Skiing with a toddler

You may think that your toddler is too young to learn to ski, but he could in fact be the perfect age: he’s fearless and so close to the ground he’s unlikely to hurt himself if he takes a tumble. The trick is not to push children, but to let them do things at their own pace…

Ski School

Your resort may have a ski school for young children, and while these tend to be expensive, they’re probably the best way for your child to learn to ski. Think about whether you’d prefer private or group tuition and base your decision on your child's strength, understanding of instructions and willingness to learn. Hiring a private instructor is also an option and can help your child to become confident through individual encouragement and attention.

Equipment

You can hire equipment such as skis, poles and ski boots, at the resort – it'll save you buying your child gear he’ll outgrow by the following year. Check your child’s weight and height before you travel – you’ll need this information for renting skis. There are also essential items of clothing your child must wear, such as hats, gloves, sunglasses/goggles and waterproof clothes such as sallopets. It's vital to use sun protection; people often forget this as the weather is so cold, but sun reflects off snow so your child could easily get burnt. See our feature on keeping your family safe in the snow and high altitudes and your baby.

Food on the slopes

Ski resorts come complete with plenty of restaurants but they can be expensive and the queues are often very long, so it might make more sense to take a packed lunch with you. Your child will probably want to take lots of breaks, as learning to ski can be exhausting. Pack some sandwiches and a flask of hot chocolate, as well as slow-release carb snacks, such as bananas, to boost his energy.

Child friendly

Research in advance to make sure you choose a resort that's as child-friendly as possible. Investigate the restaurants and babysitting services, if you're thinking of having a night or two out without the kids. Most resorts will offer daycare for younger children who don't ski so that you can have fun on the slopes. Make sure you research what’s on offer and who runs it: ask what happens in an emergency, enquire about security measures, and ask what food is on offer for your baby.

Other activities

Children love playing in snow so even if you don't want your child to ski there will be lots of other activities for him to participate in. Apart from building snowmen and having snowball fights, he can also ice skate and go sledding (most resorts have skating rinks and special slopes for sledding).

Children love sledding and it's something you can do with them. Most sleds fit an adult as well as a child and this can be a safer option as it’ll enable you to monitor the speed you’re traveling at and hopefully avoid any accidents! If your child has his heart set on sledding on his own, make sure he’s safe. Don't use the home-made variety of sled, such as a tray – rent a proper one, as this is a much safer option. Keep your child wrapped up and make sure he wears gloves to keep his hands warm and protect them from cuts. Make sure the slope isn't icy, as this could cause the sled to skid and slide out of control. Before your child rides on the sled, check that the slope doesn't end in a road and look for other hazards such as trees, bushes or rocks.

Ice-skating can also be great for young children and, again, it's something they can start at an early age. There are special 'penguins', which are wooden blocks that children can push round the ice; it provides them with support and increases their confidence.

These are fun activities the whole family can participate in. There's certainly no room for boredom on a holiday with such endless possibilities – enjoy!

The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.

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