Our friends at outdoor childrenswear specialist Muddy Puddles give some great advice about taking little ones out on the slopes.
The perfect age to start learning to ski is 4-5 years old, but beware – this can end in tears if you don’t prepare your young snow adventurers properly. Read our top tips on how to make sure you have a fantastic family skiing holiday.
- Wrap up warm! Wear lots of layers, starting with thermals and ending in a cosy ski jacket to keep the cold out.
- Start the day with a healthy breakfast – this will give your kids energy for a day on the slopes. Porridge with fruit such as banana is a great option as it releases energy slowly.
- Keep heads, fingers and toes covered up. You lose the majority of your body heat from these areas, so make sure ski hat, gloves and snowboots are worn at all times
- Stay hydrated. It’s important for children to drink water regularly, especially in the mountains. Water helps prevent tiredness and reduces headaches.
- Take lots of healthy snacks to keep kids going.
- Make sure you keep it fun with lots of moves on the slopes, such as warm–up exercises – wiggle your hips, touch your toes and stretch to the sky.
- Stop for breaks along the way and fill up on delicious hot chocolate to keep the energy up.
- There is nothing worse than a child who suddenly needs the toilet in the middle of the piste so make sure everybody uses the loos at every break.
- Choose a child–friendly resort with good ski crèches, plenty of green runs and fun ski parks to whizz through.
- Think about who is going to teach your children to ski. Generally ski school is a good route to go down if it does not stretch the budget too far, as the teachers really know how to break down ski technique into easy steps.
Read more about family ski holidays with Mark Warner.
