The mountain offers an ideal environment to involve children and teenagers who, because of school commitments and daily activities, tend to conduct an increasingly sedentary lifestyle and in closed spaces
This article is sponsored by a white horse. Here you will find a more exhaustive explanation.
The arrival of winter also marks the beginning of the first trips to the mountains, the organization of the former ski in the family And the first reflections on where to go to the white week. Going to ski with children is a perfect opportunity to involve children, of all ages, in outdoor activities.
There mountain It offers an ideal environment to involve children and teenagers who, because of school commitments and daily activities, tend to conduct an increasingly sedentary lifestyle and in closed spaces. From the opportunity of ski Or the snowboard on walks in nature, passing through the sled and ice skating, there are many alternatives to choose from to keep young people active and committed and make them live new experiences and in contact with nature.
But how to better enjoy one mountain holiday with the whole family and accompany children to discover the ski slopes? From the choice of the structure to the indications on how to identify the most suitable equipment, up to the benefits of outdoor activities: here are some tips and indications to dispel any doubts on the subject ski and children And organize an unforgettable white week.
Choose a Family Hotel with Ski School
To make the white week an opportunity for leisure and relaxation for the whole family, it is important to start from the choice of accommodation, identifying structures such as i family hotel who can respond well to everyone’s needs. Designed to better accommodate all family members, the Family Hotel provide all the equipment you may need, from the mountain stroller to the bottle warmer, and provide entertainment not only for the little onesas a mini club and the ski school, but also for the older ones, with the Wellness area and organization of mountain excursions and activities of all kinds.
In Italy among the excellence of the sector stands out the White horse to Ortisei, the Family Hotel in South Tyrol several times awarded among the best in the world. With a spectacular view of the Dolomites, it is the ideal place to spend the holiday together with the whole family, with rooms with every comfort, the kitchen ready to fulfill all the requests and an entire department, the Lino Landdedicated to young and old children (starting from the month of life), with areas divided by age, games, a theater for shows and a professional animation staff.
But above all, Ortisei is located in the center of the Dolomiti Superskithe largest ski area in the world. A few steps from the hotel are therefore found 12 ski areas450 ski lifts and the beauty of 1,200 km of slopes.
And don’t worry: the descents are suitable for any type of skier or skierwhether they are beginners or experts, large or small. In particular, the ski school Internal at the hotel will allow your little ones to take your first steps in complete safety together with qualified instructors. An excellent opportunity to have fun with the whole family on the slopes of Val Gardena.
How to prepare for the white week: clothing and equipment
Before arriving in the mountains, and in particular on the ski slopes, you have to better prepare the suitcase of the little ones, especially as regards clothing. Hot and waterproof clothes will be needed, as well as hats, gloves and sunglasses. Ski jackets and snow trousers will serve to keep children dry during descents and games.
As for instead the specific equipment for the slopes -such as skiing, boots and helmet, but also snowshoes and sleds -must be appropriate to the age of children and above all to their size. In the years of growth, when children have to change skis and boots every year, it is preferable rely on rentalswhere specialized personnel are able to recommend and identify the most suitable and high quality equipment. Skiing with skis or boots of a wrong size can in fact prove to be not only uncomfortable but above all dangerous.
At the Horse Bianco hotel, for example, it is possible rent all the equipmentthus avoiding making useless purchases and above all avoiding to bring skiing home and other cumbersome material from home. The white horse, for this season, has the spaces enlarged and renewed the equipmentthus allowing everyone to find what they need to spend beautiful days on the snow.
The right age to start skiing
Ski is a sport suitable for everyone, e There is no perfect age To start practicing it. In fact, it depends on the physicality of the child and the girl, as well as on her balance and coordination.
Precisely for this reason, we start to introduce children to skiing From 4 yearsage in which they usually have greater awareness of their body as well as muscle strength and necessary coordination. If you have doubts, contact the instructorswho will be able to explain to you at the best and evaluate the most suitable activities with you with your children.
When you start skiing, in any case, the best place to become familiar with boots and sticks is the Ski school. To the white horse, For example, children are entrusted to the qualified instructors of the ski and snowboarding schools of Ortisei, who guide them from the morning to the afternoon between the reshapes and descents. Day after day, small beginners will learn to control skis, so much so that they perform in the end of the course races.
THE‘learning it is obviously subjective, But in any case it is advisable not to expose the little ones to too difficult slopes, which can not only put them in difficulty from the physical point of view but also block them on a psychological level, limiting their technical progression. Gradually It is the best solution and qualified instructors are the most suitable people to guide learning.
The ski school inside the Cavallino Bianco hotel welcomes children from 3 years old And it stands out precisely for a great attention to the little ones. The first approach to this sport can take place inside the structure on soft rubber mats, where in complete safety they can experience positions (and slip!) having fun.
Only once they are confident with skis and the rest of the equipment, the children are accompanied to the mini-part located right in front of the hotel. Here, parents will greet to be able to participate in groups, based on the level, ski lessons and trying, accompanied by the masters and teachers, the slopes of the Val Gardena. An activity that will bring children to be in a group and socializeas well as a develop autonomy And at the same time attention to others, both fundamental when you ski.
Ski courses for children: better collective or individual?
Ski schools, such as that of the Dolomiti Superski and the internal one to the white horse, offer both individual and group courses, dedicated to young and old.
To choose the best solution, some factors must be taken into consideration. The individual course is more suitable for those looking for targeted and personalized learning or for those who want to perfect their technique. In this case yes recommends booking in advance and to send even before your arrival a request to find out costs and methods.
The course collective Instead it is ideal for those who, like children, are starting from scratch or want to share experience with peers and Create new friends. There are numerous courses available, designed according to theage and of skills already acquiredso that you can possibly improve your skiing activity year after year and always learn new things.
Obviously the number of participants in the course will be restricted and suitable for ensuring the performance of the lessons in safety and to give the instructors the possibility of Follow everyone closely. In any case, teachers will know how to make this experience fun and training.
Does the child have to train before arriving on the slopes?
It is not mandatory to provide for children a particular preparation or some kind of training before arriving on the ski slopes. However, if you want to make the experience even more pleasant and safe, you can first make sure they have one Good general physical condition and do some exercise together to improve balance, as well as legs for legs and ankleslike lunges and steps with semi -piva legs, to get used to the movements with boots and skis. In any case, it is not necessary to be expert athletes before starting: practice and ski lessons are often the best form of preparation.
Why bring children to ski? The benefits
Sciar with the little ones is not only a fun activity, but also an opportunity to seize all the benefits that can bring for the Health – both physical and mental – one open air sportsespecially in the midst of nature, far from smog and pollution, encouraging children to have an active lifestyle even once returned from the white week.
Skiing is a sport that involves the whole body: can help improve cardiovascular functions, the strengthening of the respiratory system and the oxygenation of the muscles.
Ski also requires an important dose of coordination And motor controlstimulating concentration and practice. Teachings that will return useful in everyday life and that will have a positive impact on the basic motor skills of children, such as jumping and running.
As for the benefits psychologicalmotor activity releases endorphins, favoring good mood and helping to reduce anxiety levels. Furthermore, despite being a predominantly individual sport, skiing allows you to make friends, especially in the event that it takes part in group lessons, and helps to relate to others, both on the slopes that once the boots are removed, improving respect and attention.
Finally, skiing teaches important children lessons on safety and respect for the rulesfrom the correct use of the equipment to the rules of conduct to be adopted on the slopes: small and great teachings that can be transferred to the daily life of children.
