Teaching your toddler how to ski is no easy feat. It’s a lot of work for a few runs stuck in a snowplow. Some days are great, and we crush the beginner hill. Other days end in little skiing with a lot of snacks and tears. Our patience has grown as have our techniques in keeping him stoked on snow.
Even though I was raised in Manhattan Beach, California, I was born into a skiing family. So it makes sense why I moved to Colorado as soon as I could. At age 3, I was on skis. 10 years later, I switched to snowboarding (and another 20ish years later, back to skis again), but my love of snow has never waned. Skiing and snowboarding have dictated my life. From where I went to school (CU Boulder), to the friends I made (ones who were also love the white fluffy stuff that falls from the sky), places I lived abroad (Queenstown, New Zealand), to where I travel to chase pow.
I’m addicted to not only powder days, but the whole culture of skiing. Fresh air, riding with friends, and après ski dominate my days in the winter months. Having a toddler kills some of the weekend buzz, but I know it’s only a few years until he’s shredding alongside with us.
In his first full season at age 2, he’s hooked. He speaks a little, but he does like to go fast. Watching him cruise down the hill and ask for more skiing makes my heart burst with joy. Our patience in teaching him to ski will pay off soon. But for now, we’re bunny hill bound.
Here are a few tips we’ve learned along the way on teaching your toddler how to ski.
Ski Gear for Little Shredders
Beyond the basics for skiing, such as pants, jacket, gloves, goggles, helmet, warm layers, etc, a few things help little skiers get started.
Get real skis with bindings and hard boots. We tried to put our young son on the skis that strap onto snow boots, but with no real stability in his feet, it didn’t work. Save your time trying and use gear they can succeed in.
Many ski shops offer seasonal rentals for kids. This is a great approach because they will most likely grow out of their gear every year. Another option is to check local thrift stores, online moms’ groups, or Facebook marketplace to buy gently used ski gear.
The smallest size ski boots I’ve found are size 14.5. 15.5 is more common, which is a little big for a 2-year-old, but it has worked just fine with thick socks and 70cm skis.
A backpack with a ski harness, such as Lucky Bums or Sklon, is another must-have for beginners. These backpacks have long straps that allow you to control a kids’ speed as they’re getting started. Two long straps allow you to gently teach them how to turn. A reinforced handle of the pack makes it easy to pick them up after falls, lift them on the chairlift, and to hold onto while on the chairlift. Once they’ve outgrown the straps, you’ll still use the handle to help them up and off the ground and the chairlift.
An Edgie Wedgie clips to the front of their skis to keep them together. It’s a small and simple tool in the early days of learning.
Kids Ski Bag
Skiing requires a lot of gear. When dealing with littles, that’s a lot of little gear that can easily get misplaced. Designate a bag you keep all the gear in, from outerwear, to goggles, helmets, gloves, harness, etc. It’s much easier to keep track of when you know there’s only one bag to grab and everything is in one place. Just don’t forget your own gear.
Get a Wagon
Save the littles’ legs for the ski hill. For resorts with a longer walk from the parking lot to the ski hill, a wagon is a lifesaver. It’s a lot easier to pull them, and all their gear, while keeping everything in one place.
At the car, we dress our toddler in their ski gear, but save the ski boots, helmet, and goggles to put on right before we’re ready. They are more comfortable, and we have a place to store our extra gear on the way to the mountain. Additionally, who doesn’t love the bonus ride? Find a corner to stash the wagon and leave minimal stuff in there. We take all our valuables with us in a backpack.
What kind of wagon to get? There are so many options out there, but the most important thing to look for is a durable wagon with heavy-duty wheels that can navigate through snow.
Good Vibes & High Fives
The day should be positive. We keep the mood light and give LOTS of positive encouragement. Pump them up at the top of each run. Every time we get to the bottom, we make a big deal of it. Lots of cheering, high fives, and a M&M.
Not every day is great. If they’re not having a good time, it’s better to cut your losses and leave. It’s best to associate skiing with something that is fun, not forced. There’s more to skiing than actual skiing. It’s the whole experience of it. Our two year old loves the gondola ride to get to the beginner area and we take time to have lunch and special treats on the hill.
On our first day of skiing this year, our son wasn’t having it. We got to the hill later than we planned on, and he threw himself on the ground while we tried to get his ski boots on, resulting in a bloody nose and a lot of tears. We tried a short magic carpet ride, snacks, anything we could. It wasn’t the day. Honestly, it felt like a lot of effort to haul all our stuff to ski without actually skiing. It was. Don’t be discouraged and give up. Teaching your toddler how to ski isn’t easy. The next time we went skiing, he had a great time. No complaints, no tears. Just good vibes.
Bribery Works
I’m not above bribery. We want to make skiing fun while we’re getting started, so we carry special snacks. And we need to keep the vibes high on the hill. For a toddler, just one M&M, gummy bear, or yogurt covered raisin at the bottom of each run or after a fall is enough to keep them motivated. For older kids, all the candy they collected for Halloween can become ski bribery. The “bribery” part can be anything, from a special food or a lunch stop. It’s just about making the experience as fun and positive as possible.
Stop ahead of time
We don’t like to push our luck skiing. Stop before they get too tired or melt down. That might be a lunch or snack break, or time to leave the resort all together. Once they’re older, you’ll know when to push them, but for littles getting started, keep your ski sessions short.
These early days of teaching your toddler to ski are hard, but also magical. It’s incredible how quickly kids’ progress. In a few years, you’ll be ripping around the mountain with your new favorite ski buddy. But for now, it’s mini chairlift laps and snacks.