mad to take 4 year old skiing, who struggles with separation?

[perfectpanda]

Hi

DP is desperate to go skiing, and wants to take the dc (age 6 and 4) this year. I have a few doubts, and was interested to hear other peoples experience with their kids?

My younger dd (4) cried the first half term of starting reception, and the first term of swimming lessons, mostly separation issues I think. Have you seen many kids howling at ski school?! She will be with her sister, and I have no doubt she will get into it. I just wondered how common it is for kids to get overwhelmed by ski school. I'm not too fussed about skiing lessons myself, but I'm in no position to teach her myself and would want the kids in lessons. But is it the kind of place where I can hang around the class until she gets into it?

I don't really want to pay all that dosh for a week of tears and frustration, which won't really be fair on her, and I'm wondering if its better to leave it a year. I'm interested to hear what other people have found. Thanks!

We've just got back from a Christmas skiing holiday and did private lessons for my : 3 and 5 year olds - just 1 hour a day, which probably worked out at a similar cost to ski school. It worked brilliantly, as they were happy to be left (I don't think my 3 yr old would have coped well in a class) and learnt loads. The only problem was that my DH and I didn't get to ski much, but if you're not too worried about skiing maybe that wouldn't matter. I really recommend it as a family holiday - the children absolutely loved it. They were so excited about the snow and really took to skiing too. And we loved seeing them so happy!

Sorry but i think its bloody selfish, why not go on a holiday where you can all be together as a family? I know a family that did this, the children had a miserable time while the parents all had a jolly good jape on the ski slopes and i think they were left with baby sitters for the apres ski - they might as well have left the children at home (in fact it would have better for the kids if they had).

Maybe wait until they are old enough to enjoy it?

Lemis - they can't enjoy until they learn at any age though. Like I said ds1 is 5 and skis well so this year will ski with dh and I a lot more, ds2 is 3 so will be with private instructor still. If they start at 10 years or 15 years they would still be in same position of needing instructor at first.
Ours only have lessons 2 hrs a day, so have another 22hrs a day with us! They come out in the evening if we go out also

I just find it really odd that parents would effectively force a child into an activity just because once they learn, they might enjoy it? Maybe give them a choice? at 10 or 15 they can decide if they want to do it? I have managed to go 44 years without ever putting on a pair of skis, my life is not poorer for not having that experience.

Well ours have skipped into lessons ( as much as ski boots allow!), so def haven't been forced

Surely it's the same as any holiday? If you like the sun, but your children hate heat and hate sand, do you never go abroad in summer?

My 3 year old didn't want to walk in the rain to nursery this morning. I still made him. Sometimes they need to go places they might prefer not to

In regards to skiing, I'm sure most try a few lessons and if they don't like they stop. Child then goes into crèche/ childcare/ etc for a few hours in morning instead, then spend a the rest of the day sledging/ snowball fights/ swimming like they would even if they had or hadn't skied in the morning.

We have taken ours skiing from 6weeks. Didn't mean they skied themselves at that age! But the year after around a year they loved the snow/ food/ experiences of being in ski resort

Thats only because you have never skiied Lem!

It could equally be said about swimming, or going to the beach, or taking walks in the park!

Why not introduce children to new activities? If they enjoy it, it is something the family can do and enjoy on an active holiday in fresh air and nature for years to come!

I guess it depends on whether you value active holidays, or laying on a sun lounger to relax with your family. I think kids should be encouraged to try swim in the sea, as well as ski.

Lem.. Skiing is very much a family holiday! We are a very active family and my 5 year old has been asking since about September when we are going skiing again. Ski school is only for a couple of hours in the morning and we spend the rest of the day with our kids. When they were little this meant taking turns of going off to ski. Why on earth should people wait 10 or 15 years?

If you leave skiing until you are convinced they will like it (which you can't be sure of anyway) it's much hard to learn! Much easier to pick up from toddlerhood.

Besides, in my experience pretty much every child given the right environment and encouragement enjoys skiing pretty quickly. We have a extended group of friends we ski with, some 13 kids from 2-10, and all love it; most started at about 2. Of course, if they hate it, you stop - no one is talking about forcing a child into hours of lessons if they really hate it! As I said, ours hated ski school, so we took them out; they loved private lessons and skiing with us though. But everyone has to start every sport somehow, and it's often the case that something takes a little getting used to - swimming, for example. And the kids have a fab time off the slopes too - swimming, hot tub, fireworks, sledging, and just playing together in the snow.

If you don't ski yourself I can see why the concept seems odd but it's a fab family holiday.

Can I ask if anyone has tried their kids out with lessons at an indoor Snowslope here in the UK first?

SD(9) & SS (6) are really really keen for us to take them skiing but they both tend to quickly give up on things if they don't get it straight away, I'm in 2 minds whether to let them try here before spending all that money taking them abroad?

Not lessons, but my boys are happy to go to the indoor ski slope in Hemel Hempstead. They do tutorials and lessons. My oldest got an impromptu lessons in jumping and doing tricks on rails with the instructor and he was happy that he got to improve his technique.

im not saying its not fun. if you like that sort of thing but i don't think that going on a holiday where you leave your child in the care of someone else constitutes a family holiday. I would say exactly the same about the family that sends their child to the "fun"clubs at butlin's.

I like horse riding holiday's. Would i take my four year old on one? no because they wouldn't be able to join in with me.

Lem - a holiday is for everyone though. Not just child.

Ski holiday - my child gets left 2 hrs in childcare

Norma work day - my child gets left up to 10hrs in childcare.

Far more time together abroad

Childcare in ski resorts tends to be nothing short of fabulous (admittedly in my limited experience!) It's a great family holiday- and kids tend to become reasonably competent very quickly.

There is something so destressing and relaxing about being on the slopes - you have to concentrate just enough that you don't think about work, but not so much you don't take in the beauty and fresh air. I've also found everyone gets a great sleep because of the amount of exercise, and the fact there are no lie ins!

The younger the better for taking children in my view!

I would agree that bunging kids in childcare is not a family holiday as such but that's not necessarily a terrible thing.

That isn't what the OP is proposing though. She is asking about lessons for learning to ski. It's a good idea to do this as young as possible as children's centres of gravity is lower. After one week of lessons it's perfectly feasible to ski ss a family with a 4 and 6 y o .

Scarlett yes we did a couple of lessons at an indoor slope before shelling out on a holiday. The children were young and we were not sure they would enjoy skiing as they were not hugely adventurous. It was not cheap but it was fantastic for just getting them used to all the kit and gaining some confidence. We then did short private lessons for them together when we eventually got to the resort and they progressed really fast.

We have found a great company in Chatel www.snowfocus.com They have fantastic in-house nannies who really bond with the children. It is the nannies who take the children to their lessons, which are in small groups. If needed, the "Ski Nanny" who knows all the instructors herself, will happily stay with the group throughout the lesson. She lunches with the children on the mountain as well and keeps in touch with feedback by phone during the day. This worked so well with my clingy twins that we would not dream of going anywhere else.
If you do actually want to be involved in the lesson, they have also started running some weeks as "Mum, Dad and Me" We have not used this, as the girls are skiing happily by themselves, but it looks an interesting idea. I think there is a link on the Website.

Bit late to this discussion.
Whatever you do, make sure you don't abandon your child to the tender mercies of the ESF ( french ski school). Spotted v young children in huge groups, falling over, crying, being left behind. Find a british company - DS quite enjoyed his lessons with New Generation, small class size, friendly Italian guy teaching them.
I deliberately waited until DS was old enough (7) to carry his own skis and sort out his kit.
I just go for long ski weekends with friends instead - much cheaper when you don't have to bring everyone or go during the school holidays.

Family Ski use ESF but have their British Ski School helpers in the groups with the youngest children. They help the children who are guests with Family Ski (when they fall, with their gloves, to go to the toilet etc) and work very closely with the French instructors. That works really well, so don't automatically dismiss ESF.

Interesting thread. DH and I have more or less abandoned skiing holidays apart from odd weekends here and there.

DS has learned on dry slopes (9) and is confident but we could never have left him at 3, 4 or 5.

DDs, 3 and 6 have never skied but I also doubt we could leave them in childcare either. They are lovely children but like being close to us!

I also personally wouldn't enjoy a holiday where I didn't see them during the day but I have no issue with families where everyone is happy with that! I would love to have the sort of children who would attend an activity club even for a few hours. Also you don't always get to eat together on the packages we've looked at!

I wonder if self catering and taking Granny and Grandad might work!

Very interesting ideas on here though, so thank you!

sitoff I think that familiarising them with kit etc here in the UK is a great point, I'll book them in later in the year at MK I think, thanks

I see more of the children when I am skiing than I do the rest of the year!

The older two have asked for private lessons for a couple of days so they can do the stuff we aren't brave enough to do at speeds we can't do! The rest of the week they will be with us.

Our five year old will be in ski school from 10-12, have lunch with us and then back to ski school from 1-3. We will either all ski together after 3 or head down the mountain for cake and the hot tub.

At home DH and I work full time and juggle the childcare between us, so when we ski we get to spend some quality time together as well as doing something we all enjoy.

You just need to pick your ski company very carefully - I would never have left a young child with ESF or any other company which has high numbers per group or won't let you eat with your children in the evening.

Like I said before I really can't praise Ski2 enough.

We saw lots of DS on skiing holiday ( too much probably ).

He was in ski school for 2.5 hrs in the morning, then all ours after that. We booked it independently, so no wraparound care or evening babysitters and knowing DS's personality I felt that a whole day in ski school would be too much for him.
DS was of a reasonable standard before we went, as he had been for a few sets of lessons on the dry slope.

I did a little less skiing than ideally I would have liked - DS flagged quite early in the afternoon, and as DH was a beginner he couldn't ski with him. However we did other things like sledging which he enjoyed and just a bit of messing around as well.

It's not the same as skiing pre DCs - or it isn't unless they go into all day ski school and/or you use a company with childcare, but it was still a very enjoyable holiday and it was nice to see DS progressing each day.

ESF are not always bad. It depends on the time of year, instructor, and location.

DD had a great week with ESF in St Martin de Belleville. There were three in her group and her teacher was lovely. Perhaps that's not typical though.

Lem, you've got to 44 without skiing. Never say never. And it's the same with lots of things really, though, isn't it? DD does a couple of hobbies that she really really loves but that I doubt she'd be aware of even as possibilities if we hadn't put them to her as options.

Mine only ever have lessons for 2 hours per day or so. The rest of the time is spent with us.

It makes for a great family holiday if you all enjoy it. One of my happiest memories is seeing my 4 year old doing her first proper run on a sunny day in December, and being so happy with herself that she burst into spontaneous song and sung all the way down to the bottom

I've done a combination of most of the things already stated here.

For 2nd child we started with dry ski slop lessons which were frankly a waste of time. He wasn't ready or interested at 4.

What worked well for us, especially when #1 and #2 were quite proficient and #3 was 4 or 5 was sharing the skiing so Dh would take the older children for half a day and I would stay in the chalet, do a bit of sledging, snowman making and we would meet at lunchtime and swap. Don't underestimate how long it will take you to get togged up in the morning. Sometimes we did a full day each - depends.

We only bought one adult ski pass so saved a few quid in the process !!

It only takes a couple of years before they are really into it and then you can spend the whole day as a family group.

I've done all sorts of the suggestions on here.

DS1 started in ski school at 4. Loved it. Organised independently with English speaking ski school. He's 11 now and skis with me, all runs from green to black.

DS2 started in ski school at 5. Also loved it. He's now 8 and is only having 3 days' of lessons this year, he will ski with me the other 4 days. He can also ski some black runs (I check them out first).

I've been with Esprit a couple of times, and they were brilliant. The children stayed with the other children from the chalet, had a great time at lunch and I met them early afternoon to practice going up and down nursery slopes to start with, then right up the mountain as they got better and more confident.

Both my DSs are very sporty though, and confident. Neither had any separation issues.

Best ski schools I've found are the Austrian ones. They have various options - 2 hours in morning and then collect, 2 hours in morning, lunch then collect, or 2 hours in morning followed by lunch and a 2 hour "fun" session in the afternoon - my two absolutely loved the fun lessons, they were taught to jump and whizz through tracks between the trees. On the last day they all had a slalom race, with photos.

It is a fantastic family holiday now that they can both ski. We are lucky in that we all absolutely love the mountains and the skiing. The DSs would rather ski than go on holiday in the summer. We have a brilliant time socially as well - I always book to go in a catered chalet, often with family or friends. Buying your own food up the mountain can be very very expensive, and this way the kids can go to bed earlier than me, there are early suppers provided for them if you want that (and yes, I did sit with them when they ate). That has always been an option - if you book with a child friendly company like Esprit, Mark Warner, Family Friendly Skiing (fab little company operating from La Tania) kids are always welcome at dinner (in my experience anyway).

Best tip - avoid the ESF. I would recommend Austria every time over France.