In my work volunteering to lead our local ski co-op’s 4-5 year old program, I get this question a lot. The best age to teach a kid to ski depends a bit on your situation and goals. That said, generally I recommend age 4 or 5, and I’ll describe why below. But first, here are some important considerations:
Family Dynamics in teaching a kid to ski
Are you a family that has an older sibling already skiing? Are both parents eager to get out on the hill? Do you have access to a lot of ski days so you can easily pick a nice afternoon to spend with your child skiing? If you answer yes to these questions, then starting at age 4, or even earlier, is a great idea. Just make sure you keep your expectations in check. While there are certainly 3 year old who can end their first season getting independently down a green run, they tend to be few and far in between.
Alternatively, are you a family taking one ski vacation a year that might only be 2-3 days long of skiing? If that is the case, I would aim for a little older, likely 6+. I would also consider a lesson in the morning so you get a little skiing in yourself, and your child isn’t trying to learn from you all day — anyone trying this during the time of COVID knows how hard this can be! And, don’t worry, the benefits of getting or missing a few ski days this young will likely be negligible, so start when you can have an awesome experience.
Kid’s readiness to learn to ski
You can evaluate your child’s readiness to ski across two simple metrics — with more detail in my post on this HERE. These tips can help you decide if age 4 or 5 is better, or another age that might fit their personality and ability.
Basically, if your child is potty trained and can follow ~3 step instructions of physical activity (by example: hop on one leg, walk backwards, touch your toes, and then hop on other leg) then they should be physically ready to learn and excel at skiing.
Another area to consider when using group or private lessons is separation anxiety. If your child is already going to pre-school drop-off without issues, this will help you think about their readiness for lessons.
Why is 4 the best age to teach a kid to ski?
If you are able to ski over multiple weekends with your child (and please stay tuned on this blog for cheap ways to make this happen), then get your child started at age 4. At the SkyKids program at our local ski co-op, Sky Tavern, we get parents teaching their kids starting at age 4 and have a lot of great feedback from happy parents and kids. We do not start kids skiing at age 3, because of the challenges with potty training, physical ability, and maturity.
Kids who are age 4 are a lot of fun. They have just enough physical strength and body awareness to progress to linked turns, and enough grit to put up with any wind or snow that might pick up during the day. At the end of a committed season, we anticipate a 4 year old can get down a green slope independently. This kind of freedom means your next ski season will be filled with adventure as your child progresses from laps on the ‘Around the World’ run to testing out all the green and and blue (and even black) runs on the mountain.
Kids who learn to ski at age 4 and then sustain their learning for a few years end up being naturally gifted skiers. They also get a sense of freedom and independence that kids struggle to get elsewhere in their highly scheduled and programmed lives. I love seeing the big leaps in confidence and independence from younger skiers as they learn to navigate a mountain and the sport of skiing.
Conclusion
Do you have ideas on the best age or a story of ‘too early’ or ‘too late’ to share? Please share your story in the comments. Thanks!
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