4 yo skiing, is it worth it?

[Salkon]

I'm thinking of taking my 4yo skiing, I'm not a good skier don't love it, and his Dad has never been.

However my dad has a place over there and wants us to go out for a week with him - he will cover hotel etc as his place isn't big enough for us all.

My DS is sensitive and quite clingy. I'm not sure he would get on in ski school... My Dad thinks I can stay with him which I wouldn't mind doing (although I'm not a very good skier either 😂). I would just take him out if he got upset. Is it a waste to just take him so we can a) spend time with family and b) my partner and I can go into lessons on different days/times.

I really want to go but want to just relax and not be overly worried by the skking but I understand this not the point.

hyguhiJHBGYT7 - you did this yesterday on another thread.

Realistically you wouldn’t be allowed to stay with him in a group kids’ lesson, you’d need a private instructor for your family. This might be an option depending on budget? Does your DP want to learn, if so they would both be beginners so could be taught together (and you too if you wouldn’t find it too frustrating going at beginner pace).

What’s the resort - are there plenty of non skiing activities?

It would be unusual for parents to stalk group ski lessons and it may even be actively discouraged so I’m not sure your dad is right on that. If you get a private instructor then that would be ok so long as the instructor is ok with it.

I guess if he doesn’t want to ski then you and your partner need to ski in shifts but if your partner is a total beginner will he be in all day lessons?

@hyguhiJHBGYT7 please stop spamming mumsnet with your short story, go find an amateur writer’s forum instead.

I would take them. I see kids skiing and they love it. There ore other things to do like sledging and just being in the snow playing.

I would take him, that's a good age to start skiing. My 4yr old started before he turned 5. He will enjoy it.

Okay fab thank you. I will take him, and I suppose if he absolutely hates it we have no pressure, can give him a rest play in the snow etc. I am toying with private lessons, I've only been 4/5 times and haven't been in 5 years, so I'm sure he'll be more advanced by me at the end of the week.

My partner will probably just do half day lessons ( I think).

I might take him to an indoor ski slope to get him a bit more used to it.

Thank you!

The hotel we would be staying at would have a pool and a small play area indoors. We would also be there over NYE so would be out for that they do an early celebration for the children.

Where exactly will you be skiing? Most villages have a ski school that will cater for smaller children, where they will do a mixture of playing and sliding around on skis. At 4 years old some kids get it straight away while others don't quite have the motor skills required but still seem to have a good time.

The instructors and helpers are really great at making it fun for everyone, and depending where you are, they'll take the kids off for hot chocolate, a bit of indoor play and whatever other facilities they have if the kids are getting tired or the weather is not so good.

The adults need to have lessons. Your partner should book a course (beginners groups are great fun as everyone is at the same "Bambi in ice" stage) and group lessons are not as pricey as private lessons, which at New Year are going to be expensive.

In my experience the first skiing holiday can be hard work while everyone gets used to the routine (boots, skis, clothes, ski school etc), gets to grips with the actual skiing and has the occasional tantrum (not limited to just the children!) but once you've been bitten by the ski bug, it is a great way to spend an active holiday in which every generation can participate.