Adults and Kids

[Bkroon9175]

This is an anuual complaint for me. Parents often ruin a ski experience for kids. This past weekend I saw several parental groups trying to ski with young children crying their eyes out. The kids were either tired, scared or both.
Parents WAKE UP. If your child is done or scared then DO NOT force them out on the trails. You only end up having a miserable experiencefor yourself and could potentially destroy any chance of getting your kids to enjoy the activity.
Some advice:
A) Make it fun. Keep the experience fun.
B) Do not force the activity on the kids.
C) Use day care
D) Keep the kids schedule, not yours.
E) Stop for snacks and cocoa.
F) Give 'em private lessons or lessons with other kids for acouple of hours.
Remember, you'll enjoy it more if they like it too!!b

 

[GadgetRick]

And how...

You're so right. I can't tell you how many times I see this sort of behavior. Children do tend to get tired--even though they seem to have endless energy. They're not like adults in we tend to slow down then finally are too tired to continue. Children are fine one second then are done the next. It's because they are much smaller and don't have the reserves adults have.

I also HATE to see parents who make their children go down harder sections. Then the child just falls and doesn't enjoy themselves. Parents need to listen to their children more.

 

[subdude]

When you make the experience for kids as fun as possible they're relaxed. When your relaxed you'll learn more. Skiing is supposed to be fun so make it as fun as possible for the kids. Nothing worse then seeing kids trying to ski while mom and pop are yelling at them and they're totally not enjoying themselves. I've seen it many times.

 

[hammer]

Agree 110%. I'll admit that I've learned this lesson the hard way (I've had a few kiddie meltdowns ). But, I saw the error of my ways, mellowed out and let the kids do their thing, and now my kids are really getting into skiing.

One other related piece of advice I would have is to manage your own expectations for the day -- don't expect to get in the number or types of runs that you would like. If it's really important for you to get out on the slopes, go without the kids!

Be patient and let your kids go at their own pace -- eventually if they catch on you'll be the one holding them up.

 

[Greg]

Be patient and let your kids go at their own pace -- eventually if they catch on you'll be the one holding them up.

Great advice and some I intend to follow in a few years. I plan to enroll my daughter in ski school probably the season after next (she'll be turning four then). I hope she takes to it because I would like nothing more than for her to beg me to go skiing as she grows up. I witnessed a drill seargent-type father ordering his 4 or 5 year old son down the slopes at Jiminy last weekend. Pretty distrurbing, but what can you do? You need a license to drive a car, but any old jackass can be a parent... :roll:

 

[tirolerpeter]

Kids and Skiing

Why should incompetent parents be any more competent just because they like to ski? I have three children who are now 29, 25, and 21. I started them all out when they were young. Each one progressed at a different rate and with a different level of enthusiasm. I encourged them to challenge themselves but never "pushed them into the deep end" so to speak. Now they all enjoy skiing and even condescend to go with me at times. I always used to let them lead the way down, and stayed above them so that I could help them if they got into trouble. When my youngest (my daughter) decided to try OVATION at Killington at age 8 she got about a third of the way down and decided she was in over her head. She unclipped her skiis, handed me her poles, and slid down on her butt in her pink one piece snow suit. After I managed to ski down after her (carrying her skiis, poles, and trying not to crash myself), she said: "Wow that was fun, let's do it again!" She is currently home for semester break from her senior year in college. Last night she asked if I were going skiing this week, and could she come along. I guess I didn't dampen her enthusiasm with my efforts. We are planning on being at Jiminy this coming Wednesday. If anyone wants to meet up to say hello, send me a PM.