Family Ski Holiday Memories

There’s something about skiing and children that, in practice, fits so well and yet, theoretically, doesn’t fit all at. After all it flies in the face of all things that would normally be a good idea for keeping children happy, and perhaps more importantly, tantrum free. However, in countless chalets across the Alps from December through to April you’ll find parents squishing young children into brightly coloured all-in-one ski suits. And in my own case, and for everything it’s worth, boy, am I glad my parents did the same.

Skiing with the family is like no other holiday

My parents love skiing. They aren’t going to give Chemmy Alcott any bother, and Bode Miller is more than safe but they will get down anything you put them at the top of. And they’ll do it with a smile on their face. It was their unfading adoration of the sport that meant that I was taken on my first family ski holiday at the age of three. Given that I am a lifelong stereotypical hot-head red-head this feat was understandably approached with apprehension on the part of both my parents. There’s so much potential for a full on eruption of full blown child-rage; there’s the cold, the putting-on of previously mentioned all-in-one suit, the intermittent application of greasy sun cream (although I fear this is more of a personal grudge), and the tiredness (anyone who has ever tried to do a snow plough down a whole entire mountain should be able to empathise here), yet the outcome oddly enough is a steadfastly delicious rush of euphoria and an almost eerily complaint-free child. Skiing and children is a mix that really shouldn’t work at all – yet I am still to meet a child who wouldn’t give up their last Rolo for a day on the piste.

One of my dad’s favourite post holiday questions was asking what part of the holiday my brother and I had most enjoyed. One of my dad’s least favourite memories was when, following a two week holiday in Italy, I chose to reply, “when we fed the ducks on the way to the airport”. This was not what he wanted to hear. At least he can console himself with the fact that on returning from any skiing holiday since my answer has unfailingly been, “All of it”.

Family ski chalets – a family holiday made easy

What my parents were to discover, like those both before and after them, was that skiing is one activity children will never, ever, ever, find a reason to complain about. So I conclude that children and skiing fit together like some sort of mystical jigsaw. It shouldn’t fit but it most certainly does.

As any good blog should, this blog has a point (even if has been reached in a somewhat wayward manner), and here it is: if you are a parent thinking of taking your child skiing for the first time, stop thinking. Just do it. It will create memories that will last a life time, memories that may even contain feeding the ducks.

Contact Alpine Answers to find out more about family ski hotels and family ski chalets on 020 7801 1080 or drop us an e-mail on [email protected].