Family ski holidays part two - Finding the best ski lessons

In the second of our articles about booking the perfect family ski holiday, we look at how to choose the most suitable ski school for your children.

Many resorts have ski schools for groups and private lessons starting from the age of 3 upwards. The little ones can start at a children's ski garden with a club house, toilets and refreshments and indoor play activities should the weather turn cold. The ski areas offer a range of ski terrain to suit all first time skiers. They are well staffed with English speaking ski instructors and assistances to help get the little ones on their feet, or skis.

Children progress through various levels of skiing and can proudly return home as fully fledged professionals clutching their award medals. The ski schools should have a range of ski lifts from small rope tows to Poma drag lifts to teach the children the basics of getting up the mountain. The snow coverage is often guaranteed as many ski schools will have added snow making facilities and their own piste bashers.

Check the location of the children's ski school in relation to the main ski slopes as it is easier to drop children at the same location you will be skiing yourselves. Often the children's facilities are based in the village centre away from the main ski areas and you will find yourselves running around to collect your children. Check also that the ski school is accessible by the free village ski buses and nearby bus stops.

It is important to point out that not all three year olds are ready to listen and learn in a foreign environment. Some children's ski schools can be oversubscribed during holiday periods and factors such as the weather and large group sizes may play a big part in the child's enjoyment of outdoor activities. If your child is physically confident and is used to a childcare facility there is no reason why they shouldn't come away with the ability to perform an elegant snowplough by the end of a week's lessons.

Some parents may of course prefer their little ones to have private lessons. In this instance it is good to share a private instructor with some friends to spread the cost and make the lessons fun and not too much of a challenge.

Good English speaking private instructors can be found in resorts and details should be available through the local tourist office or resort websites. It is advisable to pre book lessons and check availability before committing to a holiday package to make sure the lessons you want will be available. Larger organisations such as ESF and International ski schools based in France will take children from 4 upwards and will offer a range of group and private lessons in the main ski areas. Check the group sizes and drop off points as these factors will affect your lesson preference.

For younger toddlers and babies, most ski resorts will offer a local crèche facility for babies starting from 3 months upwards. Children used to a nursery set up will get the most out of this and should settle quickly. The childcare facility will want to see proof of medical records and vaccination certificates and these should be presented to the crèche when you arrive.

Families often bring their own nanny or better still obliging grandparents to help cover the childcare allowing the parents themselves a few hours ski time knowing their children are in safe hands. Little ones can be entertained with a bit of sledging and snowman building to make sure that they too are able to enjoy a winter holiday.

Regarding ski hire it is best to hire your equipment, boots, skis, poles or boards when you arrive in the resort. This ensures all boots and equipment fit correctly and you have the best possible range of equipment and expertise to hand. Children learning from scratch will not need poles to start with and often find that they are an added distraction and get in the way when learning to the lifts, take advise from the hire shop and

Ski hire companies can offer some good online deals with early booking discounts and free children's packages. Check that deals include helmets to hire for children, poles will only be needed by older children who have progress beyond the beginner stages of skiing. It is important to make sure ski boots are worn with ski socks to avoid discomfort and cold feet. Check that boots are comfortable after the first day's wearing and report back to the shop if you are not happy with the equipment and need to change it. Some shops will offer a system whereby boots and skis can be left at the shop over night to store and dry until the next day. This works well if you are using the local ski buses to get around the resort and do not want to carry your equipment backwards and forwards every day.