Newsletter Aug-Sept 2012 - Parents Centres New Zealand Inc

Being married to a skier it was inevitable that our
children would be taken to the snow and learn
how to ski from an early age.
We first took Zoe, our eldest, when she was one
and she has gone every year since. The first year
she had a ball playing in the snow, sliding down in
a rubber tube and sitting in the backpack on her
dad’s back while he skied. In fact she was so relaxed
she would fall asleep in the backpack and
snore in his ear.
The following years were spent tobogganing down
the hill with her. She is a bit of a dare devil and by
three was happily going up and down in the toboggan
by herself. Zoe also has the amazing ability to
make lots of friends with other people simply by
throwing snowballs at them.
We spent these years making sure she was happy
and confident in the snow.
We first put Zoe on skis when she was four, after
she had shown an interest. She was hooked and
spent the next year asking to go skiing again.
Snow Report
Our second child, Tilly was not so impressed with
the snow. She first went when she was 18 months
and while she was happy going downhill in a toboggan,
she flatly refused to walk back up the hill
and was miserable. I ended up spending most of
the day in the hot, crowded cafe with her - which
is not a fun way to spend a day. We tried her again
last year, with much the same result.
It was with trepidation that we once again planned
a ski trip to Ruapehu, this time with a five and three
year old. Everything started well, both girls were
super excited in the week leading up. They wore
their snow clothes round the house and practised
“skiing” in their socks on the kitchen floor.
Once on the mountain, Dad took Zoe to get her
ski’s and I took Tilly tobogganing. Tilly quickly decided
that she was going to ski too, so I returned
the toboggan and got her sorted out with ski’s.
A quick lesson in how to stop and they were both
up and away. We haven’t put them into formal ski
lessons yet, my husband was once a ski instructor.
I have been a beginner skier for about 10 years.
Which meant I knew what to teach them to get
them started as it’s all I’ve known. But the simplest
way is to take them to the top of the hill and give
them a push. Run or ski alongside reminding them
to make a pizza/wedge/triangle/snow plough and
to bend their knees.
Other ways that work is to ski with your child between
your legs. This is great to give them a real
feel for speed and turning. Or ski alongside them
while you both grip the same ski pole horizontally.
It is also important to make sure they know how to
get on and off the chairlift and magic carpet. Or if
you are like me and concerned about taking them
on the chairlift, do ask for help from the liftee -
they are more than happy to assist.
We spent our time in Happy Valley and it is very
crowded in the holidays. Make an early start before
the crowds. We went with friends who have
children of the same age and ability, which adds to
the fun element of the day. It also gives you the
option of swapping children if yours start getting
grumpy with you.
We had a great couple of days on the mountain
with the only drama being when we had to leave.
So what advice can I offer you for taking your little
ones to the snow for the first time.
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CENTRAL AUCKLAND PARENTS CENTRE