Ski safety with children: a quick guide to teaching them the basics
Skiing with children can be stressful, particularly when it comes to keeping them safe. Of course, you should never leave a child alone on the slopes or take them onto terrain that is too technical for their ability, or encourage them to weave between skiers on very busy pistes.
But alongside these good practices, it is also useful to teach young skiers the basic rules of slope safety. This will help them become more independent, reduce risks and give you greater peace of mind. Here are the essential rules to teach them, along with simple words and phrases to help younger children understand them.
In summary
Teaching children the basic ski safety rules is essential for enjoying a family skiing holiday with greater peace of mind and helping young skiers become more independent. They should wear their helmet, goggles and gloves, control their speed, look ahead and stop at the side of the piste. It is also important to teach them to follow piste signs, check that the way is clear before setting off again and stop if they get lost. Sport 2000 and Ekosport-Rent explain these rules simply to help children develop safe habits on the slopes.
Rule 1: “I never set off without my helmet, goggles and ski gloves”
The first rule for staying safe is to make sure you are properly equipped. Before setting off in the morning and after every break, teach your child to check that they have all their accessories and that they are correctly in place:
ski helmet fastened securely;
ski goggles over their eyes;
ski gloves.
You can turn this into a game, for example by asking them to touch their head, face and then hands to check that everything is in place.
Rule 2: “I don't go too fast”
Speed control and controlling your line are among the most important rules for everyone's safety. Two simple phrases to remember:
“if you start going too fast, slow down”;
“if you can no longer turn properly or you feel scared, stop”.
Rule 3: “I look ahead”
There is no need to explain concepts such as “uphill” and “downhill” to children to help them understand the principle of right of way on the slopes. The simplest approach is to tell them:
they should always pay attention to skiers further down the slope;
they should not look behind them while skiing.
Rule 4: “I stop at the side of the piste”
Stopping can also create a serious risk of collisions. Teach your children that they should never stop in the middle of a piste or behind a bump.
A simple phrase to use is: “when we stop, we always stop at the side of the piste”.
Rule 5: “I check that the way is clear before setting off again”
After stopping, it is also important to pay attention before setting off again. To make this easy for children to understand, compare it to crossing the road. Look carefully to the left and right before setting off.
Rule 6: “I pay attention to the signs and follow them”
Younger children may find it difficult to understand all the signs used on ski slopes.
However, you can start by teaching them the piste colours, so they do not head onto terrain that is too difficult for them when skiing independently. Depending on their ability, explain that they can use pistes marked with green and/or blue circular signs.
You can also teach them to slow down when they see an orange safety net or a triangular sign, without necessarily going into detail about the meaning of every individual sign.
Rule 7: “If I get lost, I stop”
Despite taking every precaution, one of your children may get separated from you, particularly when the slopes are busy. This is a situation worth preparing for in advance to avoid everyone panicking.
Consider creating a small card with your contact details and placing it in your child's ski jacket pocket. Then explain: “if you can no longer see us, don't carry on by yourself; stop and wait for us to come and find you” and “if someone comes to help you, give them the card”.
Teaching children ski safety: key points to remember
To help your children remember the essential safety rules, keep the following points in mind:
do not overwhelm them with information; choose the 5 to 8 most important rules;
use short sentences and simple words;
make sure your child has understood by asking them to repeat the rules in their own words;
repeat and practise the instructions regularly;
lead by example as a parent, older brother or sister, uncle, aunt or other adult.
With these tips, everyone should feel more confident and relaxed on the ski slopes. However, remember to be patient and supportive: children do not absorb everything straight away and are less aware of potential dangers. It is also your role to guide them so that each rule gradually becomes an automatic habit.
