Essential tips and tricks for parents introducing their kids to skiing.
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Despite growing up in Texas, my family took an annual holiday ski trip, and by the time I was in high school I was cruising down black diamonds. I’ve always cherished being comfortable on the snow, so as soon as my daughter hit 2 years old we took a family ski trip of our own. Not surprisingly, we got a total of seven minutes where she was standing up on skis that year.
After multiple vacations filled with ski-boot tantrums and thrown goggles, I now have a system that works—most of the time—for our family. From being prepared with the right gear to setting realistic expectations, I’ve pulled together everything I recommend to parents considering their first ski trip with a toddler.
One thing to note: Most ski schools don’t take kids until they are at least three years old and potty trained. While somewhat universal to all families, the advice below is geared specifically toward parents who want to give their younger toddlers time on the mountain before they make the cutoff for lessons.
Get the right kid-friendly gear
Our first time skiing with our toddler in Lake Tahoe, CA, consisted of me repeatedly trying to fit tiny thumbs into an off-brand pair of gloves while my daughter broke out in tears. I now buy more technical gear for her, like these Scott mittens that unzip from thumb to wrist, ensuring little fingers slide in correctly on the first attempt. (Bonus: They have a pocket for hand warmers.)
To avoid snow down the waistband (a casualty of snow angels), rather than separates I prefer to pair a waterproof jacket with a bib or one-piece snowsuit. These getups are also helpful if, mid-mountain, my toddler happens to throw her body down in a fit of rage.
Another tip: After my daughter outgrew her first Patagonia snowsuit in a single season, I came to the conclusion that outerwear works just as well when it’s one size up and—even better—if it’s preloved. Now, I check secondhand sites like Poshmark or Mercari and borrow what I can from friends. I also invest in a set of basics that are her true size to keep her warm and dry, like the aforementioned mittens, a moisture-wicking base layer, and wool socks. Most other items, including goggles, helmets, skis, and boots can be rented onsite.
Tip: If you’re driving to the slopes, load the car the night before; that way, you aren’t wrangling a toddler and their skis—all while trying to get on the road.
As your kid graduates from the bunny slopes, consider getting a harness and leash system similar; a friend swears by this one from MDXONE as a way to help get her toddler’s backside up onto the chairlift—not to mention keep him tethered while cruising down the mountain. This friend’s kid also connected with the concept of “pizza”—as in, arranging your skis in a triangle formation, slice-style—after using one of these Edgie Wedgies.
Set realistic expectations and know when to call it
On our second ski trip, I was feeling giddy after a smooth rental experience where my daughter ran around the shop in her ski boots shouting, “I’m going skiing!” Cut to the parking lot an hour later: Not only did we never make it on the snow, she refused to put her boots back on at all. Moral of the story: To avoid premature burnout, we no longer rent equipment the same day we plan to ski.
Tip: Even now, after multiple toddler ski trips in the books, I do a trial run the first day in a new location where she’s fully outfitted in her helmet and goggles and buckled into her ski boots. Anything so the experience of getting suited up like a winter astronaut starts to feel more normal.
I’ve also reframed “success,” counting any amount of time on or around the mountain as a win. After making sure my daughter isn’t hungry, cold, or tired, I feel comfortable going home early when things just aren’t working. Now that my daughter is almost four and has a better grasp on her proprioception, I’m cautiously optimistic that we’ll be able to get in some green runs together this year.
Don’t underestimate the power of snack breaks
As far as family ski trips go, I’ve now spent more hours in the lodge during hot chocolate breaks than on skis. I’ve found reward breaks keep spirits high and offer little bodies a chance to warm up and decompress. There are also a few sugar-free incentives that have worked well for us: the promise of building an après-ski snowman or stopping mid-run for a snowball fight. Nothing puts a smile on my daughter’s face like pelting me with a handful of snow.
Embrace flat settings and warm temps
In all, I’ve found the toddler stage of skiing to be all about building positive associations with the snow and finding joy in the adventures had on the mountain. This is the time to embrace exactly the sort of conditions that expert skiers might scoff at; warmer weather and minimal falling snow, for instance, can help make things easier when there’s a little kid tugging at your heels.
With that, the flat patches of snow outside the lodge make great first runs. The best time I’ve had skiing with my daughter was a bluebird day in March with thick slushy snow. I ran her up and down the hill in my snow boots after the lift had closed; although the conditions weren’t ideal, she was warm. And not having my own skis on made it that much easier to assist her unsteady body.
Tip: Since my daughter has yet to make it off the bunny hill, we haven’t moved past the magic carpet—that gentle conveyer belt that brings novices to the top of the slope. I’ve found it helpful to have other family members there to trade off the heavy lifting and bending that you’ll inevitably need to do.
One final pearl of guidance: Anytime you bring a toddler skiing, you’re going to be in for some moments of difficulty. But keeping things lighthearted and easing up on initial expectations will really help. Once your kids are enrolled in a proper ski school, you’ll have time all to yourself—time when you can hit those black diamonds again. At least that’s what I keep telling myself.
