First time with 6yr old and almost-4yr old - help please

[zimzam]

We're hoping to take the kids to the mountains but have a few questions:

1. is it too optimistic to put ds who's 4 in April into ski school? And I've noticed many schools are from 4yrs old - is this strictly so or would they let him in if he's just under?
2. at this age is it better to go for childcare clubs where they play in the snow and do other activites instead of lessons?
3. in case the kids HATE it, which resorts are good for other facilities e.g. indoor pool? 4)which companies do you recommend - I think we'd prefer a chalet hotel where we're catered for to give us a bit of a rest! Tx

Ambitious to put a 3yr old in skischool, whether they impose a limit or not, and it is usually obvious who has lied about age. I've seen many a group on the snow garden area where the lo's have got fed up and are left rolling in the snow or crying form cold and it does affect the teaching of ones who are ready. Unless he is very robust and physically strong look for childcare which may allow him to play on skis outside or build snowmen.

Operators like Esprit and Crystal have nannies on hand to take kids to and from slopes and run a creche in one of their own accommodation but many local hotels also have their own (if you are prepared to have English spoken as 2nd or 3rd language and less regulated ratios of carers to children than UK). Kinderhotels and kidshotels.ch are such possibilities. Again only you know what your dc are used to and can handle independently.

Larger resorts tend to have the better public facilities. Also look for shorter transfers and snow sure. Do you ski at all , if not go for one identified as suitable for you to learn as there is always a kids nursery area whatever the terrain.

Hi there

You could always try a specialist family chalet hotel:

Auberge sur la Montagne, La Thuile, Alps - it sleeps up to 24 people, has a nanny for any kids staying, games room, bar and sauna.

I think it looks great and if we pluck up the courage to take our two (aged 3 and 5) this year then this is where we would go.

Hope it helps
Lucilla

I can heartily recommend Chalet Hotel Des Deux Domaines in Belle Plagne. Book through Esprit who can organise all your childcare and classes too. We were there in February this year and it was fab. Lovely accommodation, ski in/out, indoor pool, spa pools, massage therapists, steam rooms etc. I found it blissful. Loads of blues which make family skiing really fun. Also nursery slopes very close to the hotel so you can take your youngest DS there for a pootle around on the magic carpet and a little ski run

My youngest DS was still 3 (about 2 weeks away from being 4) when he did his first class with Esprit. He loved it and they were plucking him off the slope, insisting it was time to go home! He then ended up doing the class for 5 years plus the following year (even tho he was still 2 months from his 5th birthday). IME, younger children are so desperate to be like their elder siblings that they have a more positive approach to the whole concept of skiing, cold, snow etc!

We are skiing in Thollon Les Memises at the moment - which is a very low-key, very French resort. Many children here begin skiing around 3 years old.

tulpe, this Chalet Hotel Des Deux Domaines in Belle Plagne looks fab. I am looking now for 2011 (like to plan early). My DD's will be 7 & 4. I see there is a high tea for children, so is it expected they children go to bed & then the adults go downstairs for dinner ? When I stayed at a chalet before, we had dinner in the lounge/diner, but this was for 10 sharing.

yes, children are usually in bed or if they are 6 years plus they can go to Coco Club - which is an evening craft/play session that the nannies run. There are nannies position on each floor of the hotel from 7pm onwards. They listen or go in to each room at regular intervals (depends on what you ask them to do). It worked very well for us. Both my DCs (aged then 8 and 4) stayed in bed rather than one going to Coco Club. I found my 8 year old was exhausted and needed his sleep after the days' exertions!

thanks !