At what age can kids learn to ski or snowboard?

You can introduce your child to skiing or snowboarding from as young as three years old at most UK indoor snow centres like The Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead. That said, its important to wait until your child is ready and they could be four or five before they have:

1. Body strength: Unsurprisingly, your child will need to be able to walk properly before you strap them into skis! As skiing can be quite tiring, you should make sure they’re able to cope with the physical demands of it. If they’re running around at home (which kid doesn’t?) and seem to have endless amounts of energy, they’re probably ready to tackle a new activity.

2. A good attention span: Learning something new requires a certain level of attention - we all know how easily kids can get distracted. You’ll want to make sure your child is mature enough to concentrate on what their ski instructor is saying before you commit them to several sessions at a kids’ ski school.

3. A genuine interest in learning to ski: If you really want your kids to lean to ski, one of the worst things you can do as a parent is pushing them when they’re not really that interested! Make sure they’re up for a skiing adventure and get them really excited about skiing before before you book your first family ski holiday.

Many kids learn how to ski (or snowboard) later on in life and there’s no disadvantage to this. If they learn at a resort ski school, they can either have one-to-one lessons or go into a group lesson with kids that are a similar age and skill level to them.

One plus point of teaching your kids skiing when they’re older is that once they’ve learnt, they’ll be able to ski alongside you on tougher runs. They may also pick up skiing or snowboarding a little bit quicker than younger kids as they’ll be keen to show off their skills and not just play in the snow!

There are numerous routes you can take when it comes to your kids learning to ski. Why not…

Check out your closest indoor ski centre
If you’re not sure if your child will enjoy skiing, it can be a good idea to test the waters out at an indoor ski centre before booking a ski holiday. You’ll find many venues across the UK that not only have a range of runs for different abilities, but also offer ski lessons for kids aged three and up.

Try teaching them yourself 
If you're an accomplished skier, why not pass on your skills to your kids? Whichever ski resort you're in (not a snow centre), head to a nursery slope or green run that’s not too busy and have a go at teaching your kids the basics yourself. Remember to be patient and take regular breaks – skiing can be taxing on both the body and brain!

Book them into ski school
Every ski resort in Europe will have a skiing school that caters to children. Instructors that specifically teach kids’ ski lessons will know exactly how to keep your child’s attention and make sure they come away from the mountain with some new skills.

If you’ve got really little children who aren’t quite ready to ski, don’t rule out a family ski holiday just yet. You’ll find our amazing Neilson-run kids’ clubs operate at selected resorts across Europe. They give children age four months to 12 years a chance to play in the snow while you make the most of the pistes.

Before your kids clip into their first pair of skis and you send them speeding off down the slopes, you'll want to make sure they're dressed in the right gear, are in good health and they really want to ski! If the answer is yes, it’s time to start sharing the glories of skiing with the next generation!

Keen to book a family ski holiday this year? Take a look at our full range of ski and snowboard holidays where you can wake up every morning to breath-taking mountain views and fresh powder on some of the best ski runs in the world.