“Parents can really mess up a good thing by not trusting the instructor to
do their job,” said Ian Burke. “When parents insist on hanging around a ski
lesson, they distract their own child from learning and from having fun.”
Wise words from my son, makes me proud. I taught skiing when I was a
teenager; Ian’s father did too; and so did my mom – Ian’s grandmother. So
the ski instructor legacy continues. Apparently the annoying behavior of
paying parents continues too.
I remember how parents would peek in on ski lessons and once their child
spotted them, the waterworks would start. It was so frustrating because
moments before their child was having a great time, linking little pizza pie
turns on the snow. Then like a bad dream, the child sees Mom or Dad and
cries out for them. All the instructor’s efforts to bond with their student
skier are gone as the child desperately wants to go back to the
overprotective parents.
I have been on both sides of the ski lesson, as a former ski instructor and
a parent myself. I understand that it’s hard to let go of your pride and
joy, entrusting a complete stranger with your bundle. But when you fork over
nearly a hundred bucks for a ski lesson, don’t be a “smother”, hand over
your child with your trust too.
Here are some tips to help you, your child and your instructor get the most
from a ski lesson:
Prepare your child ahead of time that Mom and Dad will be taking them to ski
camp, explaining that Mom and Dad will not be staying.
Tell them about the fun day ahead of learning to ski and making new friends
at ski camp. Present the day of adventure in a positive light, as a snow
play date.
Don’t spring the ski lesson on them last minute and don’t disappear when
they’re not looking– kids are just little people, they are not stupid. And
don’t make a prolonged goodbye at drop off either, that just makes it harder
on everyone (the instructors included).
Ski lessons and all day camps are pricey, but your child will receive
professional instruction with an emphasis on safety (priceless). Instructors
are trained to create a fun learning environment –something that can’t
develop with POS – code for “parent over shoulder.” Another key to success
is that your child is with similar sized new skiers –peer mentoring occurs
too, but not with helicopter parents hovering.
Ian said, “The parents that drop their kids off, wave a happy smile and go
off and have a great ski day themselves definitely get the best value. Their
kids get a great lesson and make new friends. When Mom and Dad return at the
end of the lesson, everyone has had a good time. It’s a win win win."
