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If you want your kids to enjoy skiing, it’s important to keep things FUN!! Skiing should never feel like a chore or a lesson, instead think of it as a great way to play in the snow.
Here are some of the best skiing games to keep kids excited, help them learn to ski better, and teach them ski safety. These games are all perfect for teaching your own kids to ski or just a family day on the slopes!
I have so many parents ask me, as a former ski instructor, what makes ski school so effective. The truth is FUN! A lot of what kids learn in ski school is taught by games and just being a little bit silly. I’ve used more games than I can even remember to help kids learn to ski and the ski games I’m sharing below are some of the most effective ways to teach kids to ski.
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Follow The Leader Games to Teach Kids To Turn On Skis
Kids’ skis are going to go where they’re looking, so it’s important that they’re engaged and looking at the right things. If they look at a tree, they’re going to go straight into a tree, but if they look at someone who is turning and moving around safely on their skis, the kids will naturally do the same thing (it sounds too simple, but it works incredibly well).
Follow the leader games are a great way to teach kids how to turn since they simply need to follow the person in front of them. These games are especially helpful when skiing with toddlers. Here are some fun ways to mix up this kid’s ski game:
Race Car Driving: Ask your child to pretend they’re holding a steering wheel in front of them, and have them “turn” the wheel whenever they turn on their skis. For kids who love the movie Cars, they can imagine being their favorite character, or they can pick the color of their race car. This fun ski game not only encourages kids to ski faster (like a race car) but also helps them improve their turning skills in an engaging way.
Barnyard Train: Have everyone line up and choose a farm animal to imitate. As they ski down, each time they make a turn, they get to make their animal’s sound. This game is great for getting kids to laugh, be silly, and have so much fun that they hardly notice they’re working on a new skill!
Airplane Flyers: Got kids who are airplane fans? This ski game is perfect for them! Have the kids extend their arms like airplane wings and pretend to be flying as they follow your turns down the slope. It’s a fun and playful way to get them to mimic your movements while feeling like pilots soaring through the snow!
Simon Says: This ski game requires the leader to think quickly and have solid skiing skills. It’s a fun twist on a classic game that keeps kids focused and engaged. You can play while standing still on the slope or while skiing and making turns down the mountain. It’s a great way to challenge your kids and help them improve their skills while keeping them entertained.
Cone Obstacle Course: Grab a few small cones and set up 5-7 in a line for the kids to slalom through. Have them work on both wide and tight turns while practicing different speeds. To make it more exciting, encourage the kids to crouch down like ski racers as they weave through the cones. These compact cones are great because they fit easily in a backpack, making them perfect to bring along for a fun day on the hill.
Copycat: In this game, your goal is to copy everything the leader is doing.It can be helpful to provide a distraction for your child so that they are not as focused on the process of turning and instead get their attention turned towards you.
Ski Games To Get Kids To Stop
Red Light Green Light: This classic game is one of the best at getting kids to learn to stop on skis. If you have a child who’s a beginner, change the game to Red light/yellow light/green light to practice going fast, slow, and stopping. Once your child gets better at stopping, this can just be Red Light, Green Light.
Mr. Fox, Mr. Fox: This game is a fantastic way for kids to practice their stopping skills while having fun. One child becomes the Fox, standing at the bottom of the slope. The other kids, starting from the top, shout, “Mr. Fox, Mr. Fox, what time is it?” The Fox replies with a number and then turns to count, while the others ski closer. The game goes on until the Fox yells “Lunchtime!” and attempts to tag someone. Just make sure everyone knows to stay in control and watch out for others when the tagging begins.
Ski Games That Teach Kids Balance
Smash The Bug: A common issue for beginner skiers is leaning too far back and not shifting their weight forward enough. The best stance is to keep the hips centered directly above the feet. To help kids adjust their balance, encourage them to imagine squashing invisible bugs with the front of their ski boots (between their shin and the front of their boots) while skiing. This simple trick helps them naturally move their weight forward into the right position.
Ski Games for Kids That Teach Edging
One Ski Challenge (intermediate skiers): To get kids learning how to use both edges of their skis, have them ski on only one ski while still making good S-Turns (they can just hold the other a few inches off the ground). Have the kids see how long they can ski like this and show them that in order to turn both ways, they need to use both edges of their skis.
Chairlift Games To Play With Kids
Keeping your kids entertained on the chairlift is a simple yet effective way to help them stay still and safe during the ride up the mountain. One of our favorite tricks is offering a small treat, like an M&M or a TicTac, to give them something to look forward to on each lift ride. It not only keeps them engaged but also encourages them to sit calmly while enjoying the view. Even our older kids and teens still enjoy this little tradition, and it’s a great morale booster, especially after a challenging run. A tiny piece of candy can make all the difference in keeping their spirits high and turning a tough moment into a fun, memorable one.
Here are some fun games to play with kids on a chairlift:
I Spy With My Little Eye: One person picks something and everyone else has to guess what it is.
The Alphabet Game: Go through the alphabet and find something that starts with each letter. This game can get tricky and may require you to ride a few different lifts to make progress.
20 Questions: One person thinks of something and everyone else gets to ask 20 questions to try and figure it out what it is.
Two Truths And A Lie: Everyone takes turns telling two truths about themselves and one lie. The
And Then: An ongoing story game. One person starts the story and tells a bit, and says “and then” as they point to someone else. That person has to continue the story until they say “and then” and pass the story to someone else.
Sing Songs: Pick your favorite silly songs and sing them together in funny voices on the chairlift.
Zap It Chairlift Game:
This is a super fun chairlift game to play with kids or even with adults. Look below at the skiers and snowboarders, and watch them carefully.
- If someone’s about to fall, point your finger at them and say “ZAP” – if you do that before they hit the ground you get a point. (1 point)
- If you Zap someone and they don’t fall, you lose a point. (-1 points)
- If two people crash into each other, you get a point for each AND a get to double the points for a crash. (4 points)
- If you say Zap and someone loses a ski or a pole, you get an extra point for each piece of gear they lose + the fall.
- If you Sap someone and they have a full yardsale and lose both skis and poles, you get double points (1 for fall, 2 for skis, 2 for poles, X2 = 10 points)
- If you Zap a ski instructor that falls, you get 25 points. (25 points)
- If you Zap a ski patroller that falls, you get 50 points. (50 points)
Best Ski Jokes For Kids:
- What do you call a slow skier? A slopepoke!
- How does a skier get to work? By icicle.
- Why should you always invite a skier to Thanksgiving dinner? They’re great at carving.
- How do skiers correct their typing mistakes? White out!
- What do skiers like most about school? Snow and tell.
- What do skiers eat for lunch? Icebergers
- Where does a skier keep his money? In a snow bank.
- What do skiers eat for breakfast? Frosted Flakes.
- What kind of parties do skiers go to? Snowballs.
Have more ski games for children that have worked well for you? Leave them in the comments below!