How young can a child learn to ski
The right -- and wrong -- age for kids to start skiing
I've yet to meet -- or raise -- a child who was overwhelmingly excited to go to ski school for the first (or second) time. I'm sure those kids exist, but let's just say that for a certain age bracket, tears at ski school are at least as common as runny noses.
With two daughters, we've had years of experience with various ski schools and private ski instructors in multiple countries, tried to teach them ourselves and have collectively spent more money in the process than I'd ever dare to total. Our goal wasn't just to teach them how to ski, but to get them to love skiing.
I doubt anyone would argue against the reality that teaching kids to ski is indeed a process, especially if you don't live near the mountains and are instead only on the snow a few times per year (or less) during family ski vacations. For us, getting young kids on skis has had mixed results that ranged from "Best ever, I love skiing!" to those aforementioned tears and even reports that included, "Um, your daughter ran away from ski school for a bit today. "
As was common with many things we tried with our firstborn, I think we went "too much, too soon" with some ski-related activities for her.
That said, every kid is different, so what was too much for her may be just right for another kid. With a decade of snowy highs and lows under our ski boots, here are my thoughts on the right age to start kids on skis.
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(Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)Ski school starts as young as 2.5 years old
Many of the major mountains offer child care for kids as young as 8 weeks. The actual ski school programs, where you strap skis on and get on the snow, have historically started for children around age 3. But increasingly, children as young as 2.5 are included in some hybrid ski and play programs.
I'd argue that the best ski school programs for those in the 2- to 4-year-old range are usually those that include a combo of indoor and outdoor time.
For example, Snowmass (in the Aspen area) has a program for 2.5 to 3-year-olds that gives them access to a private learning area right outside the indoor Treehouse play area. They spend one hour learning to ski each morning; otherwise, they are indoors having fun and some afternoon rest time.
Related: Best ski schools in the U.S.
The treehouse play area at Aspen Snowmass. (Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)Breckenridge also has an optional "Little Rippers" $65 add-on to a day of child care that gets little ones ages 2 and up on skis with a private instructor for one hour of their day. At Deer Valley, 3-year-olds get a hybrid model that includes indoor playtime along with a one-hour session of ski time.
Related: Planning a ski trip using points and miles
(Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)Now, I've seen some very, very tiny kids who are probably no older than 2 years old whizzing down the mountain with their parents, but those kids have parents who ski far better than me -- and they probably live near the mountain.
In other words, if you are a once-a-season-ski-family, I would recommend 100% ignoring the possibility of your 2.5-year-old actually skiing on his or her own. Honestly, even most 3- or 4-year-olds that will only have one ski trip per year are probably not going to really be skiing, but that doesn't mean you should avoid any sort of ski instruction.
Related: Choosing the best annual ski pass
Avoid real ski school until your child is ready
In addition to the hybrid programs, many mountains offer child care (sometimes in cool settings like the Treehouse at Aspen Snowmass) for children until they are 5 or 6 years old, such as at the Playschool at Keystone, With these solid non-ski options available, I highly recommend not rushing into actual ski school if your child is hesitant. Your 3-year-old may be ready and excited for ski school, but if that's not the case, don't try it.
Getting the privilege of learning to ski should be exciting for your kid.
If your preschool-aged kid isn't enthusiastic, skip the drama and don't risk tainting his or her view of skiing. Instead, opt for the mountain's child care option until your children are a little older and ready to learn the joys of skiing or boarding. (They may hate child care, too, but at least it's not skiing they are actively disliking.)
As eager-beaver parents, we pressed forward with ski school for our first daughter before we were sure was ready and she really showed us who was boss when she ran away from ski school that day. We then turned to a very expensive private lesson on our next ski trip to counteract that experience.
Cubs on Skis program for 2.5 years and up at Snowmass. (Photo courtesy of Aspen Snowmass)If you truly believe your 3- or 4-year-old is ready for real outdoor ski school, make sure he or she is potty trained and able to get through the day successfully without a nap. If that's not the case, don't stress, just go for the child care or hybrid option.
Related: How to enjoy a ski vacation as a non-skier
The magic ski age is around 5
Some kids learn to legitimately ski outside of the ski school magic carpet corral earlier than 5 but, for the most part, those will be the local regular mountain visitors or the physically gifted kids. In general, the magic age for skiing is closer to 5. If given the chance, and at least three consecutive days of learning, a kid around 4.5 to 5 years old may be able to get the basics of listening, turning, stopping and managing the lifts enough to get out of the ski school corral and onto the wide-open green runs.
My 5-year-old skiing happily at Steamboat. (Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)For most vacation skier kids, any lessons before that age are truly just for fun and to give them something to do while the parents and older siblings hit the mountain. That said, with private lessons, both of my kids escaped the ski school corral at about 4.5 years old.
Related: Winter gear packing essentials for toddlers
If you can, private lessons are worth it
If you want to speed up the learning process once you think your kids are ready, you simply cannot beat private ski lessons.
Fair warning: Private lessons are painfully expensive. However, they are less painful than that time I tore my knee trying to teach my first daughter to ski on my own.
Most mountains offer either 1:1 private lessons or family lessons that keep the family together. Last year, we did a private family lesson option at Breckenridge to keep the three youngest cousins (aged 3 to 6 years) together for a half day of learning. This allowed them to be less anxious about ski school since they were all together, and it ended at noon so they could then take an afternoon nap. They got many more practice runs in at ski school since the group was small.
That family private lesson was more expensive than ski school, but not by all that much when you factored in that three kids benefited.
Related: Best credit cards for ski trips
(Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)This year, we did a full-day family private lesson at Mammoth and had the instructor spend the first 2/3 of the day with just my 4.
5-year-old (with me checking in from time to time). In that time, she went from only ever skiing the magic carpet at ski school to legitimately doing lifts and skiing the green runs. It was nothing short of a snowy miracle and absolutely worth the hefty price tag.
If a full-day private lesson is outside your budget (it can ring in around $800 to $1,000 at major mountains), don't despair. A one-hour private lesson, such as at a smaller mountain we enjoyed in Maryland, can price under $100. Other mountains offer early morning or late-afternoon discounted two-hour lessons, which might be the right amount of time for a younger skier.
Alternatively, small group lessons with just three or four kids, such as the Quad Ski Lessons at Breckenridge, that combine the lower price of group ski school with more individualized attention and the same instructor each day, can be a good compromise. At Park City, 3- and 4-year-olds are put into small groups with no more children than their numeric age (Ultimate 3 for 3s and Ultimate 4 for 4s).
Bottom line
I know firsthand how challenging it is to really want your little one to learn to love skiing as soon as possible. But, the reality is that just because ski school is available to very young children, it doesn't mean that all kids are all necessarily ready to start skiing without their parents at such a young age.
Many kids who just ski occasionally on vacation will be best served at those young ages of 2, 3 or potentially even 4, by on-mountain child care or in a combo program that combines both indoor play and some outdoor time on skis.
As kids cross the threshold to being at or close to kindergarten, the odds of success in ski school increase dramatically -- even if they only go to the mountains once per year. Regardless of your choice, the most important elements at those young ages are that they have fun and stay safe.
Remember that kid of mine who ran away from ski school at 4 years old? She's now 10, skis black runs and loves the sport even though she lives in snow-free Texas.
The best age for skiing and ski school will vary from kid to kid, but if you are patient, you'll get to the powdery promised land.
At what age can a child learn to ski or snowboard?
Sep. 28, 2014
One of the most common questions parents ask us is: “At what age can my child learn to ski or snowboard?”
We sat down with Mark Raymond, General Manager of Training and Quality for Vail Ski and Snowboard School, to get his take. As a father of a 5-year-old and an instructor since 1992, Mark is very familiar with what it takes to teach young ones to ski.
While some parents that are avid skiers will take their 1 ½ year-olds along swaddled in baby-backpacks, the rule at Vail Ski and Snowboard School is that a child must be at least 3-years-old and potty trained to be in a group lesson. These kids are placed into groups based on their ability level with other children ages 3 to 6 years old. From there, instructors will adapt the day’s schedule to the needs of the children in each class.
When teaching kids “you really have to look at their cognitive ability,” says Mark. So instead of telling a four-year-old to turn left – a direction that might confuse them – instructors will use stickers, colors and props to help give children directions in a fun, low-stress atmosphere.
“Ideally everyone would start at age three,” Mark says, “because at that age, kids are fearless”. Their small stature and adaptability makes the sport much easier to learn than for an adult.
For the most part, teaching little ones to ski is about getting them familiar with the equipment and the feeling of gliding on snow. Once they get the feel of gliding down, they can advance to riding the chairlift. And if a child is feeling cold or hungry, instructors can bring them inside where counselors have hot cocoa, snacks and games on hand.
Mark insists that even he doesn’t try to teach his 4-year-old how to ski. “It saves some hurt (feelings)…(and gives your child) the best chance of success.
” Ski School classes are set up to allow kids to learn with peers of similar abilities. It also is scheduled so that parents can return in the afternoon to ski with their children, allowing kids the chance to show off what they’ve learned.
With all this talk of learning to ski you might be saying, “Wait, but I want my kid to snowboard!” While there are programs like Burton’s Riglet Park that teach 3-5 year olds to snowboard, Mark notes that most kids have trouble getting the mechanics of standing sideways down before age 5.
The challenge for three and four-year-olds is that they almost universally carry their center of gravity in their heads rather than in their core, making the effort of snowboarding a wobbly endeavor. That said, there are instructors and equipment available to help children three and up to play on the snow any way they choose.
Now that you know the professional’s recommendation, we’d like to know at what age you learned to ski or ride! Here are a few responses from Vail Facebook fans below – what’s your story?
To arrange your next lesson, visit the Vail Ski and Snowboard School.
For recommendations on learning to ski and ride as an adult, see “Am I too old to learn to ski or snowboard?”
Michael: Skis at age 5 and first Board at age 12, I’m 30 now with no sign of stopping; and moving to Vail this Fall!
Kirsten: 2…but always learning:-)
Maise: At age one I wore my first pair of boots and at age two I started skiing in the backyard
Greg: 3 for skiing and 5 for snowboarding
Hansi: At 5 the best thing I ever learned in life!!!!!!!!
Andrea: Mom skied with me when she was pregnant, first winter (6 months) mom carried me in a pack, 18 months skied by myself and was taught mom and dad at grandma’s resort (Ski Green Valley), Snowboard at 23 and now an instructor myself.
Morrie Shepard: I was 18 months old, in 1955, Aspen where dad was an instructor. That was before he became the first ski school director of Vail in 1962. That makes 57 years.
Topics:
- Ski and Snowboard School
- Skiing and Snowboarding Tips
- Vacation Planning
how to teach a toddler basic riding techniques
Child and skiing: how to teach a toddler basic riding techniques
Skiing is one of the best winter activities for the whole family.
It is not difficult to introduce a child to skiing, and in many ways even easier than an adult. But, usually, there are a lot of questions here. At what age can you start putting your baby on skis? What are the best techniques to learn how to ride? What are the rules to follow when choosing the first set of ski equipment? And, finally, how to make acquaintance with skiing a pleasure for a child? We will talk about these and other important points in this article.
At what age can you start learning to ski?
This is the question that adults first of all ask when they decide to introduce a child to skiing. Some particularly enthusiastic parents begin to put the baby on skis as early as one and a half to two years. Basically, it is quite real. But it should be understood that in this matter it is better to be guided not by personal desires, but by the recommendations of orthopedists. According to doctors, the optimal time for the first acquaintance with skiing is the age of 4 years.
By this time, the child's musculoskeletal system becomes sufficiently strong and adapted for skiing loads.
How and with what technique is it better to start?
For children 4-5 years old, the first acquaintance with the world of winter sports is recommended to start with classic cross-country skiing. You should be prepared for the fact that at first the child will strive to get rid of unusual things on his feet. This is a completely natural reaction. It is important for parents to find a compromise in this matter: on the one hand, do not be led by the baby, taking off skis at the first whim, and at the same time not being too strict. Initial workouts should not be done for more than 20 minutes.
It is advisable to start your first acquaintance with skiing at home. Put skis on a child, offer to trample around the apartment in them and imitate driving movements. To spark interest, it would not be superfluous to first watch cartoons in which your favorite characters go skiing.
Mastering the classic move
The essence of classic cross-country skiing technique is to move in steps with little slip, while the skis are parallel to each other. Classic skiing is preferable for a child, because. his movements are more natural, hence the technique is clearer and easier to learn. It is also important that the classical move requires less physical effort.
The first movements should be practiced on densely packed snow, and even better on a well-formed track. To begin with, offer the baby to simply stand on skis and stomp in one place. Before practicing sliding skills, the child must be able to confidently maintain balance. To do this, during the first lessons, simply ride it on an impromptu tug using a small stick or a thick rope 30-40 cm long. The skier's legs should be slightly bent, the body tilted forward. Slowly drag it, alternating acceleration and deceleration.
When the child gets a good feel for skiing and learns to keep balance, you can give him more independence.
To begin with, let the novice skier simply learn to walk on the track, alternately moving the skis, but not lifting them off the ground. After that, you can proceed to working out an independent sliding move. Its essence lies in long, alternately sliding steps. The weight of the body is slightly transferred to the forward sliding leg, the second ski at this time rises slightly, but does not come off completely from the ground.
It is best to organize training with the whole family, so that one of the parents demonstrates the technique of adult skiing, and the second is next to the baby and secures him. Joint classes with other children will only warm up everyone's interest and make training less boring. Tolerably slide in a child will not work right away. Therefore, it is better for parents to show restraint and patience, and try by all possible means (play, encouragement, etc.) to maintain the baby's interest in classes.
There is no need for ski poles in the initial stages of training.
Without them, a young athlete will quickly learn to balance and be able to better concentrate on gliding technique.
Stepless
After the child more or less confidently began to ride in the classic style, alternately rearranging his arms and legs, it is important to teach him one kind of "classic" - stepless running. The essence of the technique is repulsion with sticks alone without the participation of the legs. The legs remain parallel to each other and slightly bent at the knees. The body is slightly tilted forward. This style is convenient in that it gives you the opportunity to rest your legs during a long ride. It is also suitable for use on slopes and small slopes.
How not to make a mistake when choosing your first skis?
The right choice of skis is the key to fast and effective learning, and last but not least, comfortable and safe riding. The process of choosing skis for a child has its many nuances, and those schemes that are relevant when buying adult equipment do not work here.
For children aged three or four years, purchase short skis. Their length should be slightly less than the height of the child himself. As a rule, we are talking about wide stable models with a length of 80-90 cm.
From 6-7 years old, the optimal size of cross-country skis for classic skiing is chosen according to the following scheme: child's height + 20 cm. Adding these two indicators, you will get the desired length of children's skis. The length of suitable poles is calculated according to the scheme: the height of the skier is minus 20 cm. For skating equipment, shorter skis are chosen, guided by the scheme of the height of the child + 10-15 cm. in general.
Teaching a child to ride - When? Where? How? Ski or snowboard?
Teaching children to ski means giving them happiness for a lifetime. Give them good health and hardening from an early age. Fall in love with the mountains, the best that Nature has created on Earth is to give an understanding of beauty.
These goals can be achieved with little effort if you follow tried and tested tips.
When? Age of introduction to mountain skiing
Children's slope
A child can be taken to the mountains from the moment of birth, when outdoor walks in a stroller become available for him. In addition to purely physical healing factors, the magical atmosphere of the mountains is present in every sip. A little later, when the child can sit - perhaps riding in a backpack for carrying children - the child adapts to the speed, gets used to the wind in the face.
There is a budget option - to roll a child sitting on his neck. I do not advise. Falling from such a height (even if it’s not your fault, but the “flying crowbar”) can be sad.
Adaptation to the mountains at a non-rolling age removes the psychological barrier to new conditions, climate, relieves stress.
It would seem that a tender age is not the time for skiing, the little man is also not very good at walking.
By no means! On skis, the support area is much larger and the baby is even more comfortable to ride than to walk or run.
From the age of 1.5, it is already possible to put a child on cross-country skis - by towing behind an adult. With a slide down the gentle slides on the ski track. Rolling elements can be trained on any slope, up to the yard.
There is no exact optimal age for children to learn how to ski. Everything is decided by the parents, but! All athletes of the Alpine Skiing World Cup know how old they have been skiing from the words of their parents and usually ski from 2-2.5 years old. And if you see your child in the sport of the highest achievements, then keep this in mind.
Skiing a 2-year-old girl
Important: sports ski training for children is not required, but it is desirable in terms of skiing in a company of the same age.
It's one thing to ride with peers, it's just another with parents.
Up to 3-4 years of age, children learn to ski very quickly - usually from the first lesson, especially if they already have experience skiing on “cross-country shoes” or skiing with their parents in backpacks. It also affects the lack of a sense of fear and pain shocks in children when falling. By the way, the child quickly ceases to react to falls while skating with crying and getting scared - it is enough to support him morally and make falls an element of the game
Important: Parents often use "reins" when riding with a child on common tracks. It has not been verified how much this helps learning, but in terms of security, it is very harmful. It is correct when the coach is in front of the young rider, and does not lead him on a leash.
From the age of four, a child realizes himself as a person, a character appears. This affects the speed of mastering skis.
A lot depends on the experience and experience of the instructor. No matter how knowledgeable the instructor is, without pedagogy, training is not effective.
There is a false theory that skiing is an adrenaline-filled activity that causes addiction. I note that "couch addiction" is not treated at all. Although there is not a drop of adrenaline in it. Read more about the effects of adrenaline on health, and you will be greatly surprised by its usefulness.
Important: All rides and training should end on a positive note: hugs, sweets, words - everything is fine!
School age has its own characteristics - the child is almost an adult and requires a special approach. And usually deeper motivation than candy or small gifts. And here the problems of learning go into the psychological plane.
Often skiing teenagers in their puberty (14-18 years) experience rejection of their skis, especially those who have gone through a ski school but have not continued their sports career.
Few people talk about this, but it is a reality. Here a lot depends on the parents, their understanding of the problems of this age. As a rule, most return to the mountains and remain grateful to their parents for this miracle.
Teach yourself or entrust instructors?
Training
If you live in a region with available winter snow cover, then the first steps in getting used to and learning are best done by yourself. A stranger is additional stress. But with the achievement of 3-4 years of age, you can entrust the child to professionals. Ski schools are available for children from 5 years old.
Children's skis
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Skis ATOMIC 2015-16 redster jr i red
15 490
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Alpine Skis With Bindings ELAN 2017-18 pinball pro el 7.5 qs (125-145)
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Skis FISCHER 2018-19 rc4 worldcup gs jr. curv booster
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Having your own or using rental skis is not a topical issue. In modern rentals and children's ski clubs (schools), there is a fairly good choice of sizes for both skis and boots. Other criteria are prioritized:
In the process of learning, the child will need several sizes:
- at the initial stage short (20-30 cm shorter than height) - with a light weight of skis, the child gets less tired, gets used to it easier, it is easier to learn to walk on them;
- the next pair is 10-15 cm shorter than their height - they are learning to slide, the first ski technique - a plow. Elongated skis are more stable, friendlier and all-terrain - less responsive to bumps, snowballs;
- when the child reaches the level of the green slopes, you need skis in height, more controllable on long descents and at speed.
Especially the choice of skis is critical for group training in a kids club. With systemic individual training, this factor is less sensitive, but more progressive.
Rental skis for children have additional convenience - rental, adaptive bindings that allow you to quickly and correctly set the size of the boot while maintaining the correct centers of the boot and skis.
Important: Maintenance of children's skis is the same as for adults. The sharp edges and the application of paraffins to the sliding surface make it easier to control and avoid "sticking to the slope". For children (especially at the initial stage of skating), these factors are much more significant than for adults.
Boots
Ski Boots FISCHER rc4 10 jr.thermoshape
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Kids Ski Boots FISCHER rc4 80 thermoshape - yellow/yellow
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Ski Boots ROXA yeti 2 trans/black/black
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Recent trends say that fine fitting up to 12 years is not required.
As well as tight fixation of the legs in them. The norm is ½ - 1 size larger. This method is due to the peculiarities of children's ski taxiing - pushing.
But this does not mean that the size does not matter - tight ones cause discomfort to the child, large ones drastically reduce controllability.
Of course, choosing the right size is easier to do at the box office.
Boots take some getting used to - it will not be superfluous to do a few lessons with putting on and wearing boots in normal room conditions. Preferably in a game format depicting a robot or a transformer.
A great success - the child was able to put on the shoe on his own. Super success if he zips it up. Ideal - walking in boots with fastened skis on the home carpet every day in the format of the game until the first exit on the slope.
Important: Boots must be dried and warmed up before putting on. Wet and cold - a direct way to cause reluctance to wear them.
Children's ski poles
There is currently no dominant method of teaching children with poles.
The classic learning scheme involves the constant presence of sticks in children. Modern methods suggest the presence of sticks in the first lessons (often children cannot start moving without repulsion with sticks) and from the moment when the stick training begins (6-7 years).
It is better to leave the issue of sticks to the discretion of the teaching person - instructor or trainer.
Ski goggles, masks
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Alpina Ski Goggles pheos jr.
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Alpina Ski Goggles 2022-23 scarabeo jr. lightblue matt
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Ski Goggles Salice 897dacrxv red crx luminal
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Do not burden the child with the constant wearing of a mask. By and large, it is needed only in windy snowy weather and high speeds. In other cases, ordinary snow or outdoor goggles are sufficient - they are lighter and do not restrict the view as much.
Important: In bright sunshine, goggles or a mask are required!
Protection - helmet required
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new
BLIZZARD Winter Helmet 2021-22 speed junior bright blue matt/dark blue matt
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Helmet kids Giro 2021-22 launch plus purple penguin
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Children up to 5 years of age, due to their constitution (soft bones, light weight) and the level of skating (speed, slopes), cannot be seriously injured by their own fall.
However, when kids leave children's training courses for general slopes, they run the risk of colliding with adults, whose mass is many times greater than that of children. The consequences can be dire.
Due to this risk, the issue of a helmet is not discussed - a helmet is definitely needed. But a helmet is needed not only as an attribute of safety - it must be well fitted and fastened.
The remaining elements - spine protection, knee protection, elbow protection, begin to be used from 5-7 years old and mainly in competitions. At the same time, the presence of full face and guard on sticks is discussed with the coach.
Important: The compromise between mobility, comfort for the little skier and the presence of passive protection elements is very important for the progress of skiing. Spare no means to achieve it
Protective shorts are required for junior snowboarders.
Clothing
Clothing should not only be comfortable, warm and comfortable.
Pick up equipment in bright colors - this will make the child more visible on the slope, which means it will ensure safer skiing.
The correct principle of forming clothes in layers is “it's getting hot – take off the excess”. The principle “it became cold - we warm ourselves” does not work. A frozen child can only come off in a warm room.
If the parents have the ability, you can sew on your own from the inside (outside, the foam rubber will “tan” in the cold) elements of knee and elbow protection.
Important: always have a second set of mittens for children, a couple of candy bars, water, room shoes (for playrooms).
Teach your child to ride with a backpack - there should always be spare mittens, goggles, warming elements of clothing.
Format of lessons and motivation of the child
Many parents who prefer the lessons of the child in the ski club during their holidays in the mountains, consider it enough. This is not so - the child needs to ride between classes to learn the skills.
So, pay more attention to such additional skating. Ask the child what the coach taught him or put him in the place of the coach - let him teach you. It works!
The duration of the lessons should be selected depending on physical abilities. And psychological too. The repetition method often stops working due to a loss of attention - the child gets tired of doing the same thing. We need to switch in time. Switch methods - for example, the imitation method, the method of reincarnation in animals, the method of associations (for example, “pizza house, airplane” - when learning to plow, “tram, rails” - parallel skis). There are many methods - try them all. Some may work better for your child, some may not work at all - this is normal.
If you decide to educate your child on your own, study this issue in depth - there are many methods depending on age: from games to competitions. Motivation is perhaps the most important thing for a child to get interested in skating. The principle "if you pass - I'll give you a candy" stops working very quickly.
Try to communicate with the child on the slope as with an adult - terminology, gestures (thumb - "like", patty - "high five", "nickle"), greetings and wishes of good luck, giving admiration for his success. This is much better for the formation of a ski character than lisping.
Don't focus your child only on skiing - nature is beautiful in the mountains. Draw his attention to interesting objects, teach him to notice beauty, develop the ability to remember the amazing moments of life.
Important: Do not obsessively tell your child the rules of safe skiing. Use the behavior of other rollers for this. Examples of wrong behavior are better absorbed.
Alpine skiing or snowboarding
For a long time in the theory of children's education there was a methodology when the initial training of a small snowboarder began on skis and only after reaching the age of 5-6 years and confident mastering skis - learning to snowboard.
Now the opinion of professional instructors and trainers is blurred.
