Skiing With Kids: 4 Practical Tips for a Family Friendly Ski Trip

Skiing with kids is an investment — one whose payoffs aren't always readily apparent. Even introducing a rational adult to the sport you love comes with the nervous acknowledgement that he or she might not actually like it. Throw in cold fingers, short attention spans, and unpredictable fits of crying and your job as motivator-in-chief gets a whole lot harder. With an extra helping of patience and the passion that only comes from being a true skier, these practical tips can ensure that your first few days skiing with kids pay off with years of happy family ski trips.

1. Make Proper Gear a Priority — Even for Little Ones

The temptation to raid free bins at neighborhood garage sale is real. Resist it. If you don't like being cold and soggy, chances are your kids don’t either, and they'll be more than willing to let you know. A good base layer is made of a polyester / elastic blend (never cotton) to wick moisture away from the body. Jackets should be breathable, yet water resistant. Gore-Tex is the invention that made this paradox possible, and it's available in practically every modern outerwear brand. Speaking of layers, it's not a bad idea to ski with a small backpack, so you can carry all those hats, gloves, & jackets easily when Junior gets too hot.

Don't forget that finding proper gear is a head-to-toe endeavor. It's a statistical fact that 92% of kid skiing complaints are caused by boots that don't fit correctly. If they're too loose, feet and ankles move around and get chafed, pinched, and bruised; too tight and feet get numb and cold before you've reached the top for your first run. This is hard to remedy because kids don’t know how a ski boot is supposed to fit, so they don't give very useful feedback. A good rental shop will take the time to get it right, trying different shell sizes and models for that snug-but-not-too-snug fit. That morning trip to the shop, when you wait in a painfully slow line while everyone else gets first chair, pays the biggest dividends in terms of future happiness. (Pro tip — try getting your gear the night before for a smoother morning.)

One more bit of gear advice, in case you missed the memo: kids should wear helmets while skiing. Everyone should wear a helmet while skiing. Even you — even when you're not skiing with kids.

2. Lessons Are Your Friend

Sure, you taught them how to brush their teeth, wash their hands, and eat with utensils (we hope), but teaching kids to ski takes a special knack. Why not leave it to those who've got the whole thing boiled down to a science? Any family-friendly ski area in New England will have awesome kids' lesson programs, designed to make every part of skiing fun. We're talking giant snow forts made by the grooming team, costumed characters on skis à la Disney, and snacks and treats to reward progress and good behavior. Let ski school work its magic while you get your morning hot laps in, then finish the day with a couple of full-family runs after lunch.

3. Slow and Steady Wins the Ski Day

One of our favorite bits of advice for adults frustrated with learning to ski goes like this: how much fun you have on the mountain has essentially nothing to do with how good you are at skiing. If you're a seasoned skier leading little ones down the hill, that's a lesson worth remembering. Be prepared to take it slow and think about what, aside from adrenaline, makes the sport so enjoyable. On long and winding runs, stop to take in views you hadn't considered before — don't forget the camera! On the flip side, skiing with kids is a great time to piggyback off their energy. We know you've always wanted to experiment with ski ballet. Spoiler alert: it's harder than it looks.

4. Skiing With Kids Is About More than Just Skiing

Skiing with kids is an experience, both for them and for you, and the actual skiing is just one ingredient. Be prepared to take breaks. Be the dad with the bag of marshmallows in his day pack who comes to the rescue when that tiny dollop of whipped cream on their hot chocolate isn't enough. Consider booking your family ski vacation at a hotel or resort that offers family-friendly activities off the slopes. Some days, skiing with kids means taking two runs, going for a sleigh ride, then playing board games till dinner. Here in New England, we call those good days.

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