15 Top Tips for Skiing with Kids

Heading off on your first family ski trip? Our top tips for skiing with kids will help you make sure it’s a success.

Skiing as a family has become one of our favourite family vacations – the fresh mountain air, stunning landscapes, and a fun, active way to enjoy spending time together.

But if it’s your first time skiing with kids, especially if your kids are young, you need to appreciate that a family ski trip also comes with some challenges.

Cold toes, meltdowns (both emotional and physical), and lost mittens are all part of the adventure.

Here are some essential tips garnered over several family ski trips to help make your family ski holiday a success.

1. Choose a Family-Friendly Resort

Not all ski resorts are created equal when it comes to families. Look for resorts that offer:

Dedicated beginner areas.
Ski schools with lessons for different age groups.
Easy-to-use lifts (like magic carpets).
Childcare options for little ones who aren’t skiing yet.
Family-friendly accommodation and dining options.
Non-ski activities.

Also, think about whether you prefer to stay in a self-catering (or catered) chalet or apartment or if a hotel will work best for you.

2. Be Super Organised

It always pays to be organised when you are planning a family holiday, but I especially find this with skiing.

If you are planning to ski during peak period, you will find that everything gets booked up quickly – so you’ll want to act fast to secure the best accommodation and get your kids into ski school.

For some ski passes (eg. the Epic Pass) you can save a lot of money by booking your ski pass early. We found this to be the case when we went skiing in Whistler. However, when we skiied in Tignes it was the same amount to buy the ski pass the week before, so it will depend on the resort.

Again, if you are skiing during a peak period of the school holidays, it also pays to book restaurants well in advance. When we go to Whistler, we book the Whistler restaurants weeks in advance so as not to be disappointed.

3. Consider going with friends

I am the first to say that I love going on holiday just as a family. To me, it is super important for us to have time connecting as a family and building memories.

Having said that, going skiing with friends is always fun. Kids love having a friend to go to ski school with and (just like hiking), they tend to whinge less when they are skiing with friends.

You can often get better accommodation in the way of chalets or apartments when you club in together with other families too.

4. Book Lessons

Even if you’re an experienced skier, letting a professional instructor teach your kids is a game-changer.

Most resorts offer half-day or full-day lessons where kids learn proper techniques while having fun with other children. If your kids are beginners (but you are not), this also gives you the opportunity to get out and enjoy your ski time too.

As my kids have become more experienced skiers (and better skiers than I am), lessons also let them explore more advanced terrain and learn all the cool jumps and shortcuts.

If you are heading to a ski resort during peak season, be sure to book your lessons well in advance, they can fill up quickly.

5. Dress in Layers

Kids get cold (and hot) quickly when skiing, so layering is key. This is how we always dress for skiing:

(also see my Family Ski Trip Packing List for more ideas)

Base layer: Moisture-wicking thermal underwear – long johns (leggings) and a long-sleeve vest. I buy the HEATTECH range from Uniqlo. It comes in different warmth levels and all sizes for kids and adults.
Middle layer: Micro Fleece or an insulated sweater.
Outer layer: Waterproof and windproof ski jacket and pants.
Accessories: Ski gloves or mittens (mittens are warmer and are also easier to use with hand warmers), good quality ski socks, and a neck gaiter or balaclava, depending on how cold it will be. We also have inner gloves for wearing inside our ski gloves/mittens on really cold days. These are great for taking photos or checking the ski map on your phone.
Apres-Ski Accessories: You will also need a warm hat for when you’re not wearing the helmet and good quality waterproof snow boots for when you’re not wearing ski boots. Eg. for walking to/from the slopes or for evenings.

6. Ski equipment: rent or buy?

A lot of people choose to rent equipment, particularly if you are new to skiing or don’t ski very often.

We have bought the kids their own helmets. We figured it works out cheaper over time as they’re not that expensive to buy. They also don’t take up much room in the suitcase as you can stuff them with clothes.

My husband and I have our own skis, boots and poles. Having your own boots can be a game changer vs renting them as they are so much more comfortable. However, they are expensive and we now also travel with a ski bag and two boot bags on top of our other suitcases.

Ill-fitting boots and the wrong-sized skis can make for a miserable experience. If renting, the ski shop should fit you all properly. If you find boots are making your shins sore or rubbing after day 1, don’t suffer in silence, go back and change them.

7. Lay out clothes the night before

The mornings are always a bit painful when you go skiing. This is especially true if you have multiple kids to get ready, they are not used to dressing for skiing and everyone is rushing to get to breakfast and ski school on time.

It can be really helpful to lay out clothes the night before or create a ‘process’ for the kids to ready in the morning. You can create a pile per child, in the order that they need to get dressed to speed up the morning getting ready process.

8. Start Slow & Be Patient

Rushing kids down the slopes on their first day can backfire. Spend time on easy terrain and let them build confidence at their own pace.

Shorter ski days with plenty of breaks work best for young children.

9. Keep Them Fueled & Hydrated

Skiing burns a lot of energy!

Number one, always make sure everyone starts the day with a hearty breakfast.

Bring snacks like granola bars, fruit, chocolate biscuits or trail mix, and encourage water breaks throughout the day. We carry a backpack with a water bottle and snacks, learning the hard way of being far away from the nearest rest stop with a hangry child.

If you are sending them off to ski lessons for the day, always make sure they have a snack in their pocket.

A hot chocolate break is also a great motivator!

10. Take Breaks and Have Off-Slope Fun

Not every moment has to be spent skiing. As I get older, I also find I need a rest day in a week’s ski holiday to rest my tired legs!

Many resorts have sledding, tubing, indoor swimming pools, or ice skating. Mixing in other activities helps keep kids from getting overtired or frustrated.

Also ski days tend to be long and start early in the morning, particularly if the kids are in ski school. Everyone will appreciate having one morning to lie in and laze for a bit. It is a holiday after all!

11. Be Flexible and Keep Expectations Realistic

Some days will be great, and others will be filled with falls, complaints, and cold fingers. Stay positive, take breaks when needed, and remember that the goal is to have fun as a family, not to create Olympic skiers overnight.

12. Use Lift Lines Strategically

Nobody likes queuing for ages in a lift line, least of all kids. Try to avoid peak times when possible and use ski resort apps to check wait times and play your route accordingly.

Likewise, restaurants on the slopes always get busiest at lunchtime. Heading in for an early lunch can make it easier to find a table and queue less.

13. Prepare for travel sickness

The road to ski resorts is inevitably long and winding. Pack travel sickness medication and plastic bags!

14. Check our my Packing List

I’ve put together a Ski Trip Packing List to help make sure you don’t forget anything.

Packing for skiing always ends up with LOADS of gear. Our last ski trip we had 7 suitcases for check-in, including our ski bag and boot bags.

15. End on a High Note

Even if your kids are still getting the hang of skiing, finish each day on a positive note. Whether it’s a fun last run, a snowball fight, or a cozy après-ski treat, ending with good memories will make them excited to come back.

Skiing with kids takes some planning and patience, but it’s absolutely worth it. The memories of skiing together as a family will last a lifetime!