Courchevel with Esprit in 2 weeks - Spritelets advice needed

[MyAngels]

Hi

We are off to Courchevel with Esprit on 23rd (so excited, am about to pop), and DD (3.9) is in Snow Club and Spritelets for the first time (ie all day). We go skiing every year, but this is the first time skiing with a child in a class/group environment (last time we went with Esprit she was in creche) and I'm a bit lost as to what's important to remember.

I don't want her to be cold, hungry, thirsty, lonely - does anyone have any tips to make all go as smoothly as possible so DH and I can enjoy a week of skiing...

I'm not normally a PFB type mother, but want her (and us) to enjoy ourselves.

DS (14 months) will be in creche and barely notice we're gone, so I'm not as worried about him.

Any advice and tips appreciated.

Thanks
x

Take plenty of spare gloves, socks, hats etc so she always has a dry warm set and you have some to lend to little friends.

Be prepared for her to have one day off if she is tired, and do build in some undemanding quality time with her - it's her holiday too.

we took 2 pairs of salopettes in case of 'accidents' so there would be a dry pair waiting.
definatly 2 pairs of ski gloves.
consider tying gloves to jacket with string/glove glue if not already got.
a big shopping bag to put skis/boots/helmet etc in.
small chocolates to put in pocket to cheer child up during lesson.(eg celebrations)
i don't know about esprit, but our last trip the tour operator gave out 'name stickers' with each childs name on, to stick on skis/helmets/boots etc. very useful, if you don't get them included, consider taking some.
rucksack to take child's 'day clothes' to nursery if you need that. also easy slip on shoes to walk down to lockers with eg crocs (but you may need snowboots if lockers outside)
lots of colouring books etc for downtime
travel sickness pills - mountain roads are very twisty!

Agree with greygirl's list but would also include a favourite teddy/blanket in her day pack for Snow Club.

Esprit do generally provide sticky labels for all their gear (ie skis, boots, helmets)

We take mini Mars bars with us to put in their jacket pocket for mid-class snack. It is such a mega treat as DCs never eat this at home but to be honest they need that sugar rush because just walking in those boots is enough to tire them out :)

Definitely factor in and make a deal with her about time together just the 2, 3 or 4 of you. I find both DCs are more amenable to spending some time away from me if we have a definite plan of doing something fun later that day (altho usually Spritelets have classes in afternoons so you could have a lovely lazy morning with hot choc and a snow man building session).

I think the key is to be realistic. It is quite exhausting for them at this age, ime and whilst some children dive head long into the routine, others don't do so well. Mine were totally different - DS1 cried every time we left him and hated classes for the first 2 years :( DS2 was literally the last child standing in Spritelets, long after all the others had given up and succumbed to hot choc break :o

Remember the sun cream and lip salve with SPF in.

Don't take too many 'normal clothes' - they will live in ski gear/ thermals.

Soft leggins/joggers are good for apre ski.

LABEL everything.

I am a paranoid mother and also tend to put a laminated card in their ski jacket pocket with name/ chalet/ age and our mobile numbers Last year DS1 told me it was OK, and I could stop doing that now... He's 11.

Just back from Esprit at Courcheval and its great.

DD was in sprite beginners and then in the snow club for the afternoon. Its a large room and they seemed to do loads of things with them including sledging and building an igloo outside.

They ask for a change of clothes for the morning and you leave the ski stuff in another room near the boots and they will bring it to them for their skiing in the afternoon. Take a snack for them each day on the ski lesson and if its nice they will do a picnic at the bottom of the magic carpet. If snowy they go inside. They get bussed in a mini bus too and from the beginners slopes with staff so they don't ski from the back of the chalet like all the other lessons do.

The rest of it is covered above, but have fun

slalomsuki - do you know where 4 year olds (Spritelets?) have their lessons? I was assuming it would be on the slopes outside the Chalet Hotel (Pralong)- or are they instead taken by minibus to the magic carpet area near the Jardin Alpin bubble? We're thinking of doing a last minute booking with Esprit in Courchevel at Easter, and have a 4 year old DS, and am trying to visualise where he will be having his lessons. Also, which ski school do they use locally? Thanks...

They use ESF and the lessons are in the Jardin Alpin. Esprit have a couple of drivers and car seats for the kids to ferry them too and fro. you won't need a pass fr them as under 5's are free on the lifts. If you want a full day's skiing then book snow club or at the very least supervised lunch. Spritelets ski in the afternoon and lunch is from 12 noon.

great thanks, good to know..