 Poster: A snowHead
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Hello all,
We will be spending a week in Val d'Isere over Easter with our kids aged 3 and 6. They have never been skiing before. We have been looking at childcare options, does anyone have any advice or recommendations? Ski options for the little one seem limited but keen to give the older one a good first ski experience.
All thoughts gratefully received
Cheers
K
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Hi K,
kosciosco - Australian by any chance?
Anyway hope I can give you my tuppence worth as a year round Brit local, ski and snowboard instructor as well as having a little un (19 months old) of my own.
Firstly childcare - I can recommend Jelly and Ice Cream. Tina runs a tight ship with a great team of staff so she (as another local) will be well placed to help you out. I can also recommend t4 Nanny which is run by Tess - again a local and very knowledgable!
In terms of ski options - well at one end of the scale there is the Jardins des Enfants for the little one - french run and very french with French staff / instructors etc. Likewise the older one could have the ESF group lessons. Conversely if you want smaller groups, English speaking staff / instructors then I can recommend school such as ourselves www.tdcski.com. We ONLY do private lessons for kids of that age I am afraid. I can also point you in the direction of an outfit such as Progression if you wanted group sessions for the 6 year old.
I think the comment about wanting to give the older one a "good first ski experience" needs considering carefully. Also bear in mind that being a school holiday week you will need to book quick'ish otherwise you'll miss the boat in terms of choice.... the ESF will always have space though!
I hope that helps - I could write for a couple of hundred pages about this topic however perhaps the best thing to do is if you have more queries you respond on here or private message me.
KR,
Steve Angus
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Thanks Steve,
Not Australian - long story!
We contacted Jelly and Ice Cream, sounds like that will work perfectly.
For our six year old she would probably do better in a group situation rather than private lessons.
Having looked at the ski schools, the only thing that worries me about Progrssion is that the lessons are 4 hours long which might be a bit much. I have used New Generation before and they are good but their lessons are only 2 hours which doesn't seem enough. Oxygene offer three hour lessons but i know nothing about them. Any thoughts?
Thanks
Simon
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@kosciosco, I'd say 2 hours is fine for a 6 year old. I share your concern about 4 hour lessons.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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kosciosco
Oxygene are generally OK but I would not vouch 100% for all the instructors a) cause I dont know them all and b) as they often have new ones each year.
Try looking at Mountain Masters - Tansy is EXCELLENT with little ones if she happens to be taking the little ones but they are a good school but I cant remember length of lesson.
2 hours for a 6 year old is short agreed but I dont think it would be the end of the world - 4 hours too much perhaps.
But Oxygene and Mountain Masters - have a look at them!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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2 hours for a 6 year old is short agreed
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I find 2 hours is fine for me!
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I would agree 4 hours may be a tad long for a 6 year old. However, it would depend on how intense lessons are and the conditions. On the flip side if they are engaged in 4 hour lessons that gives the parents 4 hours uninterrupted skiing.
If you can afford private lessons then these will massively help your 6 year old improve. Yes they may meet friends in a group but the lessons will not be as effective. I can definitely recommend www.tdcski.com.
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