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Starting Young Children

What is the best age to start children?
Around five years old is a good age to start children skiing; usually because the child has been in school, is used to being away from his parents, and is comfortable taking directions from strangers in authority. Physically the child should be able to do about five sit-ups.  For starting children in snowboarding, eight is a good age because learning to board requires considerable strength and balance.  If the child can skateboard or wakeboard, learning is easier.

 
How is desire created?
Talk about skiing or boarding in front of your child, but not necessarily to him.  Go without him.  Later, casually ask him if some day he would like to ski/board when he is older.  Go again - without him. 

What should we do when our child demands to go?

Tell him about the chores of the sport --- how he has to put on his own clothes/gloves, carry his own equipment, and put on his own gear.  Teach him how to do these this things at home on the carpet or outside on the grass.  Show him how to get up without being helped.  Tell him, when he can do these things, you will consider taking him to the mountains.

 
What should we do on the first trip?
Make it short (less than one hour), have fun, and leave before he tires.  Plan on not skiing/boarding yourself.  Donate this time to a worthy cause - because you want to go later without having to coax, bribe, or put up with a complaining child.  Help carry some of his equipment to a flat spot.  Give him time to explore and play in the snow without wearing his equipment, then help him put on his gear.  Remember, you are trying to instill the joy of the mountain experience.  Let him slide around on his own.  Do not be too eager to help him get up when he falls.  He will usually get up by himself if you do not make a big deal about it.  If he is in an awkward position or is struggling, then help, but gently remind him it is one of the chores he must learn.  Do not worry about turns; on a gentle hill let him slide a short distance to a flat spot where he will stop naturally.  As soon as he is having a blast go home.  Do not make the mistake of letting the activity carry on too long so the child begins to tire; give him a taste of it and then take it away.  He may be furious, but it will leave him with an extremely strong desire to do it again.  Then go skiing/boarding again without him.
 
May I teach him myself?
Teaching him yourself often ends up in a power struggle with you angry and the child crying.  Ski school provides a structured learning environment with clearly defined learning steps and role models (other children succeeding).  Students usually learn more by experimenting with their environment and watching others near their age than from the "command" teaching style used by most parents.
 
What should we do on lesson day?
Help carry some of your child's gear to the meeting area.  In a friendly supportive manner, introduce your children to the instructor.  Do not tell the instructor your child is awkward or bad in front of the child.  If you have special concerns, talk with the instructor privately, we want to develop a supportive learning environment.  When the lesson starts -- leave, otherwise your child will focus his attention toward you.  It is common for some children to cry when the parents first leave.  This usually ends after the parents are out of range.  After the lesson ask the child what he did, listen to him, and praise his effort and progress.  If he is not tired, let him show you what was done in class, but keep skiing/boarding experiences short until he is totally hooked.
 
How do I know if the lesson was a success?
Is he making more or different types of turns?  Has his speed increased?  Is he skiing/boarding different terrain?  Has his desire increased?  If the answer to some of these questions is "yes" - then he is making progress.  Do not get discouraged with the results of a single lesson for learning takes time and requires many practices and failures before proficiency is achieved.  If your child is discouraged, he may be too tired, cold, wet, hungry, worried about progress, pushed too hard, or frankly does not have the maturity or interest.  Talk with the program director.
 
How long does it take a child to learn to ski or board?
It depends!  Initially, boarding is more difficult than skiing because the feet/legs are not free to act independently as in walking or regaining balance.  Also, learning rates vary according to age, desire, and physical ability.  It is important that parents understand this and do not push the instructor or child.  Some may be able to stop and ride the tow by the end of the first lesson.  Others are happy just playing in the snow, falling, and straight running.  Be patient, the time will come when they choose to ski or board.