When to take kids snow skiing?

[TB80]

I have a 2 year old and 4 year old. I would love to take them to the mountains snow skiing, but my wife is worried they are too young, especially the 2 year old.

Any thoughts/suggestions/advice on whether we should wait another year or two? If you recommend going, what do you recommend doing with the kids? Ski school? Day care?

Any other tips/advice for snow skiing with young kids would be appreciated.

[LROSE]

Following -- looking to take the family next year sometime. Me, wife & kids (12 & 8). None of us have skied before but we want to try it out.
Watching this thread for any advice.

[AntlerCollector]

I'd wait a couple years. At least when they are 4 and 8

When you do go put them in ski school for sure

[HoustonHunter]

My parents had us on skis from when we could stand up. It's a lot of work when they are that little and you won't get to enjoy the slopes by yourselves as you'll be tending to them.

There is an age requirement for ski schools, of course, but big resorts have daycare type facilities.

If y'all are avid skiers (or decent anyway) you can get a backpack type carrier for the youngest one and they can ski with you while the 4 year old is in ski school.

May also consider one of those altitude tents you can use here to get them acclimated to the low oxygen so they don't get altitude sickness there (at least decrease the chances). A kid with altitude sickness is no fun for anyone!

Start em young! They'll be doing it by themselves without lessons sooner rather than later.

[WyoBull]

Take them as early as you can and get them lessons to get started. You would be amazed at how quick youngsters take to it.

[TB80]

Most ski schools don't take kids younger than 3. My concern is mainly for my two year old. I don't know if it is worth the money to go on a ski trip to stick my kid in a daycare.

[HoustonHunter]

Pack I was talking about. Kids tend to love them.

Would probably be able to rent one.

[flywise]

took my kids for the first time last year
my boy just turned 7 and daughter had just turned 8. By the end of day 1 my daughter was making it all the way down the hill with out falling. My son only wanted to snowboard. It took him a little longer but both were doing as good as me (only skied 1 time and that was in 1986).

[Palmetto]

Listen to your wife on this one.

[meat>horns]

If god wanted Texans to ski he would have given them mountains. Just go water skiing.

[Jason19]

Start early.. I started at 2. Lower center of gravity for the little ones makes it easier than you think.

[ON THE EDGE]

Obviously your going to have your battles with ski clothing and learning curves and such. But, that being said, I take my kids every year since they were about 3&4. Sometimes they want to ski, sometimes just play in the snow. Lessons were a joke. Like these other guys said, kids learn fast. 2 might be a little young, but then again a lot of people have done the same type activities at that age. Whatever you decide, just remember to be patient and have fun. First time I took my boy, he opened up a can of awesomeness I had never seen in him. I'll Never forget that trip.

[RedRaider323]

2 is a little too young. Wait another year or two.

[mab0852]

I learned when I was 4, but I was already a decent water skier. If you lived near the mountains I would say go, but since you are travelling, don't take a kid under 4 skiing unless you plan on one of you not skiing or can afford a fortune in child care. I taught a few friends' two year olds to ski when I lived in the alps and we had a blast, but it was 40 minutes from home to mountain top. Miss that for sure! Back in the states, we waited to take Emma until she was 4 and my only regret was not putting her in ski school 1 extra day that year. We got the mornings to ourselves to enjoy the slopes and we picked her up in the afternoon when we were tired and the bunny hill was sounding pretty good anyway. If you only get to go once a year, its just not worth trying to teach a baby. When they are big enough to roller skate or water ski (skills that can somewhat carry over) they can pick up snow skiing fast enough to make it worth it. JMHO

[bdphunt]

We took my 8 and 5 year olds last year. They both did great and picked it up quickly. We also had my 1 year old and had to rotate child care which was not fun. Ha

I would say wait til they are both old enough for ski school and then do it.