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As a mom of five and a professional ski instructor, skiing with kids is a huge part of my life. I started skiing at age four and have loved it ever since, so when it came time to introduce my own kids to the sport, I knew I wanted them to love it just as much as I do. My goal is to help my kids love skiing for LIFE and the best way to do that is to make it as fun as possible. Over the years, I’ve learned that the best way to get kids excited about skiing is to make it as fun as possible.
Whether your kids are new to skiing, or they’re struggling with the sport, I’ll show you how to put the fun back into skiing so that everyone leaves the hil with a smile on their face.
1. Make Everything a Game
One of the best ways to keep kids engaged while skiing is to turn everything into a game. Instead of focusing on technique and improvement all day, turn learning into something fun. Kids love to play, and skiing should feel like an extension of that. This strategy works great for kids who are 10 and under, but can also work with older kids with a little bit of creativity on how you present it.
Some of our favorite ski games for kids include:
- Follow the Leader: I’ll take the lead and make silly turns, or we’ll pretend to be animals. Sometimes we’ll even turn it into a game of pretending to be airplanes, with arms outstretched and making sound effects as we ski down.
- Race Car Driving: My son loves pretending he’s Lightning McQueen. We hold our hands out like we’re steering a car, and every time we turn, we “turn the wheel.” It’s a great way to improve turning skills while having fun.
- Simon Says: This classic game works great on skis! I’ll call out instructions like “Simon says, turn left!” or “Simon says, stop!” It’s a great way to keep them focused and moving on the slopes.
- Obstacle Course: We bring small cones or choose natural features like trees to ski around. The kids love weaving in and out of the course, and it’s a great way to build coordination.
Games make skiing lighthearted and playful while sneaking in valuable skills without the kids even realizing it!
2. Bring Treats (for Chairlift and Lodge Breaks)
Skiing can be hard work, especially for little legs, and nothing perks kids up faster than a treat. I always make sure to bring some snacks or candy for the chairlift, and it’s become a tradition that the kids look forward to – even my teens!
Our go-to treats are small, easy-to-eat snacks like M&Ms or fruit snacks that are packed in my pockets. More often than not, I’m passing out fruity tic-tacs on the lift and the kids love them (and they’re easy to get out with gloves on). It keeps the kids energized and gives them something to look forward to after each run. We’ll also make sure to stop in the lodge for lunch or snack breaks, where a warm cookie or hot chocolate feels like the ultimate reward.
Pro Tip: Hot cocoa breaks are non-negotiable in our family! Whenever the kids start to get tired or cold, we head to the lodge for a warm-up break. Not only does it warm them up, but the sweet treat reenergizes them and gets them excited to head back out onto the slopes.
3. Let the Kids Help Plan the Trip
One of the easiest ways to get your kids invested in skiing is to involve them in the planning. Let them pick a few runs or trails, decide what snacks to bring, or even plan part of the day. When kids feel like they have some control, they’re more excited about the experience.
In our family, we make a point of talking tot he kids kids on the way to the mountain and letting everyone pick a few runs that we’ll ski during the day. Some days they want to try new terrain, and other days they just want to stick to their favorite runs over and over again. By letting them have a say, it feels less like they’re being dragged along and more like it’s their adventure. Make sure that mom and dad have a say in where to ski as well, so that you can help guide them into new terrain in a comfortable way.
If you have older kids or teens, you can take things a step further and have them help plan bigger aspects of the trip as well. In the past we’ve had our teens research ski resorts, extra activities and lodging for bigger ski trips and it’s worked wonders for getting them more excited and engaged.
4. Bring Along Friends
Nothing gets kids more excited about skiing than having friends to share the fun with. Whenever possible, we invite family friends or cousins to join us on the slopes. Having buddies to ski with brings a whole new level of excitement and competition, and it takes the pressure off parents to be the main source of entertainment.
The kids always seem more motivated to push themselves when there are friends around to impress. Plus, it gives them someone to laugh and goof-off with on the chairlift.
If you don’t have friends or family who ski, try to make some new friends on the ski hill. Strike up a conversation with another family in the lift line or in the lodge. We’ve made some great friends that way and it’s made our ski days even more fun!
5. Keep Everyone Well Fed
One of the biggest challenges on a ski day is keeping the kids fueled. Nothing brings down the fun faster than a cold, hungry kid. That’s why we set up designated lunch times every day. If we don’t my kids will often ski through lunch and we won’t realize that the kids are STARVING until someone is in tears.
We always bring snacks like granola bars, cheese sticks, or fruit to keep the kids’ energy up, and stash them in their pockets for snacking on the lift. We also make it a point to make sure that everyone eats a good meal before hitting the slopes (check out our ski breakfast ideas).
While I wholeheartedly advocate for giving kids treats on the chairlift, try and keep the sugar consumption to a minimum (a couple tic-tacs or 2 M&Ms per run works well for our kids without overwhelming their bodies). A healthy lunch goes a long way towards helping kids end the day with energy!
6. Have Fun Yourself
As parents, we set the tone for the day. If we’re stressed, frustrated, or too focused on pushing our kids, they’ll pick up on that. The best thing you can do to keep skiing fun for your kids is to have fun yourself. Laugh, be silly, and enjoy the day. When you’re having a good time, your kids are more likely to do the same.
Even when things don’t go perfectly—whether it’s a forgotten glove, a spill on the hill, or tired legs—just roll with it and keep the focus on the fun.
7. Take the Pressure Off
It’s easy to fall into the trap of wanting your kids to be amazing skiers right away, especially if you’re passionate about the sport. As a ski instructor, I know the temptation to constantly correct technique and push for improvement. But I’ve learned that too much pressure can actually take the fun out of skiing.
We’ve developed a system that works for us: we start the day with 1-2 warm-up runs where we just have fun, followed by 1-2 runs where we give each kid a couple of tips. After that, we let go of the coaching and just enjoy the day. Keeping the focus on fun, rather than constant improvement, helps kids feel more relaxed and excited to keep skiing.
8. End the Day on a High Note
I always try to end the day on a high note, especially with younger kids. If I see that one of my kids is getting tired or frustrated, we wrap up the day before it turns into a meltdown. Ending the day while everyone is still having fun ensures that the kids have positive memories of skiing and are excited to return.
If the day ends with tears and exhaustion, that’s what they’ll remember next time. But if you leave while everyone is still happy, they’ll associate skiing with joy and success.
9. Make the Car Ride Fun
For our family, the fun starts long before we hit the slopes. We have a special ski day playlist that the kids put together with all their favorite songs. We blast it on the drive up to the mountain to get everyone pumped for the day.
The car ride sets the tone for the day, and by making it a fun, relaxed experience, the kids are already in a great mood before we even start skiing.
10. Ski at a Resort They Love
Every kid has their favorite type of skiing. Some love fast groomers, others love tree skiing, and some can’t get enough of the terrain park. When planning a ski trip, I try to choose resorts that match what my kids love most. If they’re skiing terrain they enjoy, they’re much more likely to have fun.
For example, one of my sons loves skiing through trees, so we make sure to head to a resort with plenty of tree runs. Another one of my kids is obsessed with hitting jumps, so we find resorts with terrain parks to keep him happy. When they get to ski their favorite terrain, it makes the whole day more exciting. And yes, it’s possible to find everything the kids want in one resort, with just al little bit of research!
11. Keep Everyone Warm
Cold kids are usually miserable kids, so make sure your kids are dressed appropriately so they stay warm and toasty. This starts with a good base layer and a good pair of ski socks as a good layer next to the skin. If it’s a colder day, you’ll want to add a mid layer as well. Waterproof ski coats, snow pants and a great pair of mittens have saved us time and time again. On super cold days, we through a pair of our favorite hand warmers into the kids mittens and boots to make sure no one’s getting too cold.
Skiing with kids doesn’t have to be stressful. By keeping the focus on fun, planning breaks for treats and warmth, and letting go of the pressure to constantly improve, you’ll create a positive experience that your kids will love. After all, the goal is to raise kids who love skiing for life, not just tolerate it for a few days. So pack those snacks, plan those games, and get ready for some fun family adventures on the mountain!