What is the best age to teach a child to ski?

Introducing your child to skiing is an exciting milestone for skier parents. Many keen ski parents want to get their kids on the slopes as early as possible so that they can start enjoying ski holidays as a family. But what’s the best age to teach a child to ski? Although there isn’t one definitive answer for every child, this is when we recommend teaching kids to ski.

WHAT IS THE BEST AGE TO TEACH A CHILD TO SKI?

Can a 3-year-old go to ski school? Can a 4-year-old learn to ski?

Here at New Generation Ski School, we accept children in our group ski lessons from age 4, and private lessons can be from age 2.5 – 3 years old. But it all depends on the child and their development. These are three factors in determining when is best for your child:

• The child’s physical development
• Comfortability with other children and adults
• Their ability to listen to instructions from their ski instructor

No definitive age is perfect for each child to learn to ski. You know your child best, so consider these when deciding when they should put on their first pair of planks.

Choosing ski lessons for your kids

Short ski lessons

The length of the lesson is just as important as the age. Wee ones can only last briefly in the cold, especially in ski gear that can feel awkward and clunky. They also need to develop their motor skills fully, so we don’t want to push them too much too early.

That being said, we’ve seen in our 25+ years of experience that they tire easily. We want your young child to have a positive first ski experience and have found that short lessons are the best way to ensure they love skiing and feel confident in ski school.

Why not any younger?

You may have heard about other little kids starting to ski at age 1. Some people put their kids on skis early, but these people usually live in the mountains, and skiing is a way of life.

Most kids at this age aren’t doing much skiing, and it’s more of an opportunity to get used to the equipment and snow. If you want to teach your kids and get them excited about skiing, you must introduce them to the equipment you can do right from home (more details below).

Please note that most ski schools will only accept children below two years old as they can physically hold themselves up in all the equipment. They could end up not enjoying themselves and risking an injury when their bones are fragile.

Benefits of kids’ ski lessons.

Is it worth investing in children’s ski lessons?

Yes, absolutely! For young kids from the age of 3 or 4, children can have so much fun on the slopes. As a parent, you may worry about them going off for a couple of hours with a ski instructor, but it’s amazing how independent they become.

They also learn quickly through play and copying as they have no fear and don’t make mental barriers like us adults!

Other factors to keep in mind

Every child is different and develops at their own pace. Here are a few other factors to help you determine the perfect age for your child.

• Will they be comfortable with an instructor? Do they have experience in preschool or daycare where they’re used to interacting with other children and different adults? Are they potty trained?
• Do they listen and take direction well? This will determine how beneficial a lesson will be for them.
• How long can they last in the snow? It will be challenging if your child isn’t used to being outside in the cold for long periods.

The importance of ski lessons for kids

Should I teach my child or put them in a lesson?

We might be biased on this one. However, there are significant benefits to putting your children into ski school for their first ski experience. Number one is that our ski instructors are professionals and know how to keep your children safe on the mountain.

Ski instructors have been through years of thorough training and know the perfect exercises, techniques, and teaching methods for your child to learn optimally. They also get to interact with other children of the same age and ability in ski lessons, so it’s also a very sociable, happy experience for them.

What can I do to help them learn and progress their skiing?

Although lessons are essential for children to learn the fundamentals, just as in regular school, there’s a lot you can do outside of instruction to help develop their skiing. After all, this is a family activity that you can all enjoy together.

Teaching children to ski, especially very young children, might feel frustrating at times, but you’ve got to be patient and let your kids learn at a pace that suits them. Our goal is always to ensure that children of such a young age are having fun and are safe.

Once they’re safe and having a good time, it’s incredible how much children learn from copying and giving things a go. If they look tired or have gone quiet on you, go for a hot cocoa and take a break! If you try to rush your child’s skiing development, it often ends up with frustrated parents who find their kids hate skiing.

Skiing with children – how to help them ski better

Before the first lesson:

• At home – To give your kids a head start in skiing, buy some plastic skis for them to play. As soon as they can walk, they can begin on these. Plastic skis are relatively cheap and will introduce them to skiing. Before joining ski school, they’ll get a feel for the equipment, get used to the sliding motion, and develop balance and muscle strength. You can play games by getting them to jump in and out of a snowplough position. You could show them a video of a magic carpet and pretend to walk on and off it in the garden. These little games aid their learning process, and as your child develops, they will feel more confident joining a group lesson.
• In-resort – On your first ski trip as a family, take them down the nursery slope the day before their first ski lesson – if possible. This helps them get used to snow and surroundings, making the first ski school experience less intimidating. It also gets them used to proper gear – ski boots aren’t the comfiest for anyone, let alone young kids!

You can buy an edgie-wedgie, which holds the tips of your child’s skis together. This helps them form the snowplough shape, which isn’t very natural, especially for little legs. Buy an edgie-wedgie here.

Don’t worry if the equipment is new to you, too. Most ski schools will ensure the kids are appropriately dressed and have the right boot on the right foot. The ski instructor will help you out at the start of each lesson. Ellis Brigham has plenty of base layers to help your child keep warm on the slopes, which you can buy before hitting the slopes.

Kids snow equipment from Ellis Brigham

How to dress your child for skiing

After they’ve had a lesson or two:

• Practice balance – One essential skill parents can help is encouraging their children to balance independently. If you get it wrong (such as skiing with them between your legs), you’ll be skiing around with a sack of potatoes, and they won’t build independence or strength.
• Mix in play with skiing – It’s all about getting them to love skiing so they’re keen and rearing to get going when they’ve developed more physically. Stop and build a snowman, make snow angels or have a snowball fight on the ski hill. It breaks up the skiing for them physically and mentally and ensures they have a more enjoyable ski holiday.

Do you think your child is ready to hit the slopes and join ski school? Get your child started skiing in our Whippersnappers group ski lessons, explicitly designed for 4-5yr olds. Or if they’ll be better suited to a one-on-one lesson, private lessons could help your child learn how to ski.

Our group lessons and private ski lessons are based around fun and learning through play, so they want to keep returning year after year.

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