Sports like skiing are fantastic hobbies and adventures for families. And whether you’ve skied before or if you’re totally new to skiing, I’ve learned some top tips for taking kids skiing by getting them excited and interested in gliding down the slopes.
Of course, you can implement these tips into any outdoor activity, but here are some of the ways I got my kids excited and confident on a pair of skis.
Look for Controlled Environments
The first tip for taking your kids skiing is to look for a controlled environment. For us for example, we didn’t go straight out to Whistler to take our kids skiing for the first time. While Whistler may be a great place to ski, all ski mountains have bunny slopes suitable for beginners.
Part of going out on these adventures is to just get outside with your kids so they can try something new. I highly recommend doing some research and looking for family-friendly locations when trying new activities like skiing.
I myself am not a very good skier, but Nick being Canadian, grew up skiing as a kid, however, he didn’t do much of it as an adult as he fell in love with kayaking. Although we love kayaking and other summer sports, we wanted our kids to have that winter sports experience because, who knows, maybe they’ll really love it.
Book Them Into a Ski Class
The very first day of skiing, we decided to sign the kids up for a class and let a professional take the kids out. Each of our kids, Tucker and Parker, had a one-hour session with a ski instructor to set the foundation for our skiing adventures in Canada this winter.
Getting a ski instructor not only helped the kids, but it also let mum and dad get some time on the slopes so we could re-establish ourselves on our skis.
Split Up and Take One Kid Each
My kids are very different, as Tucker is very self-conscious and hard on himself when it comes to learning. Parker, on the other hand, put her hands on her knees and just went down the mountain.
We’re trying to teach both of them at the same time, but having kids on different wavelengths can be a challenge. We often split up, so Nick took Parker, and I took Tucker so we could give them a more hands-on experience.
Splitting up was a really great opportunity for us, and I asked Tucker questions like, “what did the ski instructor tell you, can you give me some pointers?” so that way he felt like he was the leader and his skill set within a couple of hours skyrocketed.
Instead of me showing Tucker this is how we do it, I let him be the leader, so it allowed us to have a great bonding opportunity. Taking kids one on one lets you see their confidence and enthusiasm, and I was so proud just to be on the mountain with him and have him remember what he learned from the instructor.
Teach with Laughs
One of my biggest tips for taking kids skiing is to make sure the experience is laughable. If you set expectations, it puts a lot of pressure on the experience. So, instead, take it one step at a time and be laughable throughout the entire activity.
For us, we just go with the flow when teaching the kids because it’s not about getting anywhere, it’s about enjoying the moment outside as a family. The whole basis of adventure is to try not to pre-plan everything. So whenever you’re going skiing, hiking, biking, really anything at all, take a step back and just see where the day takes you.
Check out our previous article on How to Help a Child with Fear.
Camera: GoPro Hero 11
Sunglasses: Wiley X
Jackets: Cotopaxi Women's Hooded Down Jacket, Cotopaxi Men's Fuego Hooded Down Jacket
Be sure to follow us on our Great Family Adventure YouTube Channel. Please comment down below what other tips and tricks you’d like to know to help get your family enjoying the great outdoors.
