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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Holidays

Dilemma - To take the kids or not?

34 replies

crunchie · 18/10/2004 09:26

OK here's the thing. We want to go skiing this winter (JAN) and cannot decide if we take kids or not. Granny has offered to have them - They are 3 and 5 - and if they went they woukd bein ski school and kindergarden.

Logic says leave them with granny, but my heart says take them??

Oh wise oracle of mumsnet - what shall I do??

OP posts:

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Hulababy · 18/10/2004 09:30

If it was me, I would take them and let them enjoy their first skiing holiday. Both are old enough to join in with the skiing/sledging/snow activities. I think ski clubs are normally only half a day. You could then enjoy the other half of the day as a family, doing the gentler skiing or other activities together.

Trifle · 18/10/2004 09:32

Take them and granny! Built in babysitter.

crunchie · 18/10/2004 10:03

Could take granny and grandpa, but then there would be no-one to leave the dog with!!

OP posts:

marthamoo · 18/10/2004 10:04

Take the dog too - is it a husky?

codswallop · 18/10/2004 10:07

Take themn!

codswallop · 18/10/2004 10:07

why shouldnt they go?

crunchie · 18/10/2004 10:36

Keep going with your comments!! I suppose I am listening to people saying that they are too young etc. Has anyone else taken a 3 yr old skiing??

Also cost does come into it!! Taking them adds about £750 to the package (including ski school etc). Trying to put cost aside is the hard thing

OP posts:

MrsWobble · 18/10/2004 10:48

take them - but don't expect too much of them as far as skiing goes. They will have a brilliant time playing in the snow and if cost is an issue I wouldn't book them into ski school. Find a creche that will play with them and give them a go on skis yourself - then if they really take to it you could book them lessons. We wasted money on ski lessons for children too young to enjoy it so my youngest will only start this year at age 5.

zubb · 18/10/2004 10:57

depends what you want from the holiday really. If you would like a family holiday and were worried that the kids would be too young, then as most posters have said you should take them as they would be OK. But if you wanted a break for just the two of you, then you are lucky that granny can have them, so take advantage of it.

cab · 18/10/2004 11:13

Crunchie we took dd this Jan (aged 3)and the Jan before for two weeks both times - she loved it. The first time around (aged 2) she didn't ski but had lots of fun with kids club inside and out playing in the snow. This year she did a little bit of ski-ing in the 'ski garden'- not up the mountains, but was more than happy to be in the ski/kids club from 9 to 5 most days. Obviously having the kids around curtails nights out somewhat but you'll usually find plenty of willing babysitters in most resorts.
If you'll miss them too much take them with you, but as granny is willing maybe it's a good opportunity for you to have some time to yourselves?

LIZS · 18/10/2004 11:37

Think it depends what sort of holiday you want to have. Your kids are old enough to have a great time, be it at Ski school/Kindergarten, nursery or just having fun in the snow. However it could be seriously cold in January especially if you go up to altitude and grizzly small children who don't want to brave it can be a pita.

dd has been out in snow from 4 months old and really only started to have any fun in it last winter at 2.5. However we still do skiing holidays with her and ds (6) but it has to be compromised on their terms. We took grandparents when it was just ds to worry about. Now we stay at a hotel which is geared up to cater for them and dd will start to ski properly this winter aged 3 although I don't think she'll last a full lesson.

If you want to go and have a ski-until-you-drop, worry-free break (even if in ski school you might need to be prepared to hang around while they settle)then don't take them. If you are happy to fit in with them or go with a childfriendly company who can help you manage their needs as well as give you time to enjoy the skiing, then take them. Do make sure they have proper gear for the weather though - there is nothing more pitiful than small kids with frozen feet in wellies and soggy gloves and anoraks.

krocket · 18/10/2004 11:39

I would definitely take them. I don't think 3 is too young to start skiing

crunchie · 18/10/2004 15:32

Oh at least you guys see why I want to take them. Logic was saying leave them, everyone at work was saying leave them. At least you lot have taken 3 yr olds and they have enjoyed themselves.

Anyone else taken young kids???

OP posts:

hill · 19/10/2004 09:04

My parents put me on the skis as soon as I could toddle around..learned to ski and walk at the same time. :0) 3 is not too young to start skiing, don't worry! I intend to take my DS with us for his first skiing holiday when he is 3. The children's classes at ski resorst do cater for near-babies (2-3 year olds) too. Have a great time whatever you decide!

princesspeahead · 19/10/2004 09:11

I would take them and have a gentle snow-filled holiday (without ski school) IF it was in March. As it is in Jan, I would leave them. It will be too cold for them (esp the 3 yr old and esp because all signs point to this january being one of the coldest on record practically). Children and serious cold really don't mix.

Or alternatively bin the skiing idea and all go and find some sun instead!

motherinferior · 19/10/2004 09:13

I have to say that personally I would be tempted to leave them, but that is only because the very idea of a few child-free days is such a tempation. You are clearly an Earth Mother, though [ducks and runs]

carla · 19/10/2004 09:14

Take, take, take! I've never been skiing, but to picture a 3 and 5 year old having capers in the snow would be worth it for me! I bet they'd love it.

ggglimpopo · 19/10/2004 09:26

Message withdrawn

ggglimpopo · 19/10/2004 09:27

Message withdrawn

MrsWednesday · 19/10/2004 10:10

I took my DS skiing this year when he was 18 months and it was a complete nightmare. He was just too young - there were no creche facilities available as I left it too late to book, he couldn't go to ski school, he hated the snow, couldn't understand why everyone was wearing silly clothes/goggles, and could hardly walk anywhere because it was too icy. He (and me!) spent most of the time cooped up in the chalet.

I would definitely try again when he's a bit older though (was thinking around 3 would be a more suitable age).

hill · 19/10/2004 11:06

ggglimpopo - my parents first took me to ski the winter before I turned 2 (I was born in May). That was only for days out in the mountains.Then, the winter after (so when I was about 2.5), we went up to the mountains for a week.

DH, DS and I be in Hungary this Dec., and if there's snow, we intend to take our one year old up the montains to play with/in the snow.

aloha · 19/10/2004 12:05

I agree with PPH. Esp about the sun bit, but then sliding down mountains in the freezing cold has never been my idea of fun, ever . Mind you, lots of wine in a chalet next to roaring fire sans kids could be fun, if you won't miss them too much.

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DEE7479551 · 19/10/2004 22:45

Why not consider a long weekend without the children. Personally I think taking the 3 year old could be a bit dodgy. The worst thing at this age is the cold; they can find it difficult to move around in their snow suits in a way that they are used, are not as active as an older child so get very cold, can't put their own gloves back on, spend more time standing around at ski school than doing anything else, and at the end of the day all of this can make for a very grumpy child. I would wait at least another year. Best of luck!

crunchie · 20/10/2004 13:55

Well I have decided to take them. Other children kearn to ski at 3 and my 3 yr old will be nearly 4. I also might take them to a dry ski slope prior to hols for a head start. Then, hopefully, they will have the feeling of skis on their feet and how to stand up/fall over stand up again. This should help their enjoyment on the holiday.

OP posts:

codswallop · 20/10/2004 13:55

a goo didea

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