Ski school for 4 year old advice needed

[Greeneyes1983]

Hello

We are going for Christmas week. Has anyone got any experience on ski school for a 4 year old. Is a week at ski school too much?
I have the options of mornings with lunch pick up at 2pm or two sessions a day morning and afternoon. Assume break for lunch where we would need to meet him. I am
Worried he won't like ski school going alone or it's too much and I should book the odd day instead? Any advice appreciated!!

Definitely not two sessions a day - that's a lot for an adult. I'd book mornings but he ready for him to only do half a week if it's too much. Skiing is expensive at the best of times and even more so with kids who don't enjoy it, but assuming you want to go many times in the future it's worth allowing him the chance to enjoy ski school and progress but also be ready to throw in the towel if its going to put him off entirely.

You usually need to book a course. If they miss a day they may feel behind and reluctant.

We always book ours morning only for the whole week. The lessons are with their age group, they do lots of games and hot chocolate stops so it’s fun and not too much. Then pick them up at lunch, eat together, do chill stuff in the afternoon. Works well.

Very much depends on the child. It is quite unusual to have a full day ski school for 4 year olds. I would expect a lesson and then playtime at that age. Skiing gear can feel uncomfortable for a small child , especially for the first time, and taking it off and putting it on again is difficult and kids need help with it. Also how would they manage toilet break etc? Will the instructors be helping? I guess if you are expected to pick up for lunch the parents are dealing with this.
One of ours did lesson then lunch and indoor club at 5 /6 yo. The other did just morning lessons at first. Then they moved to a full day (lesson-lunch-lesson) ski school when older. We felt that four hours of skiing a day was too much to start with. But some 5 year olds seemed to be happy with full day, and the instructors were doing their best to keep them happy and entertained. I think the number of children in the group and the language of the instructor and other kids in the group were the most important factors. I woud not go for a large group at this age- best were up to six in a group of 5 to 7 year olds.

100% this.

Ski school mornings, lunch with family, practice skiing or swim / chill in the afternoons.

Schools like evolution 2 or supreme ski are friendlier than ESF. Less French and shouty.

If you're with a group then the adults take it in turns to be back for the 11:30 pick up

Mornings will be plenty.

Book the week, it's probably the same price as booking a couple of lessons, and then if they're struggling you can skip a day or two.

3 hours a day is plenty it's better for mornings as the conditions tend to be easier snow wise.
Mine loved it but he was knackered by the end. They are very good and stop for breaks etc. We always made sure there was haribo in one pocket and a packet of biscuits or nutrigrain type thing in the other. Cereal bars freeze and go extremely hard!

Make sure they practise getting ski trousers off for the loo etc and I would also see if you have a dry slope nearby or similar just to get them used to the feel of boots and motion etc. It makes the world of difference in just 2 sessions a month or so in advance.

We did Club Piou Piou (ESF) earlier this year for our 4 year old and she loved it. Afternoons only, and there was a lot of play.

Which resort are you visiting?

From my experience of 2 French resorts over the past 4 years, group lessons for 3 and 4 year olds are predominantly in a ski garden for both practical and safety. They venture into a couple of green runs on the last day or two.

Age 5 plus is out on the slopes for lessons. We put our 5 year old in lessons for 4 hours each morning last year - the lessons involved regular breaks like a PP mentioned but they really surprised me by also wanting to ski all afternoon on top!

If booking group lessons, it’s cheaper to book for 5 or 6 day course, mornings only. Also recommending avoiding esf

We do mornings in ski school, meet the kids then go for lunch on the slopes, a bit more skiing and then back to the apartment to chill/sledge/chuck snowballs etc

Thanks for all the helpful tips and advice everyone! I will definitely book the morning only.

We are staying is Les Gets and I am looking to use Ecole De Ski 360. His brother is two so I am hoping to book him into Day Care at Les Day Care Les Fripouilles.

Pre kids we skied all over the world, so I need to get my head around that it won’t be quite the same with two young ones in tow!! 😂

It's such a different experience with kids but in a lot of ways it's so much more rewarding.

You get to enjoy adult skiing in the morning and watch them come on in leaps and bounds in the afternoons.

My two are 15 and 17 now, but now they both are in the race team and way past my abilities.

It's been such a joy to ski with them through the years.

Les gets is great for kids who are beginning. He will start on the nursery slopes at the top of Chavannes gondola most likely. I would book him in for mornings only and then pick him up at midday and go for a hot chocolate and fries at Yeti bar which is a restaurant right next to the nursery slopes. If he gets on well or you are happy skiing with him between your legs, after lunch you can take the chavannes chairlift up and ski the gentle area underneath it with him. Les Indiennes green run is fun for young children, it is a themed run with music and things you ski through / hit with your pole etc.

You might want to check how many children are in the group, if it is a beginner group for children as young as four. ESF take the piss somewhat with their group sizes but not sure about Ecole
de Ski 360