Kids love the snow, so it stands to reason that they will love skiing. Many avid skiers have their children on skies skiing by the time they are able to walk well. They won’t become master skiers, of course, until they are a bit older, but they can indeed ski!
When planning ski trips that your children will accompany you on, make sure that there are slopes that are suitable for the kids, and that there are group activities scheduled where your child or children can interact with other skiing children.
This ensures that the trip will be a great deal of fun for them, as well as for you.
As much fun as adults have skiing, children really aren’t interested in just skiing. They want to have fun and play games. For this reason, it is important to find programs that incorporate fun and games into skiing.
Would you be interested in skiing down the easy slope over and over all day long? Most likely not. Neither will your child. Fun must be incorporated into skiing, with some challenges thrown into the mix as well.
It may be more cost effective to rent equipment for your child, instead of purchasing equipment. As your child grows, they will need differently sized equipment.
You might also sell their equipment to other parents as they outgrow it, and buy used equipment from other parents as their children move up in size.
Check with local ski clubs, or with the members of a ski club that you belong to for this. Also, check online forums where skiers hang out.
As much energy as children have, they can tire easily when skiing. For this reason, choose short distances to ski, and also look for trails that loop around, where you end right back where you started without having to determine when you should turn back around and go the other way.
When signing your child up for ski lessons, choose a class that is specifically for children. Also, make sure that ski safety is taught in the class.
For instance, a child doesn’t realize how much damage the tip of a ski pole can do, and they need to fully understand this and learn to use their poles properly.
They also need to know how to take a fall to avoid injury, and how to get back up when they have fallen down. Being bundled up and on skies in the snow makes it difficult to get up.
There are only two additional dangers to be aware of for kids on the slopes, other than the dangers that we all face, such as injuries. First, young children should avoid going to the top of the mountain.
Their ears are sensitive, and the pressure at the higher altitude can cause serious ear problems. The second concern is hypothermia. Make sure that your child is bundled up well for a day in the snow. Bring them indoors every couple of hours to get them completely warmed up as well.
