Ski Club 2.0 Home
Snow Reports
FAQFAQ

Mail for help.Help!!

Log in to snowHeads to make it MUCH better! Registration's totally free, of course, and makes snowHeads easier to use and to understand, gives better searching, filtering etc. as well as access to 'members only' forums, discounts and deals that U don't even know exist as a 'guest' user. (btw. 50,000+ snowHeads already know all this, making snowHeads the biggest, most active community of snow-heads in the UK, so you'll be in good company)..... When you register, you get our free weekly(-ish) snow report by email. It's rather good and not made up by tourist offices (or people that love the tourist office and want to marry it either)... We don't share your email address with anyone and we never send out any of those cheesy 'message from our partners' emails either. Anyway, snowHeads really is MUCH better when you're logged in - not least because you get to post your own messages complaining about things that annoy you like perhaps this banner which, incidentally, disappears when you log in :-)
Username:-
 Password:
Remember me:
👁 durr, I forgot...
Or: Register
(to be a proper snow-head, all official-like!)

toddler ski clubs

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Hi Everyone,

We're in the process of planning our week to the snow. This will be the first season back after our baby.

My child will be just under 3yrs (1 week short) when we are there. We're keen to find him some form of ski school that would give him an opportunity to muck about, maybe even get some skis on him. I know that ESF especially in the 3Vs are very good but we were looking at Cervinia as an option (cheaper, quieter, bit of a change etc.).

Has anyone used any ski schools in Cervinia for children of a similar age, that they would recommend? We're not too fussed about language. Just keen that it's safe and fun. Any responses are appreciated.

Many thanks.
snow report
 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
We used ESF in Chamrousse when our youngest was exactly the same age (one week shy of 3 years old) and it was of limited success. He didn't want to go into the class every day and was crying and very clingy. When he did go in he seemed to enjoy it and they did strap skis on and use the magic carpet and slide down some very shallow slopes.

I put the whole experience down to "character building" and when we were away last christmas and Easter he loved skiing. He was doing the racing snowplough down red runs aged 4 and a quarter. Very Happy

Every child is different though.
latest report
 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?
Hi, I can't help with Cervinia but we are going to Tignes and my almost 3 yr old son ( will have his birthday while there) and another just 3 yr old ( friend's daughter) will be going to Les Marmottons ski school , who specialise on this age ( they take from 2.5yrs old)
ski holidays
 You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
Hello- khwaja- we have had lots of ski holidays with kids including 3 year olds.

Which month are you going? It's very tricky if it is cold- i.e. Jan / Feb.

It's also tricky if they aren't continent (I have written about this extensively). In ski clothes and in the cold a usually steady 3 year old is likely to end up with hot, wet, smelly ski clothes / socks / boots. This can be a problem in ski school (if the child complains of a poo in their pants there will be murder- ski instructors do not do the sort of thing) and with some more squeamish parents. We tended to 'go with the flow'. Try a rigorous approach to bowel and bladder emptying before going out, running them a bit dry and a 'ski nappy' ( a bit like an astronauts space nappy look at any book on space, p.s. the sis a bit secret from ESF- do not tell). There are other solutions involving going back to the chalet to change into an infinite number of clean clothes, laundry, just drying stuff on radiators and not really noticing until it is time to dry the boots when you get home (we have only ever used the last two options). Fabreeze really does work wonders on kids ski boot liners.

As the others say all kids - and parents, are different. Is he in nursery /with a childminder / at home? How do you all cope with separations at new places, how well does he adapt to new people, is he agile / on a trike, bike, scooter?? Will you feel compelled to lurk about (with a camera) (we did with our first).

I think it is on the cusp of doable- that isn't a criticism btw. Our eldest skied at 3 and a quarter our youngest at 3 and 1 week or so- 'I done my ski poopies' he would say (we'd say "if you want to go skiing you must do a poo'.....)

Emotions: The eldest had a great time and no tears (once we'd talked him out from under the table in our hotel room on the first morning)- we lurked when he went skiing- we were so happy / proud. The youngest may have been a bit tearful but we weren't around to witness it (our more concerned friend was there with his youngest though, we were off skiing) our middle child skied from 4 with minor tears only.

Scene setting/ preparation: Get him into it- watch a load of ski videos on youtube, put some skiing posters in his room- perhaps (re)name him after your favourite skier! We did all of these. An older brother who says skiing is brilliant- and that he can do it, is by far the best motivator though. Talk up about how nice ski instructors are.

Don't take his first week skiing too seriously (which is difficult if a ski holiday is a very precious thing). Have fun being together in the mountains.
snow conditions
 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Hi Everyone,

Thanks very much for taking the time to respond. Some really helpful pointers here. The plan is to go in March so hopefully it gets a bit easier with the cold etc.

I can readily imagine LO just clinging to my leg and screaming his head off while some the continental kids saunter off waving happily. We really like the idea of him getting some kind of structure for the week we're there but we may just end up playing it by ear like most things. I think the point about toilet is really key. I totally forgot about that!

He does go to nursery and he's pretty much toilet trained now but of course there's always a risk i guess! So all in I think we'll go and just take it easy with him and end up taking turns watching him. So we may just end up going to Cervinia.

I'll post back once we decide. Thanks again!
latest report
 You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
Bella2015 mentioned Les Marmottons in Tignes. Both my boys learnt there and enjoyed their experience. The youngest was almost exactly 3 yrs old at the time.
latest report
 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
@London_Falcon, did your boys have lunch at Les Marmottons? We booked supervised lunch for our kids before they are picked up but not sure if it is a good idea..
latest report
 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Is getting a nanny and doing one hour private ski lesson an option? I know it's pricey but this worked best for us when my little one was 3. The nanny could help during the ski lesson if he needed the loo and was there for cuddles and comfort if he was too hot/too cold etc. It was also useful as a back-up plan if he voted with his feet and decided he didn't want to ski anymore as we didn't rely on the ski school for childcare. Some SHs have mentioned Austria as perfect for childcare but we have always been keen on chalets rather than hotels. We went to Morzine for the first 3 years with our little one as it's just easier. Flo from Easy2Ride is just the best ski instructor for children. So patient and kind. Good luck!
latest report
 You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
All of our kids have been in the child care at Soldeu Andorra which is at the top of the first gondola lift under the supervision of Olga who is actually Brazilian, we and the kids very happy with the care.
Lots of other english kids,
snow conditions
 Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Avoriaz has an excellent kids school http://www.village-des-enfants.com/en/ Minimum age is 3 and they have a special class for 3-4.

It is right in the middle of the accommodation so getting the sprog there is easy. Traffic free resort to.
snow report
 snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Again, some great advice and useful information. Thanks to all.

Mountaindoc, I did look into getting a nanny but it is quite expensive. Private lessons could be good. I'll check to see if dw can get some lessons with him in tow. She usually gets some private lessons anyways.

I also looked up Les Marmottons ski school in Tignes; we've been to Tignes a few times before and I seem to recall seeing the kids in this school. Can't say I paid much attention back then, but they seemed pretty content! I sent them a reservation request and was told they are now part of Evolution2 Ski School. Does anyone know anything about this? I think i've come across Evolution Ski School elsewhere on the forum but I can't tell if they're the same group. I've asked the question so I'll feed back when i get some more information.

TQA that's good to know but we're going quite late in the season so I'm sticking with the higher resorts for now. Maybe next year I'll look at port du soleil. The commute to ski school is tempting though as Tignes is a bit more spread out and we normally say up in Val Claret which would mean it's a pain to get to Le Lac for a 9am start... especially since i'll have to pack the LO into a rucksack to bring him down.. or i suppose I could use a little sledge and get him to slide along..
snow conditions
 And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
We took our kids skiing for the first time last season. We went with Mark Warner to Les deux Alpes over Easter. Success is the way I would put it. The girls did ESF being aged 5 & 4 and enjoyed it enough to want to go again. We put no pressure on them and agreed that if they felt tired and wanted to have a morning off playing then they could skip a day. Its a holiday afterall. Both ended up skipping a day's lessons. By the end they both managed to leave the nursery and got taken onto the beginner slopes.

Key I think is having low expectations - all you want them to achieve is to have enough fun so that they will go back again. If you want to ski then having a nursery/nanny do the drop off's and pick ups really helps because any accidents or meltdowns the ski school calls them not you! The downside is you pay for it - effectively having a nanny/nursery empty whilst your child is on the slopes.

This year, so our now 3 year old can ski we aren't going with Mark Warner because they don't accommodate 3 year old skiers except in La Plagne and we couldn't get accommodation (that wasn't directly above the bar). instead we are going with SkiMagic in La Tania and have booked the girls (now 6 & 5) into ski school with Sweet Snowsports and the boy in with ESF. Again we have booked them into all day childcare so if they have a meltdown or don't want to go they are accommodated.

Whichever way you cut it though skiing with young kids is expensive - you have to accommodate them or you end up not skiing as a result.
ski holidays
 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
We took our 2-3ish year old a few years back. Had a chalet with TO creche. She didn't enjoy it, and consequently neither did we.

We've done lots of family ski trips since then (3 kids) and changed our expectations. A couple of times we took grandparents, but mostly we went to small, pretty, low resorts in Switzerland with a variety of winter sports including walking and sledging available. Swimming pool/spa within walking distance too. We skied ourselves a bit here and there, but that wasn't really the point. It was just about being out and about in the snow and the scenery.

I have always been a keener skier than my wife, so most years I would go on a cheap out-of-season trip with mates for a few days to get some proper stuff in. That way, I wasn't constantly pining while pulling a small child up a sledge run for the 100th time...And despite the not-much-skiing, they were holidays we all look back on fondly.
snow report
 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
@khwaja, yes you are right Les Marmottons are indeed part of Evolution 2 and we made all our bookings through them. I am organising a trip for a big group with 11(!) kids between us and I booked the older ones with Evolution 2 and the two little ones through Evolution 2 with Les Marmottons, as far as I understand they share the same snow garden but still operate somewhat separately ( Les Marmottons have their own indoor space for play/lunchtime which is closer to the snow garden so the little ones will not have to walk far ( this is what I was told when I spoke to Evolution 2 prior to booking, hope I got it right). We will be staying in Tignes Le Lac though. Also when I booked few months ago the prices in Les Marmottons where a bit cheaper than Evolution 2, not sure if still they case
snow report



Terms and conditions  Privacy Policy