How to prepare kids for their first ski holiday

If you're introducing your children to skiing for the first time, there's plenty you can do beforehand to build their confidence and get them excited about their upcoming ski holiday.

The good news is that preparing children for skiing doesn't mean months of training or ski lessons. A few simple activities before you travel can help make their first experience on the slopes much more enjoyable.

Whether your child is completely new to skiing or simply needs a confidence boost between trips, here are our tried-and-tested ways to get families ski ready.

• Quick tips for preparing kids for skiing

• Talk about the ski holiday before you travel

• Help children become familiar with ski equipment

• Build excitement by looking at the resort together

• Consider a trip to a UK-based ski centre before your holiday

• Encourage activities that build balance and coordination

• Book ski lessons in advance

Why is it important to prepare kids for their first ski holiday?

A ski holiday can feel very different to a traditional family holiday.

For children, everything from ski boots and lifts to snowy mountains and ski school may be completely new. Taking some time to familiarise them with what to expect can help build confidence and make those first few days smoother and more enjoyable.

From our experience, making ski language and ski equipment familiar to children in advance can really help with in-resort confidence.

How can you get children excited about skiing?

One of the easiest ways to prepare children for a ski holiday is to start talking about it!

Show them photos and videos of skiing and ski school. Let them browse information about the resort you're visiting and talk about what happens on a ski holiday. Looking at a piste map together can also be a fun activity before you travel – you can find these on our Resort Guides.

You can also introduce some of the language they'll hear in resort, such as:

• ski lifts

• chair lifts

• gondolas

• magic carpets

• funiculars

• lift passes

The more familiar these things feel before they arrive, the more confident they're likely to be.

Try on ski equipment before your ski holiday

We recommend getting out any ski clothing and equipment you already have, or involve children in choosing new items. It's a great way to check everything still fits while helping them become familiar with what they'll be wearing on holiday.

If possible, don't let your child's first experience of ski boots be in resort. As we all know, they do take some getting used to, and trying them on at home can help avoid surprises during their first lesson.

Is it worth visiting a ski centre before your holiday?

Indoor snow centres and dry slopes are one of the best ways to prepare children for a ski holiday.

They provide a controlled environment where children can:

• learn the basics

• build confidence

• get used to ski boots and skis

• try skiing before heading to the mountains

Dry slopes and snow centres run beginners’ courses and they’re fab! They start right at the very basics – how to get your ski boots on, how to click into the skis – great for slowly building confidence. With the right instruction, it’s surprising how quickly the kids pick up skiing!

"My daughter (then 6) took a 6-hour beginners' course at Alpine Snowsports Southampton, a dry slope, and loved it. She got the bug, and then moved to group lessons over the summer and by the time we were back on snow, she was skiing with confidence!"

~ One of our ski experts

The other great thing about ski centres is it allows children (and adults!) to try new things without having the commitment. Have a skier who fancies giving snowboarding a go? Take them to a ski centre!

"SnoZone in Milton Keynes is a firm favourite with my daughter and my snowboarding husband. They offer beginner and advanced private and group lessons for everyone from 3 years upwards. They’re also the only UK indoor ski and snowboard centre to have their own snow school dedicated to teaching children and adults with a range of physical challenges and disabilities. Their main slope is 170m in length – plenty long enough to have a bit of fun!"

~ One of our ski experts

Top tip: inset days are an ideal opportunity to visit a dry slope or indoor ski centre as most are cheaper during term time and school hours (and quieter too!).

Make sure you have the right equipment for indoor ski centre and dry ski slopes. For dry slopes, you need arms and legs covered, and gloves too – we recommend you use good gloves! Indoor snow centres require proper ski clothes, otherwise you’ll get cold and wet. If you’re having dry slope lessons in summer, we’d suggest making sure that they’re early in the morning – you need to be fully covered up to prevent injury, and this means it’s easier to overheat in the sun.

Should children have ski lessons on holiday?

Yes we strongly recommend lessons for children learning to ski.

Remember, lessons are by ability, so don’t worry about your child being held back. In fact, if you want to, the whole family can all have lessons as they are available for all levels.

Lessons not only teach skiing technique, but also help children build confidence and get to know the ski area.

Many families find that children progress more quickly than expected once they're learning with qualified instructors.

At Peak Retreats we work with the largest and longest established ski school in France, ESF, who teach children to ski from age 3-4 in most resorts.

Private lessons are another option if you’d prefer your child to learn in a one to one environment.

What activities help prepare children for skiing?

Lots of skills transfer naturally to skiing.

Activities such as:

• rollerblading

• ice skating

• cycling

can all help build balance, coordination and leg strength. Skateboarding can also be useful preparation for children who are interested in snowboarding.

Keeping active before your holiday can help children feel more comfortable on the slopes. Healthy kids with strong cores will find it easier on the slopes and are less likely to suffer the dreaded thigh burn!

What should children expect from their first ski holiday?

It definitely helps to set realistic expectations.

Children don’t need to become expert skiers overnight. The aim of a first ski holiday should be to have fun, build confidence, learn new skills and enjoy being in the mountains.

Every child progresses at their own pace and that’s perfectly normal.

When should you book your family ski holiday?

If your children are already excited about skiing, that’s often the perfect time to book.

Building on that enthusiasm can make preparing for the trip even easier, as children naturally become more engaged in the countdown to their holiday.

Frequently asked questions

At what age can children start skiing?

Many ski schools offer lessons from around three years old, although this varies between resorts and ski schools.

Do children need lessons before their first ski holiday?

Not necessarily, but a visit to a snow centre or dry slope can help build confidence before travelling.

What is the best way to prepare children for skiing?

Talking about the holiday, trying on equipment, introducing ski terminology and booking lessons are all great ways to prepare children for skiing.

Are ski boots difficult for children to wear?

Ski boots can feel unusual at first, which is why it's worth letting children try them before their first lesson.

Related guides

• Family ski holidays: a practical guide

• What to wear on a ski holiday