Avid skiers often want to get their kids on the slopes right after they learn to walk, but you should wait, according to the TimesOnline website. At about 4 years of age, many children are ready to understand the instructions and handle the physical aspects of skiing. Whether you teach your children yourself or enroll them in ski school, you want them to learn the essential skills, but also to develop confidence and have a delightful time.
Step 1
Hold the first lesson in your living room or back yard. Children feel more sure of themselves if they learn to maneuver in their boots and skis on flat land, according to the website TeachKidsHow. Demonstrate how to move your body to get down a hill. Identify the pieces of equipment so the children know that information before they hit the slopes.
Step 2
Take your children to the mountain on a sunny day, according to The Boston Globe website; if they're freezing and wet on their first try, they probably won't want to go again. Find a level spot, and help your children into their skis. Spend plenty of time teaching the basics, according to Vermont Sports. Show them the primary stance with the knees bent a little and skis parallel, and do some weight-shifting exercises. As the kids lift up one ski and then the other, sing a marching song to lighten the mood. Have the children form a wedge, or pizza, by putting their tips together and separating their tails. This will help them slow down on a hill.
Step 3
Introduce children to a magic carpet rather than a chairlift. Many family ski resorts have magic carpets, conveyer belts that transport skiers up the hill in standing position. Graduate to a chairlift on a gentle run. Show the kids how to scoot back into the lift chairs right away, and teach them safety rules such as not kicking their skis on the lift.
Step 4
Find a gentle slope for the kids' first venture, according to TeachKidsHow. Show your children how to make a run, and let them do it on their own. You can ski a little in front of them, but if you do the work for them--for instance, by holding them between your legs--they won't learn for themselves. Also, stress that falling is OK. Some parents even give treats for each tumble.
Step 5
End the lesson or at least take a break when the kids get cold and wet. You want to keep the experience positive, so rest when everyone's tired and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate with plenty of whipped cream or marshmallows on top.
Tips and Warnings
- If your child is scared to go down a hill, try a ski harness. You hold onto leashes and help control the speed and direction your child is going.
