ski VS winter sun with 2.5 and 4yr old?

[noonar]

just back from mousses, lefkas, and am already thinking of planning our next holiday- dh thinks i've got obsessive compulsive- holiday disorder!

anyway, which is a better bet ski with child care- we've looked at espirit ski, or winter sun? is skiing with a 2.5 and 4.75 yo too ambitious/ too much like hard work? we're wondering if it's better to wait till next year to ski, when dd2 will be 3.5. anyone got any views/ experiences on skiing with litle ones? don't think i'd be happy for dd2 - 2.5 to do full days everyday in a creche as she's not used to it. TIA for any advice.

Here in colorado they will let 3 yr olds ski. So we're going this season coming. Quick glance at Esprit it's 3 too. So I would wait for next year. If dd2's not used to full day everyday then it would be a very long day for her IMO. My two are desperate to get up on the snow. But hey it's still hot and sunny here, although change is on the way. Season should open end of October though in Loveland. So I'd go for Winter Sun this year and save up for colorado next . But hey I'm biaised, but it is lovely out here and very very kid friendly. Beauty of where i live is you can drive up and ski during the day and then settle down in Boulder to a great family night out. It's also a lot cheaper too.

thanks, ali, think you could be right. i've not been skiing since 2001 so one more year won't hurt, i guess! i'd love to go to america, but it's along way for us to go when the alps are so close! i reckon we'll cross the atlantic pretty soon but for some serious sightseeing- child friendly, of course!

anyone else been skiing with little ones?

It can be hard work with under 5's especially so you need to have a good back up plan for childcare even if your older child tries it or be prepared to be flexible in your expectations to ski youself. Even older kids can tire quickly so half day lessons may well prove enough and some European resorts won't allow them in group lessons before 4 or 5. Local resort childcare may well not have many English speaking English and staffing ratios will differ to UK so it depends on how accommodating your child is as to whether that is an option. The weather and time of season can be a big factor as if it is cold or snowing they can get very miserable, so make sure you have good snow boots (not just wellies!), gloves, sunglasses and ski suits.

tbh I'd recommend leaving it for a year or 2 if you are uncertain as to how your younger child will cope. Both ours were over 4 1/2 before they took to it with gusto and dd had spent a lot of time in various creches in the meanwhile, which is another cost and hassle to factor in.

thanks, liz. Hmmmmm..that gives me some food for thought.

"English speaking staff" - !!

We took ours first when they were 5, 3 and 6 months. Went to Silver Star in Canada and it was fab. The older boys had ski school in the morning and the baby went in the creche. Later in the week ds1 skiied with dh in the afternoon and I played with the other two in the apartment. Then in the early evening we did snow mobiles - kids sized, a rock wall, and tubing and just potted about. Last year (when 7, 5 and 18 months) we went to smugglers notch in vermont. Again had a great time, but the snow was really poor. Both the older ones did all day ski school - but the younger ones ended with playtime indoors when they got tired. They also go to try snow boarding. The youngest one didn't really like the creche that much - but it was very good - he just wasn't used to being left. Not sure about this year. Maybe just dh and the older 2 will go somewhere as little one still too young to ski. going to States/Canada gets excellent english speaking instructors for the kids and also the rest of the class speak english too so it makes it easier for them to make friends.

ok, so would an advanced 2.5 yr old be able to do any sleding or similar outdoor activities? is 2.5 defo too young for ant ski kindergarten? what about if we left it till april, when she'll be 2 and 9 mnths?

'any kindergarten', i meant, sorry! tee hee 'ant' indeed!

If it is warm enough then sledding etc are fine with little ones but it is worth picking a resort with facilities like a swimming pool or permanent ice rink so you have a choice of thinsg to do. Also by April the snow can be less predictable so there may not be as much in the resort unless you go at altitude or are lucky enough to get a fresh fall in late March/ealry April , as this year.

Some ski kindergartens might take them that age (if toilet trained) but it would be predominantly outdoor play based rather than any actual skiing. Ski "lessons" for little ones tend to be really confined to stomping around on an incline with the occasional slip and the problem is that they have to wait their turn not moving much of the time so get cold and bored easily and then may not be happy if they fall and get wet.

thanks liz. maybe next year,when theyre 3.5 and 5.75 would be better.

I think you'd find it a lot easier in a year's time tbh !

Where I live (Swiss Alps) they won't let children under 4 into the ski school.

Bring them here, and I'll look after the youngest while you go skiing

aah, footprint, what a sweetie! iguess they say no to under 4s for a reason.

I worked as a children's ski teacher here a couple of years ago, with the 4-5 year olds. It was fantastic fun, most of the time! Some children that age, or even younger, take to it like ducks to water. Others spend the whole two hours crying for their mums.
The hardest thing is having to take them to the toilet and work out how to get them out of all those ski clothes!!!

I'm quite serious by the way, I'd love to have some fellow English people around

footprint - whereabouts in Switzerland are you?

LizP - Silver Star is fab for children isn't it - always great conditions and so few people on the slopes? We have friends in Vernon, the town just below Silver Star, and go over every year. ds did his first independent sliding there at about 18 months, and skied down from the top at 2 and a half!

LunarSea - yes we loved Silver Star and will go back again sometime. There were so few people that the kids group ski lessons were basically 1 to 1 for the week. But it is a long way for a week - do you know how reliable the snow is at Easter - school easter hols all seem to be in April for the next few years.

Noonar - smugglers lets them ski from 2.5 - they go to creche but are taken out for an hour once or twice a day on skis if they want. Problem is the snow - we would go there at Easter when ds3 would be 2.5 but don't reckon there would be any snow. I can't find anywhere else that teaches them this young.

LizP - I've skiied at Silver Star on closing day (usually just after the Easter weekend unless it's an early Easter) and it's been fine. A bit soft in the afternoons at the bottom perhaps, but you expect it at that time of year. They always say that they close becuase the locals all go off and bike/canoe/golf instead once the valley turns green, so it's not economical to stay open, not because there isn't enough snow.

We do always go for 2 weeks though - if you buy your passes early you can get a season pass which covers Big White and Silver Star (and which gets you discounts on lessons and childcare) for about what it would cost for a 10 day pass.

thanks everyone. footprints, where exactly are you? What's your nearest resort?

LunarSea - thanks for that tip - maybe next year!