How to Teach Kids to Snowboard

Snowboarding, as a popular alternative to skiing that is especially common among the younger generations, is a sport that many young children are trying to learn. Teaching kids to snowboard can be challenging because of the cold, frustration and exhaustion that comes from a day on the slopes. By being attentive to your child's snowboard readiness and demonstrating patience while teaching basic skills, you can help your child to enjoy learning to snowboard.

Things You'll Need

  • Snowboard and boots
  • Waterproof snow pants
  • Warm jacket
  • Insulated waterproof gloves
  • Helmet
  • Goggles or sunglasses
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Instructions

  1. Prepare Children to Snowboard

    • 1

      Ask your child whether he wants to learn to snowboard. Reluctant learners are almost impossible to teach, so your child's willingness to try a new sport is crucial.

    • 2

      Determine whether your child has the physical capabilities to snowboard. These include stamina to stay active for at least an hour, attentiveness to instructions, and fine muscle coordination, especially in the ankles and feet. Many of these do not come until a child is somewhere between the ages of 5 and 7, and it is very difficult to teach children without the physical capability to snowboard.

    • 3

      Acquire the gear to keep your child warm and comfortable while learning to snowboard. This includes a snowboard and boots, warm and waterproof snow pants, a warm jacket, and insulated gloves that are waterproof. It is highly recommended that children wear a ski helmet to protect their heads in the case of a fall, and also ski goggles or sunglasses to prevent snow blindness.

    Teach Child to Snowboard

    • 4

      Consider registering your child for lessons with a professional snowboard instructor. Most ski resorts offer daily group lessons for young children learning to snowboard, and these lessons will often go much better than parent-led snowboarding lessons.

    • 5

      If you would like to teach your child to snowboard, start simple, by sitting him on the snowboard and letting him slide down a small sledding hill. This gives kids the confidence that snowboarding can be fun.

    • 6

      Help your child to stand up on the board on flat ground, distributing his weight evenly between both feet. Teach him how to lean forward on the toe edge and lean backward on the heel edge, both of which are essential for turning the snowboard.

    • 7

      Start with short, simple snowboarding hills, practicing leaning to turn the snowboard and putting pressure on the edges of the board to grip the snow. Sometimes steeper hills can actually make it easier to learn to snowboard, but in any case, make sure your child is comfortable and in control. For young beginners, consider buying or renting a newer-generation snowboard that has upturned edges, which cuts down on the frequent falling from catching an edge on the slope.

    • 8

      Be patient and let your child take breaks as often as needed. When kids get tired, they have a hard time focusing their minds and their muscles, both of which are needed to snowboard.

    • 9

      Unwind at the end of the day with some snow play. Build a snowman, go sledding and enjoy spending time as a family.