Taking your family on a ski holiday is — in our opinion — one of the most magical things you can do together. But it can also be a daunting experience if it’s your first time, not least because a ski holiday is a massive investment in both time and money.

The pressure is really on to get it right and keep everyone happy!

EcoSki founder Rachael Westbrook is a mum of three ski-mad children. Here, she shares her top tips on taking her family on a ski holiday, from making the most of the journey to keeping your children safe on the ski slopes.

SKIING WITH MY CHILDREN is the most incredible feeling. I have three, aged between seven and 14, and they all love the mountains but it’s so important to me that they realise how incredibly fortunate they are to be able to go skiing.

My husband and I first took our children skiing in 2018. They were quite little then, but growing fast which is how and when I got the idea for EcoSki — buying all the expensive kit that I knew they’d grow out of quickly! So a family ski holiday is a massive treat, and I often chat to them before we go about where we are staying, explain what are we willing to trade: a bigger apartment with a bit of walking and/or a bus ride every morning or a smaller apartment and able to click straight into our skis and head off.

Choosing a ski resort that is right for your family is key. Just because you had loads of fun in Avoriaz with your friends 10 years ago doesn’t mean it’s going to be the best place to go with your kids. Choose a resort that matches you as a family and think about what you want to get out of the holiday — some resorts offer free ski passes to younger children and/or have free lifts on nursery slopes, too. We love La Rosière as they have family-friendly après-ski and plenty of off-slope activities in the evening. There are lots of gentle wide slopes and not too many bars so we can steer away from those particular runs in the afternoon and avoid any excitable/perhaps out of control skiers.

We also like to go quite high to ensure we get a bit more of a snow guarantee, and to drive as taking a full car is better for the environment than flying, which also allows us more flexibility. Though that means our accommodation must be flexible to ensure we are not stuck in changeover day traffic …

Before we go skiing as a family, I ask the children how much pocket money they might save up to take away with them to buy their well-deserved hot chocolate or crepe. We discuss flying versus driving — it’s a long drive but by driving or taking the train we are helping prolong the length of our winters and it helps them appreciate/understand that the journey to the mountains is a long and twisty one.

Next, when preparing to go skiing as a family, ask your kids what they would like to take to help break up the journey. My children each get a bag to pack with stuff they want to play or read on the journey, iPads are always in there — with headphones so they can zone out watching a movie. We usually set a time limit, so they get to all plug into their iPads after so many miles driven … which gives us parents a chance to chat when they’re all quiet! Definitely take anti sick tablets for the journey up the mountains ..

Before you go, look at ski schools and pre-book an instructor. Ski school is such a brilliant way for them to meet other children, but read the reviews before booking. We started out with an individual group lesson for all three of our children for 2.5 hours — they came a long way fast and if you have three all starting out together it isn’t that much more expensive and a great way for them to find their feet/skis and building up their confidence before joining a bigger group.

How to dress children for skiing

Dressing my children for skiing has been trial and error but I think we’ve got it right now. Layers are key. My children get very hot skiing and I used to always overdress them! Make sure they have fine socks pulled right up to their knees to make sure no bulk in their boots and don’t be tempted to wear tights under socks and baselayers, and give them a neck buff for the chairlift rides and on windy days.

My clothing list for kids skiing is: baselayer, gilet, fine midlayer, neck warmer (for windy chairlifts!), decent gloves with wrist straps, decent goggles (that work in all types of light and don’t scratch), reusable hand warmers. Don’t be tempted with really thick jumpers – it will only restrict their mobility. Then of course warm, waterproof jacket and pants/bib — or onesie if they like rolling around in the snow.

(I’m not doing the hard sell, but we offer all of this kit in our rental store, or we have lots of ski kit for children available to buy, too.)

Put on decent factor 50 SPF and moisturising lipsalve before they go out and put them in their pockets — my children get such dry lips — as well as some sweets and some emergency money. Sunglasses and a beanie are useful for hot chocolate/lunch breaks so they can take their helmet off and remember — don’t give them a pint of apple juice just before their lesson — save that for after the lesson, otherwise they’ll spend a lot of time stopping off for the loo!

Skiing later in the season is easier with children, especially the younger ones. They don’t get so cold, the lifts stay open longer and who doesn’t love skiing on sunny days during the Easter holidays?

children skiing

 

On the ski slopes with your children

If it’s your first time skiing as a family, don’t invest in a lift pass for your children until you’ve worked out the extent of the nursery slopes and how well everyone does on the first day. Your little ones might be happy pootling around the drag lifts so don’t push them. Let them tell you when they are ready to embrace that first chairlift ride – make that an exciting milestone too — and take their poles before getting on to help.

When we are skiing with the children, we encourage them to read piste maps and look out for landmarks so they know where they are, that they appreciate where they are and how incredible it is to be above the clouds!

For safety, I get my children a fun helmet cover to go over their rented helmets so I can easily identify them, and we always have an emergency plan, so if you ever get split up, they then know what they need to do and won’t panic.

End of the skiing day with children

Don’t push them to ski too much — as a family we love to enjoy the mountains for all they have to offer and there are often a lot of other activities to be enjoyed besides skiing.

Pack some comfy clothes for them to get dressed into after a warm shower back at the chalet/hotel, there is nothing like seeing my children in their cosy onesies, drinking hot chocolate on the sofa as we all catching up on the highlights of their day. It’s time to regroup and debrief.

Most of all, enjoy these precious times in the mountains, all together