Top tips for getting kids excited for ski school

A snowHead

Its reached the point where the kids (6 and 4) need to spend a little time in ski school. Partly to augment my instruction and partly to give us a bit of a holiday back Very Happy

I'm looking for top tips for helping them see it as a fun opportunity and not a prison sentence.

They're booked in with evolution2 in les arcs and already transitioning from excited to telling me they don't want to do it, so what did those who've been through it do that moved the needle on their enthusiasm?

A snowHead

Bribes. My kids respond well to offers of tablet time and going in the hotel pool afterwards.

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I never felt the need to get the kids "excited" about ski school. But they more generally understand that getting good at something takes some instruction and work. If you have to bride to get them to accept any instruction and work, a dislike of ski school will be the least of your worries.

There are many positive aspects to point to though. Including skiing with those their own age and making friends. Most kids enjoy it more and more as they get older. Plus of course improving and being able to show off how much better they are able to ski. I don't know if you are an instructor yourself, but if not proper ski school will not be an augmentation of your instruction but more likely a correction and a massive improvement! Maybe pointing that out to your kids would also be a positive.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

We had a little girl we were teaching a few years ago, and she refused to do her lesson one week. The following week she came back all smiles, and when asked what the difference was, she said Daddy had promised her another pony if she did her ski lessons!

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Try not to use the word “School”. Toofy Grin

Small classes, kids of a similar standard and fun English speaking instructors all have a big impact…so do as much research as possible.

Evo2 has always worked for us.

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@tpc, the Grom (now 18 and very competent) was 3.

‘I do not want to go to ski school’
‘It’s great…it’ll be huge fun’
‘I do not want to have fun’
‘Ah…’

TPC I can feel your anguish.

Morning 1
‘I don’t want to go to ski school’
‘I know, but that’s how you get to be really good’
Meanwhile my partner is putting the Grom’s ski boots on him.
‘That boot hurts…’ says the Grom
‘Now stop it’ says my partner ‘just put it on and get to the class…’
‘It really hurts’
Tears well up.
I take over putting on the boots and find a stainless steel teaspoon inside the foot of his left boot.
‘Sorted!!’

The Grom cried every time and clung to my leg.
This also pulled at my heart strings.
I began to escort him from the meeting point to the gondola.
That helped.

His report at the end of the first week:

‘Turbulent and capricious’

So…what turned it around?

Actually something quite social. Just hanging out with instructors in the bar at the end of the day - chatting to guides, modelling interest in skiing and improving, discussing top skiers like Candide Thovex and the ‘steep skiers’ in Chamonix. Interesting him in role models. By the end of that season he was charging hard and learning loads. His payback was not a bribe - something external to skiing - but wanting to be a member of a tribe - something intrinsic to skiing.

Roll forward to age 12 and we are mud hopping around the hill in April melt. Three of the top local freeskiers - one professional - see us walking across the car park - they recognise the Grom, and shout to him ‘come join us for the day’… and it’s those moment that really pull someone into The Game….

After all it is free

@tpc, completely see your objective, but there is a risk that in doing that, when they actually do ski school you'll have made it even worse as you will have built up something that it isn't (better to play down expectations, and then when they do it they might be pleasantly surprised that's it's actually okay).

On our first trip we asked if they wanted to go skiing (big yes) - and the compromise was that they would have to go to ski school, and it was a non-negotiable like real school. Once they understood that it was no longer an issue, it was rarely even brought up. They've never particularly enjoyed it, but it was worth it because they got it out of the way in the morning, then had a fun lunch, fun afternoon ski with jumps and park, possibly followed by sledging and snow ball fights.

Pre-holiday just ensure the focus is on all the fun things that you'll be doing (as above) and don't let ski school become a thing where they keep bringing it up "do I have to do it, I don't want to do it etc". They only do that as think it's optional, or they sense weakness in you! I'm sure they don't wake up every morning and say the same thing about normal school.

The beauty is as they get better at skiing and their love for it grows, then they happier they will be to 'endure' ski school as it means more fun afternoon skiing. Then comes the great day (this year for us) when they no longer have to go!

@valais2,

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@Handy Turnip, very good.

And get Very Nice Things for early breakfasts to get out in the dark in time to get to ski school.

‘Croissants are ready!!! So are the Pain au chocolat…!! Is a way of getting them up and running in time….

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@tpc, no ponies so far but wouldn’t be anti equine at some stage.

Small groups helps. We picked a ski school that would guarantee max 5 kids so they could have more fun together.

You know it makes sense.

Having been with us to the mountains before they were old enough to ski, my two were climbing the walls wanting to get to ski school. Always ask them to show you what they learned during their lesson in the afternoon, even if they are too tired to show you properly.
Be prepared for hangriness,

Show them the Evo2 badges they'll get if they are good and pay attention and follow their instructors (I maintain BASI would lose half their instructor tuition business if ski instructors gave out badges to adults). Goggle straps are an excellent place to pin badges, but make sure you keep their little passport cards safe for next time.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Ours didn't have an option they were told that's what they were doing. I think the thing that kept it better for them after the early stages was that we started going with friends with kids the same ages and they did it together, once they'd all progressed a bit we usually got them private lessons which for a group of four was much the same price and sometimes cheaper than group lessons.

A snowHead

A snowHead

In other words.... they don't need to be "excited for" ski school. Just to go. Life is not always a bowl of cherries. Kids will always have to do quite a lot of stuff which they don't find exciting, and might find positively disagreeable. Once they start feeling some mastery that's usually motivation enough. they do love to show you what they've done, and for that you have to ski with them on really easy slopes, not whiz around with them between your knees. One of my grandchildren did skiing backwards with his instructor and enormously enjoyed watching the grownups making idiots of themselves trying.

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I love the range of parenting styles this has immediately raised.

I'll pack a pony in the hand luggage, book a couple of beers in with candide and locate the hotel chokey on arrival.

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@tpc,

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

There was a certain amount of bargaining went on in the Beaumont house when ski school was involved. Busy doing something boring at the moment but need to finish before it rains, or my campervan stuff will get rained on.

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@Hells Bells,

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

@tpc, i dare you to start a thread on packing a pony as your sports equipment snowHead

After all it is free

OK, that's done. So when we first went skiing, the weather was spectacularly awful. Mainly rain, thunder, and then some snow. Avalanches all over the place, but because we were beginners it didn't matter as we could stick to the nursery slopes for most of the week. Kids had all-day child care, were fed lunch and we met them again at the end of the day. Both passed their 'flocon'. However, it transpired that son no 2 had hardly left the creche all week (he was just turned 5) and spent most of it in the ball pool with his teddy bear. He even buried the teddy bear at the bottom of the ball pool one morning so he was too upset to go out. Laughing

I can't say I blamed him as weather was atrocious. Second trip we went in March and persuaded him to go out skiing. This time he kind of liked it, but he felt a bit out of place as he was miles taller (although not older) than the rest. He decided he didn't want to go skiing again, and on the third trip, the childcare was no longer an option for his age. We told him that no skiing was fine, he didn't have to ski if he didn't want to, but would have to stay with his grandparents for a week instead. Needless to say he did change his mind, and as he was now a bit older, he actually enjoyed the holiday and now skis effortlessly. Once we started to do two trips, we were more competent skiers and didn't feel so nervous in charge of 2 small kids, so we often didn't book ski school for the second last-minute Easter trip, but still all had lessons on the 1st one.

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Our kids were in all day ski school from the earliest possible age (3 years old I think).
The reward was the opportunity to ski with mum and dad on the last afternoon of the holiday.
This was OUR holiday too!

Tears?
Sometimes.

Strong condition from the ESI on Flaine:
Drop them off, walk away, don't come back and don't drop on on the lesson.

Tough love?
Sure...but a lot of love as well as tough.

My "kids" both became full time ski instructors who worked all around the world.

They still mention the green drink at breaktime (menthe) and the main instructor still works in Flaine for ESI.

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I've just got home from a holiday in Les Arcs with kids the same age as yours, OP. They were in ESF group lessons every morning, and I'm relieved to say it went well.

Before the holiday, they didn't seem either excited or nervous about the lessons. They were more interested in other aspects, asking whether they'd be able to have a snowball fight, build a snowman etc., and we could say yes to all of that as we knew we'd have time for fun in the afternoons. We also talked about things like having hot chocolate, crepes with Nutella, going to the pool in our apartment building. Not linked to the lessons as a reward -- just other things to look forward to.

Our main concern was that they'd be upset about being in separate groups -- especially the 4yo. We prepared them for this by saying that it would be just like going to school and preschool back home, as the younger one hasn't started school yet. It helps, of course, that they both actually like going to school/preschool. This might not work if you have any problems with drop-off time back home. But we played up the fun aspect too, saying it would be like school but with a lot more playing in the snow.

I also showed my kids a few ESF videos on YouTube. Not loads, just the odd 1-2 minute video now and again. There are lots available and, of course, they always make it look lots of fun. For example:

http://youtube.com/v/wEz3flGH9Hc?si=-aizEinpn26FOCue

During the week, they settled into the lessons really well. Our 6yo was asking to put on his skis and ski down to the meeting point, rather than walking, by day 3. He was very excited when they left the enclosed ESF area and started going on lifts higher up from day 4. Our 4yo didn't show as much enthusiasm, but never had any complaints about going either. He was always keen to put his boots on in the boot room in the morning, which seemed like a good sign. Knowing they had snacks in their pockets must have helped, and we got into the habit of bringing another snack and a bottle of water with us at pick-up time and sitting with them for a while before setting off back home. Lots of high fives and praise.

Hope it goes well for you!

You know it makes sense.

@Dave_raclette, your approach sounds ideal - they'll be going to ski school. That's what's going to happen, and this is how it's going to be - like on this video. No great drama, no fuss! Ski schools are actually rather good at what they do - even the ESF. My favourite encounter with a group was a rather dour and chilly morning, ESF instructor surrounded by a circle of little kids, with no poles. She had them doing arms up and down a bit, then lifting one leg for a bit, then the other. Then she told them to lift both legs at once. They all looked a bit stumped, then one bright little fellow jumped. They all cottoned on, and jumped up and down laughing. Getting warm, getting balanced. Brilliant.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

For ours it’s the end goal, once you get a certain badge you don’t need ski school anymore and can ski with Mummy and Daddy. But you can’t do that until you have the skills, so the quicker it’s done, the quicker you are out.

One major factor though, is we have always gone to drop off and found other English kids and facilitated introductions and got them chatting. This seemed to be the biggest factor, if they found some good buddies (which luckily we have with ESF lessons on every trip) they more saw it as going having fun with friends and didn’t get too hung up on the “school” aspect.

A snowHead

Yes lots of different parenting styles. There is no right or wrong way to go about it, much as some here seem to suggest that there are.

The best part of winter holidays when the kids were small was spending time with them in the mountains, they are only small and full of wonder for such a short time that it is a shame to waste that. I would not have wanted to miss out on a second of the time I spent with them, and never felt I was missing out on "MY holiday" or skiing time. They all did ski school when small out of necessity (I was not then a qualified instructor, but knew enough to know teaching them myself was a bad idea). But I have to say I wanted to ski more with them so we moved to a (very expensive) model of private instruction - which is one of the best investments I have made in life. I know that is not an option for all, and it was at times a stretch for us especially as with mixed ages and abilities there were a few years where we needed 3 instructors. But many of my best experiences and memories are from those years.

One bit of advice I would give is to accept that not all kids will progress the same way, or at the same ages, and some will be more passionate about skiing than others. I have 4 kids and they all took to it in different ways. 2 are very advanced and have done quite a bit of ski racing. But only one of those joins me for touring and tougher off-piste. One is more into the park and tricks, and whilst a good skier not in the same league as the racers. The eldest loves skiing and winter holidays, can ski pretty much anything with control, but could best be described as having a relaxed style with little interest in the finer details of technique (and not much interest in off-piste either). He is migrating more to a ski to lunch kind of man, and can be relied on to properly research the on-slope dining opportunities.

A snowHead

Our daughter went through Esprit up until lockdown. Apart from one year in La Plagne where she absolutely hated going (anf that was creche not ski school), she's always thrown herself into it with varying levels of enthusiasm once first-day nerves are over!

Like @zikomo we enjoyed being able to take her out in the afternoons if she wanted although quite often she preferred to stay with the friends she'd made in ski school or the chalet.

She's 12 now and we've said this year would be the last where we'd block-book ski school. She had 5 full days this year in Sun Peaks and skied with us the other 5. Next year the compromise is two half-day private lessons - she needs the technical input and confidence to go places where she might not feel comfortable with me, although those are becoming rarer!

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It really depends on the child but having been through it with a number of friends/their children issues generally fall in to 3 buckets:

1. Anxiety. One of them is quite anxious about change and the idea of nobody speaking English, the latter after getting put into the 'late comers' group one year...because her anxiety meant we got to ski school late on the first day rolling eyes

. With this one Morning 1 is usually a bit stressful - but then she comes back having made 5 new friends and can't wait for Day 2.

2. Ego. One of them was a short 8 year old boy who got put into a group with tall 5 year olds (partly judging on height/partly turning like a 5 year old as he generally refused to turn and gets went straight down everything). This meant an almost refusal to go back after lunch - but a word with the organising instructor and just saying "He's 8 and in a group with 5 year olds" was greated with a smile and knowing nod had him in a small 'judgment' group for the afternoon and a similar aged group on Day 2, after which no issues.

3. Hungry. Amazing how you can collect a child from ski school who never wants to see snow again and just 1 plate of chips/cake (depending on time of day) have one who can't wait for ski school. Had one who was a nightmare all afternoon/evening on Day 1 but an angle the rest of the week...after we discovered you just needed to collect them from ski school and go direct to the cake shop and shove a meringue in their face (and no, filling their pockets with snacks doesn't always work as sometimes they still come back saying "I'm hungry"...still with their pockets stuffed with snacks "Oh, I forgot") Very Happy

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

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Just don't do what I did...which was leave them with the OH and sister as I went to the collection point for the 4 year old's free pass in Les Menuires (why we couldn't get online or at hotel like the others only the French know). On leaving breakfast table for said pass I said to OH and sister everything is ready I will see you out front and make sure they have both had a pee (as they were in all in one suits at that age). Got back, slightly stressed about time, and all was good (helmets, boots, skis etc)....until I asked about the toilet, which neither had done. So I stomped off to the gents with the 4 y/o, got into a cubicle (typically tiny), got his suit down at which point his face crumpled. He'd put his finger in the joint where the door closes beside the hinge and couldn't quite explain to me what was wrong. So after all the careful planning we had made it within 1 - 2 mins of the lesson when disaster struck. Finger was cut and bleeding....but after 20 mins we patched it up made him go to ski school, which he constantly reminds me of!!

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Don't try and enthuse them.

Make it clear that it's non-negotiable, they're going, and they don't get a say in it.

Then give them a false choice - "Are you going to get yourself ready, or should I help you with it?"

If there's a melt down, make sure it's not for a good reason like a spoon in their boot, and then ignore it and get on with things.

No experience of ski school, but plenty of experience of "child whispering" for medical procedures.

After all it is free

@Kramer,

One of my friends used to have fairly frequent meltdowns on the slopes when things went wrong. After a while her husband and I learned to spot them coming and so would fake absolute tantrums in advance of them happening. Laughing

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@Kramer,

Help!!

Top tips for getting kids excited for ski school

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