Hauling your whole family to the slopes, especially when the kids are
little, is a chore. Hours of driving for one run with a toddler and
expensive day care can be draining.
When our kids were tiny, we started them skiing at home. That’s right. You
can score baby beginner skis & boots at a rental shop or a ski swap. The
first trick is to get your youngster into their gear. We had our son (age 23
months at the time) put on ski boots and skis inside in the carpeted
basement to start. Sounds funny, looks even funnier- but it’s a great way to
familiarize your child with the foreign ski apparatus.
Letting our son tromp around with his skis attached to those clunky ski
boots really helped his coordination. Our daughter loved hats, so putting on
the ski outfit got her excited about the adventure, and would later serve to
distract her from the real weather once we got her outside.
Once
your kids have worn their ski gear inside for a few hours, it’s time to take
it outside. Hopefully the blessing of natural snow will grace your backyard.
Little kids don’t need much of a slope or much space to get the concept of
sliding. In fact, you don’t want a steep slope, or any dangerous hazards so
keep the terrain open and tame.
If your backyard is brown, the engineers at www.snow-maker.com
have a cure. Buy the SNS EasySnow Snowmaker, attach it to a pressure washer
and a small compressor (or borrow these from your neighbor) and you can make
snow in your yard at 27F or below. You will be the hit of the ‘hood when you
make snow on your lawn.
No need for a lift or rope tow, kids can climb back up. Or if mom and dad
need a work out – they can pull the kids back up with them holding the strap
of the ski pole. Who needs the expense of a gym membership, save that dough
for the $399 snow maker?
WWhen the skiing becomes too cumbersome or tiresome, there is always snowman
making as a diversion, and hot cocoa is available in your kitchen for cents
on the dollar compared to resort prices.
The
novelty of this homespun mom and pop ski resort will wear off quickly, but
your kids will have the developed the basics of balance, walking and sliding
in snow gear, and they will be really amped to go to a real ski area.
Bretton Woods has a
complimentary learn to ski lift.
