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How do I know if my children are ready for ski school and what happens if they don’t take to it?
This is a difficult one, every child is different! If your child is confident, coordinated and has experience of listening to instruction from someone other than Mum or Dad they should be fine. The mountains are an unfamiliar environment though so we use English-speaking ski schools across all the resorts, and our childcarers can stay with the youngest children, making those initial few days as stress-free as possible.
Ultimately, we see hundreds of children go through ski school without a problem but if for any reason they don’t take to it, our childcarers are always on hand to either help and encourage or take them back into the in-chalet childcare.
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What about under 3’s?
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If your child is too young for ski-school (or old enough on paper but you don’t feel they are ready) they can still have a fantastic time in the mountains. Ice skating, sledding, and snowman building are all fun activities that will help to familiarise your children with the Alpine environment. Our Mini Marmots childcare service encompasses a vast array of snow-themed activities including snow painting, igloo building and picnics on the piste. This service is available for children aged from four months to five years and is all about fun, non skiing children definitely won’t feel left out.
Should I worry about the altitude?
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Whilst altitude in Europe is generally not something to worry about, for children under 12 months old do check with your GP before traveling to higher resorts. It’s also important remember that the higher the altitude, the closer to the sun's rays you are; apply sunscreen to children regularly and keep the whole family hydrated.
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What else do ski resorts have to offer?
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It often comes as a surprise to people, but there is a lot more to a family ski holiday than just the skiing. Ski resorts have a fantastic selection of other activities that will keep even the youngest children entertained. From ice-rinks to indoor soft play, swimming pools and toboggan runs, the mountains make for a great family holiday, without even putting on a pair of skis! A hot chocolate or ice cream in the sun whatever the season is also always going to go down well!
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How do I go about packing everything I need for my young children?
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You’ll struggle to ‘pack light’ for a family ski holiday. Adult ski wear is bulky and once you add children to the mix, the suitcase tends to fill up pretty quickly! Thankfully on a Ski Famille holiday everything you need for young children and babies is provided in your chalet, meaning you only need pack what you need for the journey. Sterilisers, bed guards, high chairs and travel cots, along with plenty of toys and games are all provided saving on that precious packing space.
FIRST SKI TRIP
If these questions and answers spark yet more questions don’t panic. Our friendly team in the UK office are always on hand to talk you through any queries or concerns you may have.