A-Z of Skiing: K is for kids

Stephen Wood
Friday 03 December 1999 19:02 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

WHAT ARE the things that every parent should know about taking children skiing? Not being a parent, and only once having skied with a teenager, I have no idea. So, I consulted an expert, Moira Clarke, sales and marketing director for the specialist family operator, Ski Esprit (01252 616789). This is her list of the essentials for a happy holiday for children - and, therefore, their parents.

1 OTHER ENGLISH-SPEAKING CHILDREN

Moira Clarke suggests that families stay in family chalets, so that no one can complain about the noise. And it is vital to have other English- speaking children around. "Eight- and nine-year-olds will not be happy unless there are," she says.

2 PROPERLY EQUIPPED CHALETS

The fact that a chalet welcomes families does not necessarily mean that it is equipped with a nursery, cots, sterilisers and so on.

3 CHILD CARE BY ENGLISH SPEAKERS

Ski Esprit only employs qualified British nannies: "It's just not the same for children if the care is provided by people who don't speak English well".

4 ENGLISH-SPEAKING SKI INSTRUCTORS

Mixed-language classes are not ideal because translation slows things up.

5 CHILDRENS' CATERING

Since children like different food at different times from adults, Ski Esprit serves them a "high tea" at 5.30pm, allowing parents to eat later in peace.

6 SMALL SKI-SCHOOL GROUPS

A group of 12 is fine for adults but not for children, who often have a limited attention span.

7 FREELY AVAILABLE

BABY-SITTERS

If baby-sitters are not provided, they will be difficult to find.

8 A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES

Obviously small children have different needs from the older ones (and some don't take to skiing at all), so there should be provision for everything from nursery care through snow play to snowboarding.

9 APPROPRIATE TRANSPORT

Long transfers with infrequent toilet stops don't go down well with children; videos provide a welcome distraction. Ski Esprit charters its own flights (they can, says Clarke, be fairly hellish: "One child starts crying, and it sets them all off"), which provide children's meals, allow push-chairs to be taken right to the plane, and have cabin crews familiar with the bottle-heating process.

10 SENSIBLE DISCOUNTS

Although discounts are widely available for children, they can vary enormously, from 50 per cent of the adult prices (for small children) down to just five per cent. And some tour operators only give discounts for two children: a third child is charged the full price.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in