Tips for Teaching Kids to Ski

Skiing is a challenging, athletic outdoor activity that can add tons of fun and exercise to your winter vacation. It is a great way for you and your kids to spend quality time out on the snow slopes. Teaching your kids to ski is not hard, but there are some tips to make the entire process run a little smoother.

  1. Don't Force It

    • Anyone who has kids knows that the more you try to force something on them, the harder they push back. Besides, you want them to see the benefits and the fun of skiing, not remember how you forced them to stand on a snowy hill for six hours. If your kid is dead set against skiing, let them go make snowmen or have a hot chocolate in the lodge. You can revisit the issue another day.

    Make It Comfortable

    • Make sure that your kid has all the proper equipment and that it fits properly. You want him to be warm and comfortable while he is learning. Pick a nice clear day and a slope that caters to beginning skiers. Do not get so involved that you forget to take lots of breaks; a tired, cranky kid isn't going to learn anything. You would be surprised at what a quick hot chocolate break in the lodge will do for the learning process.

    Keep It Fun

    • Skiing is fun. Learning to ski while falling down in wet snow is not. Keep the mood fun by playing games while the kids learn. You can play follow the leader or teach them to spray you with the snow as they learn to stop.

      You can even turn falling into a game. The best thing you can do for your kids' confidence is to fall as dramatically as possible in front of them. Let them laugh at you and you have a good laugh at it, too. This will take the stigma of falling away and add a little fun to the lessons. As soon as the kids lose their fear of falling, they will start to have a lot more fun.

      Another factor is skiing with other kids. If there are other kids with varying skills, the kids have fun trying to keep up with one another. Pairing the more timid skiers with the more aggressive ones will mellow them both out. And kids tend to learn more from other kids than they do from adults.