How to make your child's first
ski holiday a success

By Michelle MacPherson of Gone Skiing

Many South Africans dream of a family snow holiday abroad and wondering how to get there, when to go, and what to expect. With an all-inclusive holiday package from Club Med it can be done and doesn’t need to be a hassle.

While children can find it tough in the beginning, once they have the basics of skiing or snowboarding down they will absolutely love their time on the slopes. Ski or snowboard holidays also do wonders for their self-confidence.

Read on for some tips on how to make your first family Club Med snow holiday a success.

Get the kids excited about a Club Med snow holiday

Get your kids excited about the trip by telling them all about the exciting snow activities and how they will make new friends from other countries. Activities include ski or snowboard school, family snow activities, painting, music games, and early learning and creative workshops.

After your visit to the Travel Agency by Club Med at Design Quarter to book your holiday, head to Gone Skiing across the road and enjoy 10% off your gear.

Gone Skiing is South Africa’s premier ski and snowboard shop in Fourways and offers everything you need from the world’s leading brands to prepare you and your family for hours on the slopes.

Once you have purchased all your gear for your holiday, play dress up games with the kids to get them really excited for the holiday. Let them try on their new gear and take some photos and videos of them pretending to ski or snowboard.

To really get the kids excited and prepared for your snow holiday, take them to Africa’s highest ski resort – Afriski mountain resort – to give them a taste of what skiing and snowboarding is all about.

Located in Lesotho, Afriski offers many accommodation options to suit all budgets, as well as a full ski school offering lessons for the little ones. This will build up their self-confidence and get them ready for the European slopes.

What is the best age for a child to start skiing?

According to ski instructors, the perfect age for your child to start is four or five years old. By then they are old enough to listen, they can put their own equipment on, they have the co-ordination skills to be able to control their bodies and skis, they can manage a lesson without burning out and they can get up by themselves when they fall over.

The number one and most important rule is that your child has fun and enjoys the sensations of skiing and snowboarding.

Three-year olds can get used to the ski resort, try the equipment on, and start out on a flattish beginner slope to get the feel of the snow. They will definitely love buzzing around on a bum board, which makes for lots of family fun.

Choosing a family-friendly Club Med village

It is important to book your all-inclusive Club Med snow holiday at a family-friendly resort like Club Med Grand Massif Samoëns Morillon as these villages cater specifically for families. This includes skiing and snowboarding lessons specifically for children and endless activities to keep the kids busy at the Kids Clubs.

Book the kids into group ski lessons

Group ski lessons for kids will help them master the basic skills and are much more enjoyable for kids as they get to meet new friends, help one another learn, and share their excitement once they start to grasp skiing.

Schedule lots of snow fun with mom and dad

You are going to love having time to perfect your own skiing or snowboarding and having some quality bonding time with your partner. But, the most memorable of all will be the moments you spend connecting with your kids. We recommend getting a bumboard and doing races down the slopes, building snowmen, having snowball fights, and enjoying meals together.

Speak to a snow specialist at the Travel Agency by Club Med today and book all your flights, transfers, and accommodation. Your all-inclusive Club Med holiday includes accommodation, food, drinks, in-resort activities, entertainment, after-parties, and more. Also, kids stay for free* with Club Med so enquire with your snow specialist about this.

*T&Cs apply