 Poster: A snowHead
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This news item on ifyouski.com caught my eye. It promotes a service called Snowkidz. As a press release it's quite a tour de force. Here are some extracts:
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| So dismayed was Ashanti [Dickson, founder of the company] with the dire shortage of quality childcare in winter sports resorts, that she resolved to take direct action and established Snowkidz in 1998. |
Ashanti Dickson goes on to say:
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| "As a mother I have the highest expectations when it comes to childcare and as a skier I need complete peace of mind that my children are being well cared for and enjoying safe fun while I'm on the slopes. I make no apology for being very proud of the Snowkidz service and track record which I hope will go some way to setting a high standard and keeping quality childcare on the winter sports agenda". Snowkidz nannies and carers provide a happy holiday experience for kids through indoor activities and outdoor fun, including picnics on the mountain, tobogganing on lower slopes and snowman building. |
Now, don't get me wrong - and it's easy to be mocking about the concept of nannies though not about the evident standard of professionalism operating here - but one wonders what is the point of people taking their tiny darlings on holiday and then paying someone else to take them toboganning, for example?
Do people find, on bringing children into the world, that actually they're a 'bit of an inconvenience' while on a ski holiday? Is this private nannying affair just a bit precious, or is it genuinely in a child's best interests to be exclusively cared for on a one-to-one basis by a professional?
Your opinions are invited!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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If I take my kids skiing I want them to have a family holiday not be looked after by someone else. Good family holidays are full of good memories and are about becomming closer and doing things together. If your going to hire a nanny leave the kids at home with the grand parents its cheaper
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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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There's a space on the back of my snowboard for a cot if any one wants to rent the space?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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David Goldsmith, what did you do when your children were too young to ski? Didn't you use a nanny service? It's great of course if you have relatives that you can leave them with at home, but not all of us have that.
There has been a lot of commendation on this site for companies like Ski Esprit (and others) who offer a nanny service. The fact that they did this for our children meant that we could ski a lot happier with knowing that they would be kept entertained and happy painting the snow, tobogganing, making snowmen, making cakes etc.
Once they were old enough, obviously we could all ski together, but until then, the best that you can do is ensure that they have a holiday themselves that is stimulating, active, safe and fun.
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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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Ray, we used pooled childcare services, where the kids are in company with other kids. Obviously a very young infant needs a lot of attention, but as soon as a child can walk and talk are they not better off talking, walking and having a laugh with their contemporaries...
...rather than an adult privately fussing over their every need?
It's a tricky area, because one certainly doesn't want to be judgemental about other people's ways of bringing up children. It's certainly the case that until a child reaches the age of about 5 or 6 they are unlikely to ski all day so, yes, they need to have a good time. But many ski resorts now seem to offer good daycare for children, without forking out £500 per week for this ever-so-precious type of service.
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DG,
It's terrible how some people don't take on the responsibility for their kids properly giving other things (e.g. skiing) a higher priority. I've even heard about a father of a new born who dashed away to some skiing event instead of being there for his wife and newborn child. 
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We didn't ski when the children were between 0 and 4. For the first couple of years after that, they were cared for by nannies in the afternoons, because they couldn't cope with a full day on skis. They love skiing so much, and everything that goes around it, that I'll be quite sad when they decide, I expect in the not-too-distant future, that it would be un-cool to go on holiday with mum and dad. On the other hand, money talks...
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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.
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David Goldsmith, our friends think like that I'm afraid. In our case we all learnt at hte sme time when the kids were 5 and 6, so apart form ski school,we spent the rest of the time having fun woith the kids, either skiing or sledging.
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Interesting topic as I'm taking my 18 month old away this season for the first time. We have childcare booked ( with Ski Beat ) and my wife and I intend to ski in the mornings and spend time with our son in the afternoons. I'm hoping that taking him to the mountains will result in a positive experience for all of us. He will be exposed to a whole range of stimulating new activities with a group of his peers in the mornings and benefit from his parents being energised and invigorated in the afternoons. Or of course, he may well just scream the place down !!!! Either way, I can't wait for our holiday together.
In terms of a ski nanny - I would much prefer my child to take part in 'group' childcare rather than one-to-one. ( genuine preference, nothing to do with the fact that I can't afford £500 !!!! )
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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David Goldsmith, I think I misunderstood what you were saying initially then. (no change there, huh) I agree that being with peers under the supervision of child-orientated nannies would suit my preference for childcare than having another adult doing it.
Jonny Jones, to call all people selfish who leave their children behind is rather judgemental. Anyway, I can remember asking my 6 month old if she wanted to come skiing with me or would she rather stay in the nice creche. I took her silence as a preference for the creche - see, I gave her the choice. Actually, I would also disagree with the implicit assumption that you make that children prefer the company of their parents to other children. While they may appreciate the security of having them around, I would believe that they can easily have more fun with other kids under the supervision of a suitable nanny than with mum and dad - so if you deprive them of that possibility, who is the selfish one then?
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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.
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Hello Jonny, thought this might prise you out  I'm having great problems in persuading my wife to go away without the small person (now 6 1/2 months). I hope we can manage it. I still think we'll aim for Banff with the child care facilities on offer slope side allowing us to check up at anytime.
Not sure I'd fancy the nanny idea, and leaving my child all day every day.
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Ray Zorro, you cannot be serious. Do you have a shred of empirical evidence to suggest that a 6-month old child is happier, safer, more contented or developmentally advantaged by being placed with strangers for 40 hours or more while its parents are off playing? No? I thought not.
I originally used the word 'selfish' light-heartedly but, on reflection, I think I was completely accurate. I'm not being not pejorative, judgemental, harsh or unkind; I'm just stating facts. Parents don't go skiing for the benefit of their newborn: they're going skiing for themselves. That's what selfish means - doing something for yourself.
Toddlers are a different matter: they love the snow and may well be extremely excited at the prospect of going on an airoplane, etc. But babies? Get real.
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You know it makes sense.
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Agree completely, Jonny. Wait till the kids can join in as well before taking them skiing. We started to ski when ours were all old enough to ski (our youngest was 4, nearly 5). They had great fun in ski school in the morning (as did we), then we took them out in the afternoon, tailored to their ability levels. My 2 daughters (8 & 6) actually caught on faster than me, so it was a challenge to keep up. That improved my skills no end.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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I think everyones entitled to a holiday, whats the point in forking out an arm and a leg for a ski holiday ( which you probably only do once a year) and then not being able to enjoy it because your constantly looking after/ worrying about the children and not getting any skiing!
Most families with Nannies dont palm the children off on them 24hrs a day, most do exactly the same as other parents etc, they just have time to do their own thing aswell and maybe even get a few nights to go out together as a couple rather than "mum and dad", that was certainly the case with the families I nannied for.
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Poster: A snowHead
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I don't see what the problem is, surely little wifey stays at home and looks after the kids, whilst hubby continues with his annual ski trip?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Jonny Jones, I also do know the definition of selfish and find it hard to believe that everything you do is totally for the benefit of your newborn and there is not a hint of selfishness in any of your own actions. But, equally I think that in this context the word selfish is inappropriately used. I believe that it is important for the parents to have quality time together (without the children) and individually, in my opinion, this will make them better parents, not worse. I won’t be made to feel guilty about my own decisions on parenting. You do it your way, I'll do it mine.
Also, can you provide any information to the contrary, that shows that placed with professionally qualified nannies in a dedicated nursery, a 6-month old child is less happy, less safe, less contented or developmentally disadvantaged.
As far as I'm concerned, I am the best father they will ever have. And anyway, there was nothing wrong with that creche and I can fully believe the nannies when they said that the dope that they were smoking really did relax the children in their care. My kids have grown up fine. When my 14 year old gets back from the abortion clinic (third time this year!!(kids eh)) I'll get her to give you her views. I shall have to edit her post though as her language can be a bit coarse at times and had she not missed school so much her spelling would be better too!! Replying to you will give her something to do, as since that ASBO kicked in, she's not going out so often. Still, she's a great kid and she knows that despite how much I beat her up, that deep down I love her.
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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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Ray, has your daughter considered her glittering potential as a ski nanny?
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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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I'm in a similar situation to Ken Lingwood - 6 1/2 mo baby, wife reluctant to go skiing (either with or without the little one). We've gone for the Kramer option (though it was suggested by my wife!). I suspect that if I used the term 'little wifey' I'd soon be in trouble though...
When we do eventually take the little one with us though, I suspect we'll take it in turns to look after her rather than use a nanny or a creche.
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Jonny Jones, Can I extend a virtual handshake across the ether - I don't think our views are totally opposing!!
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*sigh* Jonny, you haven't mellowed on this one I see! 
I participated on the other thread earlier in the year and my views haven't really changed.
We took our very young daughter on our ski holidays twice last winter. On one holiday she had 1-to-1 care and on the other she was in a creche. Based on those experience we'd have no hesitation putting Beth in a creche again (I probably wouldn't go for 1-to-1 care again though). And we're going to do the same this winter - 2 holidays, one with Ski Esprit and one with Ski Beat.
Selfish? Maybe. However, I agree with Ray, I think there has to be a balance between what is good for your child (or children) and what is good for you and your partner. This is probably the only instance in which we put our own interests first. But in doing so I genuinely believe that all of the family will benefit.
Of course, if we thought she would hate the creche and be miserable the entire week then we wouldn't do it. She's going to meet new children and be exposed to a different environment. I hope this will be a positive experience for her too.
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You do have to be careful with these creches. Our daughter joined one in Hinterglemm, Austria, when she was 3 and cried and cried. So we took her out of there after only half a day.
Conversely, a few years later, she had a great time with an all-day nursery in Arc 1600 (though admittedly she had a little sister to play with then).
Language is probably a factor. I guess Lucy was mixed only with German-speaking girls and boys in Austria and felt abandoned in a strange environment.
The best childrens' facilities I ever saw were in Vail, Colorado. All-day fun, based on a specialised building from which snow activities were organised, but with lots of indoor stuff too. The Arc 1600 facility is very established and good, too.
Looking back at all the experiences (the girls are now teenagers, so it's a while ago) I'd recommend spending a few hours on snow with a 3-4-year-old. They get mini skis, no poles, and you take them to flat snow with a very gentle slope. They learn to walk around on skis and you let them do very short gentle straight runs out to the run-out where they stop naturally. Make them stick their arms out for balance, like aeroplane wings. Mix it with toboganning. Video it all. It makes a wonderful memory - for you, and the child.
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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.
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Dr Che, Kramer, Nice idea, forget the £ 500.00 for a ski nanny, how about £ 500.00 for a ski escort for the week!!! 
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David Goldsmith, I fancy doing what you suggest on a short weekend trip to the snow with my family. I'll be doing a "proper" ski weekend with friends but I'd love to spend a couple of hours over a couple of days doing this as well and I'm sure that my daughter will love it. Last winter I bought her a pair of strap-on plastic toy skis and she spend hours walking around the house on them and when it snowed at home she loved going for a walk in the snow with her skis on. Unfortunately I missed most of this because the snow meant that it took me over 4 hours to get home from work and when I got home she was in bed. 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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My parents palmed us off on au pairs, ski school (all day), coggins, DHO training, and sometimes went ski-ing without us! That served them right, they got stuck in the typhoid outbreak in Zermatt.
I really disagree with parents not spending time with their kids on holiday (OK I don't have any), but what's the point if you dislike them so much? Nowadays no-one has to have children!
However, having said that, during the holidays I make serious efforts to encourage a "club" feeling among all the families ski-ing with me, so they can take it in turns to look after the kids. that way they all find new friends, and no-one feels hard done by. 
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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.
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I cannot belive how outrageous everyone's views are! It is ridiculous to assume that parents with children under the age of five are not entitled to ski because it is selfish - and plain stupid to assume you can't be too cautious about who you leave them with. people often pay for private nannies because there is no creche facility available, simple as that. Children under 4 months or over 8 are either too young or too cool to attend creche so a nanny is more suitable. Nannies do not spend all day everyday in the chalet with the children - they meet up with other nannies and their kids so its good allround fun. And forget the image of fat, drunken girls with sex on the brain - its not how it is. Nannies are the sweetest most caring and responsible people in resort, bar none.
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So "bar none" is the operative phrase for these teetotalling angels!
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You know it makes sense.
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Quite!
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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The Skiing Saddler, welcome to snowHeads, by the way!
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Poster: A snowHead
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I usually read through threads like this and leave them. But I think a mother's perspective is needed here.
My two sons are 15 and 18. They are well behaved, and enjoy the company of both their own peer group and adults. They ski very well, and love it to bits. We have taken them on holiday with us since they were babies, sometimes using a local creche, sometimes taking a sister or friend as a nanny, and when they were a little older, putting them into ski schools. Now they just ski with us, and with friends if we go in a group.
And most years Mr Q and I have had a week ski holiday without them. They either stayed with grandparents, or boarded at school, or our nanny cared for them. They are most definitely not deprived. They don't think it uncool to ski with their parents - they're coming with us at Christmas. But they're also happy for us to go skiing without them (although jealous!). Selfish? I don't think so.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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David Goldsmith, I think you're being a bit one sided in your opinion of Nannies. Everyone likes to let their hair down every now and again, but it doesnt mean that they dont take their responsibilites very seriously when they are working.
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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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Sure, but why name these estimable ladies after goats? This can label...
...is faintly amusing, in that regard.
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FAQ
A few months back, I raised a similar question in the forums
. I'm game for another round in the ring, though, if anyone else is keen...
