Kids and skiing: what age to start and other questions parents ask

Ski lessons for children in Baqueira have always been a source of worry for parents. What age is best to start? Is it better in a group or one-to-one? How should you react if your child has a tantrum when you leave them at the lesson? These and other questions come up every year, especially at beginner level.

Here are a few ideas on how to handle these situations.

The right instructor for every child

All our instructors are trained to teach children, although some have extra tact, patience and experience in handling the situations that come up with little ones. The school always assigns instructors according to who is best suited.

What age to start?

Ski or snowboard lessons for children should start when the child is developed enough to cope with socialising, and has the motor skills to take on these challenges. The first aim of these lessons is always for children to have fun and learn to love skiing, with patience, games and lots of empathy; the learning comes naturally. After many years of experience, we believe the ideal age to start skiing is from 4 or 5. From then on, at any age, learning to ski is perfectly possible.

Group or private?

Both work, and the choice will depend on the parents’ goals and the child’s character; age is also a key factor.

The youngest children may benefit more from private lessons, as the instructor will do everything possible to create a caring, trusting environment where the child feels safe and comfortable. Group lessons are ideal if, as well as learning, you want your children to socialise and make friends.

Our advice: for very young, shy children or those with less developed motor skills, private lessons are the ideal option. Once they know the environment, have gained confidence and can ski a little, the kids’ courses will give them the final boost, and they’ll have fun with other children.

What if they cry when I leave?

It happens a lot, especially with the youngest. In the vast majority of cases, the child calms down within seconds, learns to trust the instructor and the lesson goes ahead without any further problem. If the tantrum doesn’t pass, the school calls the parents to come and collect the child, to avoid unnecessary upset.

With all this in mind, you can feel confident that skiing is a safe and very rewarding sport, enjoyed in a natural setting, and that the instructors in our team are good professionals who are continually assessed to give their very best.

Finally, it’s very important to use suitable clothing that protects them from the cold and the weather, as well as sun cream and, of course, a helmet.

All that’s left is to come and try our ski lessons for children in Baqueira, whether private lessons or kids’ courses.

The SkiClass team