Most kids really enjoy snowboarding. You just have to get them engaged in it (which can be hard to do sometimes). Here are some ways to make it fun and cover the basics at the same time.
Start Them Out Early And Practice
There are many people who will tell you that you can’t start your kids snowboarding until age 8 or 10. This isn’t true. As long as your child has the balance required to snowboard, he or she can start as young as age 4. Just make sure that you put on all the required safety gear and that your child is capable of actually maneuvering the board.
Starting young also ingrains the balance necessary to snowboard, making it easier to learn other related activities later on in life.
Keep Them Warm
Keep your children warm out there. Because they’re little, they’re going to get colder, faster. So, take extra precautions with mittens, hats, goggles, and layers of clothing. Start out with a base layer of wool or wool blend. Then, start layering clothes.
They can always take them off if they get too hot and sweaty.
Pants should have waterproofing and padding on the bottom, knees, and shin area. Snowboarding pants are designed to fit loosely (looser than ski pants), and should have good boot gaiters to prevent snow infiltration.
A neck gaiter will protect the neck, and socks should protect the feet if they’re waterproof.
Get a good set of tinted goggles and hand warmers.
Start Out With A Lesson
Start with one lesson. Choose an instructor who is specifically certified to train children how to ski and snowboard. These instructors know how to work with kids, how to motivate them, and how to keep them interested
The instructor will probably start with the basics like how to fall properly, how to stand up, and how to maneuver and negotiate basic turns and slopes (beginner level). The bunny hill is the perfect place to learn all of this. This is where kids will learn how to control speed and how long they can go across the run on both edges of the board before they come to a full stop.
Move To A Long Weekend
Once you’re comfortable with the initial lesson, assess how your kids reacted to it. Did they seem to enjoy themselves? If so, it might be worth looking into Whistler Blackcomb lodging and book an extended stay for a weekend-long snowboarding trip.
Don’t pressure your kids into it, of course.
Subsequent lessons should cover things like following the powder (avoiding ice), how to control the board (looking where you want to go), how to make advanced turns and overemphasizing the push on the heels and toes.
Your children can also practice balancing and turning in your living room or in the back yard when the trip is over.
Stick with the same instructor as your first trip, if you can. This will help build on the previous lesson and introduces continuity. When your child becomes accustomed to one trainer’s way of doing things, it helps to keep going to the same person for lessons so that everything feels “seamless” and natural.
Amelia Davey is a Mom of 2 boys and also works as a ski instructor. She loves to see the look of pure joy on kids faces when they master their first ski session and blogs about all things kid and snow related for a variety of blogs.
1 comment
Parents should by all means let their young kids have a go at snowboarding, especially if the snow is slushy, but they shouldn’t expect to leave the nursery slopes or Riglet parks whereas, with skiing, you can travel as a family more.