{"id":3773,"date":"2016-04-28T13:18:50","date_gmt":"2016-04-28T12:18:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skiinluxury.com\/blog\/?p=3773"},"modified":"2016-09-21T12:27:53","modified_gmt":"2016-09-21T11:27:53","slug":"when-should-children-start-skiing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skiinluxury.com\/blog\/when-should-children-start-skiing\/","title":{"rendered":"When Should Children Start Skiing?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"2\"<\/a><\/p>\n

It\u2019s a question we get asked a lot: when should we start our children skiing? It\u2019s a really important question to ask but it\u2019s a tricky one to answer.<\/p>\n

The question is usually motivated by three things \u2013 the desire to make sure you don\u2019t miss an opportunity, the fear that you\u2019ll push them too soon, and the concern they aren\u2019t doing well enough.<\/p>\n

So what is the best time to start kids skiing? And what should you expect from their first stab at snow ploughing?<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Can You Start Too Late?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start with the biggest concern: What if we start them too late?<\/em><\/p>\n

A lady once suggested to me that her daughter had \u201cmissed the boat\u201d by not starting skiing until she was six or seven.\u00a0It made me sad to hear – skiing is an amazing way to have fun. We should measure it in terms of enjoyment, not in technical milestones or years on snow.<\/p>\n

Naturally, just like many sports, an early start can help but, like many sports, it\u2019s mainly important only if you\u2019re looking at becoming an international athlete.\u00a0A huge number of really, really, really good skiers didn\u2019t start as toddlers.<\/p>\n

Like all skills, it\u2019s a combination of natural aptitude and practice so if you you\u2019re going to be good (and if you get enough quality practice) then the precise start date isn\u2019t that important.<\/p>\n

So in reality the difference between starting aged 2, 6 or\u00a0even 10\u00a0can be negligible by the time you see the adult skier.<\/p>\n

\"Beginner<\/p>\n

Can You Start Too Soon?<\/strong><\/p>\n

In a word, yes.<\/p>\n

But that doesn\u2019t mean kids can\u2019t start skiing young. You always see very little kids of two or three bombing around as if they were born on skis.\u00a0However they are the exception not the rule.<\/p>\n

The very earliest kids can start skiing is around<\/em>\u00a03 years. Realistically most children under 3\u00a0struggle to coordinate well enough to control skis, and sometimes aren\u2019t strong enough to do so either. Communication can be an issue, as can concentration, comprehension and knowing when to stop for loo breaks\u2026<\/p>\n

The risk of children being put off by starting too soon is fairly significant too. If ski school is an enforced experience (like real <\/em>school) kids can switch off and resist. Of course kids will often not want to ski initially, but then be amazing and all smiles by the end of lesson two\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

So When Should You Start?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kids can <\/em>start as young as two. It\u2019s a big ask and often ends without the child not being able to perform what you would call \u201cskiing\u201d. But they can<\/em> start.<\/p>\n

In my experience the best idea is definitely to try it but don\u2019t put too much pressure on the outcome. Of course I mean don\u2019t put pressure on the child, but equally importantly don\u2019t put too much pressure on yourself \u2013 as parents we can be guilty of judging ourselves by our children\u2019s successes or lack of them\u2026<\/p>\n

If you have a go and everything goes well, then great. Enjoy every last moment. But if your child can\u2019t understand it, or decides they hate it, or if you\u2019re unlucky and the weather when you\u2019re in resort puts the child off \u2013 then just try again another time.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no rush. One thing kids have a lot of is time…<\/p>\n

\"4\"<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>What Should You Expect?<\/strong><\/p>\n

If a delighted child spends a week with me and loves skiing but has the dodgiest snowplough ever, it\u2019s far better than when a kid can ski amazingly but doesn\u2019t enjoy it.\u00a0Skiing is fun.The result of your child\u2019s lesson is how big the smile is, not the technical outputs. They\u2019re a bonus.<\/p>\n

My best advice is to be prepared to be proud and impressed and video every amazing turn, but be equally prepared to have a lot of fun building snowmen, throwing snowballs, sledging and then trying again next year…<\/p>\n

Above all if they come away thinking this is fun and they can\u2019t wait to come again, then it\u2019s a massive success.<\/p>\n

Snowplough, parallel, turning both ways, blue slopes, black slopes and all the rest pale into insignificance next to the real assessment criteria \u2013 did they enjoy being in the snow?\u00a0Because (in our highly biased opinion) it\u2019s possibly the best thing in the world. And we want more people to have as much fun on snow as we do.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

But Remember a Few Things\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

I have to tell a few home truths. Some things that all teachers know:<\/p>\n

The moment parents are gone, children are brilliant with teachers. Any grumbles or tears dry up the moment we (parents) are gone. That\u2019s when the fun begins.\u00a0So please don\u2019t feel you have to stay \u2013 your kids will respond better and largely have a whale of a time once you\u2019ve gone. Sorry. It\u2019s true.<\/p>\n

Secondly kids (almost) never tell parents about how great their day was. They can have the BEST day ever but when Mum and Dad ask \u201chow was your lesson\u201d they say, \u201cit was, you know, all right\u201d.\u00a0The under-statement kills us, but we\u2019re used to it\u2026<\/p>\n

\"1\"<\/p>\n

A Selection of our Favourite Luxury Family Chalets in Verbier<\/strong><\/p>\n

Place Blanche 1<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Overlooking the newly-built village square at Place Blanche and the W Hotel, the location could not be any better for families with children. The Medran piste and gondola\u00a0lift is right on your doorstep and there is a great space just outside for sledging and running around. The ski shop is also below, making the annual trip to hire ski equipment with young ones much easier for everyone.<\/p>\n

For a luxury apartment sleeping four adults and four children, Place Blanche’s\u00a0living area is vast,\u00a0featuring a separate children’s TV\/Snug area and an\u00a0awesome quadruple bunk room with en-suite.<\/p>\n

\"XwRu_AHM-c2hVWc7msmhzOb3zTYwJgtr07Yp5hqfva8\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Chalet La Vigne<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Located above Patier on a south-east shoulder, Chalet La Vigne has plenty to offer families in terms of facilities. With a fantastic indoor swimming pool and dedicated cinema room, children can be kept entertained long after their ski lessons (if they are still awake that is!) The chalet is only a short drive from the beginner area of Les Esserts and the family-friendly Savoleyres slopes.<\/p>\n

When taken on a fully catered basis, La Vigne comes with two days private ski instruction for the group, perfect for children or teenagers that have maybe had a few lessons already but are looking to build their confidence\u00a0further.<\/p>\n

\"DSC_0986\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Chalet Auriane<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Over the ridge is the beautiful neighbouring valley of La Tzoumaz.\u00a0These family-friendly slopes run through trees and keep better snow than the sunny south-facing slopes of Savoleyres.<\/p>\n

The chalet is positioned directly on the piste in a private position\u00a0with fabulous south-facing views over the resort and just 20\u00a0metres from a blue slope. In fact, the\u00a0runs back to town from the top are mainly easy meandering blues and if your little ones do get tired, there\u2019s always the option of heading\u00a0to and from Verbier by gondola.<\/p>\n

Auriane\u00a0has previously been voted one of the Top 5 family\u00a0orientated luxury chalets by House and Garden. There is a dedicated kid’s den and garden for snowman making. The resorts’ toboggan run also runs directly past the chalet!<\/p>\n

\"auriane\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Element Concept<\/a> is a new Ski School in Verbier<\/a> with years of experience both in teaching and understanding children, having little ones themselves. They offer a small, friendly and most importantly fun team of dedicated instructors that are a pool of knowledge when it comes to Verbier as a ski resort. Your children are safe with them!<\/p>\n

If you are looking for a family friendly ski chalet<\/a> anywhere in Europe, please do not hesitate to contact us either by telephone on +44(0)1202 203650 or email<\/a>. We would love to hear from you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It’s a question we get asked a lot: when should we start our children skiing? It’s a really important question to ask but it’s a tricky one to answer. The question is usually motivated by three things … Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[277,298,297,299,221,21],"yoast_head":"\nWhen should children start skiing? Ski tuition for kids<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A luxury travel blog exploring when is the right age to get kids skiing. 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