Skiing provides a winter sport activity for the entire family. Teaching kids to ski at an early age allows them to grow into safe and skilled skiers. An instructor who is a skilled skier and can also relate well to children provides the most effective instruction to children. This may be a parent or a professional ski instructor.
Equipment
The equipment selection plays a large role in the safety and comfort of the child as he learns to ski. Ensure all of the ski equipment, including the skis, boots and bindings, is the correct size for the child. Passing down ski equipment from one child to the next can save money, but don't risk your child's safety if the hand-me-down equipment doesn't fit. Helmets protect the child's head in case of falls, which are likely on the slopes. Let the child explore the ski equipment at home before heading to the slopes. Teach him the proper names for the equipment, and allow him to try on the boots so he can see how they feel. This makes the child more comfortable once he gets to the ski area.
Balance Activities
Balance activities on flat ground give kids a chance to gain comfort with being on skis. Get the child in the proper skiing stance. This includes standing upright with slightly bent knees. The skis should be parallel. From this position, have the child practice lifting one ski up at a time without moving forward. This allows her to establish a sense of balance on one foot at a time. A final practice position is to point the ski tips toward one another to make a point. This teaches the kids how to position their skis if they need to slow down.
Ski Lifts
Getting the child to the top of the slope is also a matter of safety. Magic carpet lifts, which are a conveyor belt-style lift, offer a safe way for a child to make it up the slope. Chairlifts present safety issues because the child can fall out or have difficulty getting off of the chairlift at the top. A child riding a ski lift should keep his body back in the seat and sit still without banging his skis together.
Keep it Enjoyable
Your attitude toward the ski instruction makes a big impact on the child's experience. Make the instruction entertaining so the kids have a good time. Keeping the instruction light also puts the kids at ease which may help them ski better. Creative names for different ski positions makes the instruction more child-friendly. For example, you might call the slowing position a pizza slice or a pie wedge because of the shape the skis resemble.
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