Although spring is just around the corner, many families take advantage of the last days of winter to go skiing with the children.
Skiing is an ideal sport to enjoy as a family, which usually goes from parents to children. When parents are skiers and children begin to approach skiing since childhood, they are very likely to become great fans.
Anyway, if this is not the case, it is always a good time to introduce children to this wonderful sport.
The little ones love snow, they have great ease to learn and they enjoy the feeling of slipping on skis.
We will see then what is the most appropriate age for children to start skiing, the options for the little ones in the ski centers and how we should equip them to enjoy the snow safely.
At what age can children start skiing?
Experts agree that the best age to start skiing, that is to say gliding alone through the snow with a pair of skis, is from the age of five or six.
However, they can enjoy the snow from earlier ages but doing other types of activities.
It is believed that from the age of five or six it is the right age since the child already has mastery of balance and greater control over his movements.
There are even supporters that children should start skiing a little later, at age eight or nine, for added safety. I suppose that it depends a little on each child, on his skill, on his mastery of skis and on the intensity with which he practices.
That does not mean that families with young children cannot make a trip to the snow. Although they do not have the age to ski, younger children can have a great time playing in the snow, sliding on sleds, taking family rides or if they feel like it, with the activities organized at the stations.
Ski nurseries and snow gardens for children
The ski resorts have children care centers designed so that parents can go skiing while children are cared for by other people. Each has its own rules, but in some children are admitted from four months.
There are children who are not accustomed to staying with strangers, and it is also not a plan to take the baby on a trip to leave it all day in a nursery, so it would be more convenient to leave it in the care of a trusted person, such as a family member or a caregiver .
For older children, approximately from two and a half years, the stations have known as snow gardens, which are spaces of play in the snow so that they can take a first contact with the snow and become familiar with the environment.
They are sectors enabled to play in the snow without skis or to take the first ski lessons.
Remember that on the trip all family members should have a good time. If the conditions are not optimal, leave it for when the child is a little older.
Preparation and equipment for skiing
Before the trip, we must properly inform ourselves about the services offered by the ski resort, the rules of use and the ages allowed for each activity.
Once in the snow, we should know that for the little ones helmet use is mandatory to avoid head injuries, and recommended the use of dorsal protections that cushion them in case of falls.
They must wear appropriate clothing, which is waterproof and warm, as well as always having a change of clothes and dry socks available in case they get wet.
When sheltering them, it is better to do it in layers, in case they can take off clothes if they are hot to avoid excessive sweating.
The use of a cap that covers the ears, goggles and ski gloves is essential. Nor should we forget to apply a sunscreen with a high protection factor and lip cream.
Before jumping into the tracks and even if you are with them all the time, it is advisable to simply explain the rules of the station and put in a pocket a card with the child's data and a phone number to avoid inconvenience.
I hope these recommendations help you to go skiing with the children. Enjoy the last days of snow to the fullest!
Photos | eric.surfdude, jaredeberhardt and seeareelem on Flickr In Babies and more | A few days in the snow with the children
