Skiing can be so much fun, and it is a sport children can begin to learn at an extremely young age – almost as soon as they can walk confidently! However, for some
kids, it can be
a little bit daunting and scary to put on skis and try and execute their turns and other moves properly. Snowboarding, while it certainly has the ‘cool’ factor that kids
love, can also be a daunting proposition.
If you are really keen for your kids to enjoy their first attempt at one of these great
winter sports, to prepare them for plenty of fun winter vacations to come, then here are some tips:
Teach Them About Safety Without Frightening Them
Winter sports come with various risks, as we are all aware, however while to us these may not seem like a big deal as long as we know how to be careful, to a kid they can sound terrifying. If a child is told about the risks of frostbite, hypothermia, sunburn, collisions, bare patches in the snow, rocks, and falling all at once, and simply told to ‘be careful’ because of them, this may translate to ‘what we are about to do is fraught with danger and you basically just have to hope for the best’. Instead, teach them safety aspects as they come up, for example talking to them about the weather and its associated dangers as you shop for clothes, helping them learn that there are measures they have to take to keep themselves safe. The new environment of a ski resort can be a very intimidating place, so help them learn what to expect well in advance without building it up as something scary.
Introduce Fun Elements and Treats
While rewarding your kids with candy or the promise of some nice hot chocolate when you get back to the lodge may seem silly for something fun that they should be enjoying anyway, the whole day will seem a lot less threatening if everything about it is a special treat and they are rewarded for doing well. It can also be a great way to incentivize them to keep practicing as the day wears on and fatigue sets in, or to distract them if they are cold or bored waiting for their turn to do something.
Don’t Pressure Them – Let Them Think It Is OK To Be Nervous
You may love skiing or snowboarding and it may be really important to you that your child enjoys it too so you can take all of those great family winter sport vacations you have dreamed about since they were born, but don’t let on that there is any pressure for them to enjoy the sport or be good at it. This will only make a nervous child feel worse, and they may not even tell you that they are scared if they are worried you’ll be disappointed. As soon as their confidence begins to build after a few goes on the slopes, chances are their fears will all be gone and they’ll be having a great time, but before they get to that point, let them know you are there and the most important thing is for them to have fun.
Make Sure Their Gear Fits Well
Even if you picked up a cheap used snowboard or set of skis or have borrowed some from a friend rather than renting them at the resort for your child’s first time, get someone there to check the fit of everything they are using if you’re not an expert – your child won’t know enough about how things are supposed to feel at this point to be able to tell you themselves if the sizing is all wrong for them
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