My husband and I love to downhill ski and want to share the fun of the ski slopes with our two kids. Our daughter turned two just before ski season and we thought we would try to get her out once or twice by borrowing some friends toddler gear.
Since having kids we still ski frequently (around 15 times in the season). One adult skis while the other stays with the kids in the chalet, in a warming hut or plays outside with them. We are fortunate to have friends with similar aged kids that we often hang out with at the hill. We have also met many families at the hill and our kids often play together.
Being in the ski chalet is what got our daughter interested and excited to try skiing. She saw mommy and daddy going to ski as well as many of her toddler friends.
One day she said “I ski”. We borrowed a friend’s gear (helmet, lil ripper gripper ski harness, boots and skis for one run on the bunny hill. My husband took her up the magic carpet and held her close by the harness so she could just get the feel of skis under her. She squealed and kept asking for “more”. She did 8 laps of the bunny hill that day! Then we pulled the plug while she still had a smile on her face. Here she is going up the bunny hill...
Kids found something to climb and play on at the hill...
Our toddler required to be held up with the harness for at least 4 ski days before she got comfortable to stand up by herself. She is still in the harness and always on the leashes as she doesn’t know how to turn or stop. Other kids we have seen progressed faster and others slower - like anything the kid takes it at their own pace. The most important part of skiing is that she is having fun. She often goes on the bunny hill or small chair lift for about an hour then is tired. Fortunately for the wallet kids 5 and under are free so no pressure on paying for a day that the kid hardly uses. Since our toddler loved skiing the big investment is in the gear. But like a bike, skates or any other activity the gear often pays for itself by having fun doing something as a family.
Tips to get a toddler excited about skiing or snowboarding and keeping them happy while doing it:
1. Have your toddler see others doing the sport. Our kid saw people having fun and also learned that everyone wears helmets and a different type of boot so the gear never bothered her. If you don’t take your kids to a hill I’d suggest looking up YouTube videos. I also recommend lessons but many hills don’t take kids under three for lessons. I’m looking forward to putting her in group lessons next ski season.
2. Dress the kids very warm and get them out of the chalet quick so they don’t over heat and get cranky. I have heard so many parents talk about how they missed a layer, the warmer mitts, etc...make sure you grab what you need before you head out.
3. End kids skiing or snowboarding on a high note. We only talk positively about her skiing since she is two and it is for fun. We make sure we stop when she wants and quickly give her a snack as she is always thirsty and hungry after skiing.
4. Skiing and snowboarding is supposed to be fun. We never push our daughter to ski, some days she wants to roll in the snow with friends, then have lunch, then roll in the snow...then wants to go up the magic carpet to go skiing. Kids enjoyment for playing in the snow often gives mom or dad another run or we enjoying playing at the hill in the snow together. Our friend's toddler also has a snowboard so switching it between the two sometimes keeps the kid more engaged.