| 1. Where to go? | | | | in the snowplough position. Plastic toddler skis are |
| With very young children and toddlers it is worth | | | | great before they start ski school. Just let your child |
| finding a resort with minimal transfer times. Some | | | | have fun in the snow with them, building up |
| resorts can have a 3 or 4 hour transfer time on a | | | | confidence and enjoying learning how to balance and |
| coach from the airport, which many small children (or | | | | walk. Some do's and don'ts to consider: |
| parents) cannot cope with. Consider Austrian resorts | | | | DO |
| such a Kaprun, Bad Gastein and Kitzbuhel which are | | | | · buy a childrens ski helmet with adjustable |
| near to Salzberg Airport or French resorts such as | | | | sizing to ensure they last a few years and you can |
| Flaine or Morzine, which are close to Geneva airport. | | | | be sure that the helmet has not been damaged in |
| Older children may survive the longer journeys so | | | | any way unlike hired helmets. |
| you will have a larger selection of resorts | | | | · buy quality waterproof children's ski jackets |
| 2. Top Family Friendly Destinations to consider: | | | | with taped seams to ensure no water gets in, water |
| · Valmorel, France | | | | resistant cheap ski gear will let the snow soak in! |
| · Flaine, France | | | | · buy thin layers rather than bulky clothing. It |
| · Borovetz, Bulgaria | | | | is well accepted that a layering system of childrens |
| · Rauris, Austria | | | | ski thermals (if v cold), t-shirts and micro fleeces are |
| · Galtur, Austria | | | | more effective at controlling temperatures and easy |
| · Saas-Fee, Switzerland | | | | to remove if your child gets too hot. |
| 3. When to go? | | | | · consider a small back pack (must be small |
| Easter ski holidays are a lovely time to go, the Easter | | | | so easy to get on ski lifts) so your child can take |
| break is earlier this season (2010), with most schools | | | | small sweets, drinks, money & your phone |
| finishing on Thursday 1st April 2010. The days are | | | | number as they will get hot and tired in ski school. |
| longer and warmer and although it is more expensive | | | | · look for gloves with elastic loops to go |
| than non-school holiday weeks it is considerably | | | | round wrists or cords to attach through the jacket, |
| cheaper than the half-term break in February. But | | | | so many gloves get lost on the ski lifts |
| you must consider that warmer weather means | | | | DON'T |
| higher snow lines and so snow consistency may not | | | | · skimp on ski goggles, invest in a pair that |
| be as good as mid-winter, so make sure you go to a | | | | have a double lens to prevent fogging and that will |
| high altitude snow-sure resort. Good late season | | | | last a few years & consider over-the-glasses |
| resorts worth considering are Tignes and Valmorel, | | | | (OTG) goggles if your child wears glasses |
| France, Yllas, Finland, Obergurgl, Austria, Saas-Fee, | | | | · forget a second pair of gloves - if your |
| Switzerland. At least you'll be able to ski back to the | | | | child loves snowball fights after ski school a second |
| resort and the nursery slopes won't be a lovely | | | | pair drying back at the hotel for the next day will be |
| green field. | | | | vital! |
| 4. What to pack? | | | | · forget sun protection, choose an 8 hr |
| Firstly, when skiing with small children training aides | | | | sports cream that you can apply in the morning and |
| such as the Ski Trainer & Ski Tip Connector, are | | | | your child is protected all day |
| very helpful. The harness allows them to ski in front | | | | · don't don't buy cheap ski socks, look for |
| of you but you control the speed. They are suitable | | | | technical ski socks that are fitted to the heal and |
| from 2-8 yrs & can help older children when | | | | wick moisture away, blisters and children do not mix! |
| tackling harder pistes. The ski tip clip keeps their skis | | | | |