Skiing with Children
They say it’s best to start young and many children take to skiing like ducks to water. Children get so much enjoyment from playing and learning in the snow. We recommend using professional instructors to teach children – this also allows parents time to explore the slopes or take lessons.
Skiing For Young Children
Many resorts offer a skiing kindergarten for children as young as 3 years. Ski kindergartens are perfect for young children starting out on their first set of skis. Specially trained instructors encourage them to have fun and play in the snow rather than teaching them in long, structured lessons. Normally, there is a dedicated ski area with special mini-lifts, outdoor games and fun obstacles. Many ski kindergartens also offer an indoor area for when children become tired or cold. For children under 5 years, we recommend you book shorter duration ski kindergarten sessions to begin with rather than full day sessions until you are sure your child will settle.
Children’s Group Lessons
The majority of ski schools offer a dedicated children’s ski school with qualified instructors experienced in teaching children. Lesson durations and days vary resort to resort and in general, we would not recommend children younger than five years go into structured group lessons. Many ski schools offer special, shorter duration lessons for 3-4 year olds. We offer pre-bookable children’s ski school places in the majority of our resorts – see Lift Pass, Tuition & Equipment information on our resort pages for full details.
Reserving Your Child’s Place
We offer pre-bookable skiing kindergarten places in many of our resorts. In other resorts, places can be reserved in advance by contacting the ski kindergarten directly. Details about ski kindergartens including opening hours, guideline prices and contact details are provided on the Family Information pages throughout resort pages.
Things To Remember
- All children should wear helmets, ideally with chin guards. Many equipment providers provide free helmet hire for children when skis and boots are hired.
- Make sure your child has goggles or sunglasses and a high factor sunscreen to protect them from the sun’s powerful rays reflected from the snow.
- Several thin layers of clothing under a waterproof one-piece suit acts as better insulator than one thick layer.
- Some providers may require proof of an up-to-date inoculation book.
Important Information
Skiing kindergartens and children’s ski schools reserve the right to refuse to accept or retain any child who will not settle or is clearly unhappy in the facility or whose behaviour is considered as unacceptable or disruptive.
In some cases, skiing kindergartens will only operate subject to minimum numbers of children attending. Full refunds will be given if any payment has been made.
Standards and facilities at skiing kindergartens and children's ski schools vary. We are unable to accept responsibility for, or give any guarantee for the standard of the facilities and qualifications of personnel at skiing kindergartens or children's ski schools. Parents are strongly advised to remember that local standards and requirements in respect of such facilities may differ overseas and so you must ensure that you are completely satisfied with the surroundings and staff providing this service before you enrol your child or children into the school.