of the poles in the air. Obviously there are very many proficient British skiers, but the majority learn as adults and only go once a week, and so never really improve.

anyway OP, don’t wait until secondary school as they’ll probably have no fear and no ability, so will be more dangerous and likely to hurt themselves and others. If your child is interested then get them in ski school this winter.

It is a great sport where you ge fresh air and my family and I can attest to that - we are at the end of the season enjoying the last of the snow with beautiful sunny skies.

It wouldn't matter what sport you did or even daily activity there is always a risk. As a youngster I broke legs and arms doing skipping! (tripped over the rope), playing netball and basketball and even just running when I tripped. You are not being unreasonable to worry but if your DC would like to try it then give them the opportunity to at least try, they may not even enjoy it.

Well I think £5k plus ( a good few years ago) was bloody expensive to " try something out"

Do t know any of the kids that actually went

£5k is a ludicrous price for a school ski trip - our extended family (me, DS, DBro and DM) manage a week in Austria at peak half term prices for less than that.

Would you let your 5 year old ride a motorbike? Horse riding and skiing are both more dangerous with a higher risk of serious injury.

Our school’s last trip (just before Xmas) was £1,200 all in, for a week in Italy.

A 5 year old is not going to break their leg skiing, OP.

They will be in ski school, going down very gentle slopes, all in a little convoy. It’s very cute. Their centre of gravity is so low, they don’t even fall over.

It’s teenagers you need to worry about. Bombing down, racing each other, going off-piste, doing tricks, going down harder runs than their skill level.

I never worried about DS getting injured when he was little. I struggle to watch him now he is older, confident and cocky.

@Comfortable8520 skiing if fabulous, but is it something you are intetested in. It was our family Holiday, so nearly 30 years of fun. My kids have broken bones but mainly because they are racers so the risk is higher.

Yeah I agree. Did similar with the 5 days in New york for a business studies trip. That was£1800 then ( 2009) Id paid 2k for 4 of us to go the same year for a week. DD didn't go on the school one

That's the difference Italy rather than Canada

I find this baffling. Most families I know do not go skiing. Three do (London based). Your child will not be disadvantaged if you do not take them skiing. If you would enjoy and can afford a skiing holiday then go on one, but don't go just because you think everyone else is! They aren't, unless you have a very wealthy social circle.
I went on two school ski trips as a teenager. When my son got to the same age, I felt bad that I couldn't afford to take him on one, so I booked a couple of lessons on a UK dry ski slope. No need to spend thousands to get the experience, and certainly no need for a 5 year old to have peer pressure to experience it yet

If you don't ski yourself why would you start sending your child? If they want to take it up when they're older thats different.
If everyone on your street took up motorcycle racing would you feel it necessary to send her to that? It's ridiculous to care what other people are doing. At 5 she's not going to suffer from FOMO

Eh? I grew up in the activity and it’s definitely not the the popular, mainstream hobby you think it is! It’s the province of the privileged/well off. That said, I’m not sure it’s any more dangerous than a lot of other sports so with proper instruction, if my child had the opportunity to take part, I’d let them.