Skiing, hiking, paddleboarding... How can you pass on your passion for the outdoors to your children?

 

You wouldn’t dream of going on a hike for several hours wearing a pair of Stan Smiths. Nor would you put on an itchy wool sweater to keep warm during your ski trips. It’s the same for kids! Take the time to outfit them properly (even though, yes, they grow fast at that age!). Ask a salesperson—ideally one who specializes in the sport—for advice when investing in a good pair of hiking boots (grippy soles, shaft height, etc.). Forget about kick sleds, even for the littlest ones: rent real skis with real bindings. Pack clothes suitable for the temperatures and activities you plan to do (warm, soft, breathable, lightweight…). Comfort and practicality: that’s what we look for for ourselves; let’s apply the same principles to our little ones!

 

Another source of stress that’s easy to eliminate: avoid going against your children’s natural rhythm and unique personalities. Is your little Paul easily intimidated? Take him to fun, gently sloping ski runs (bonus points if you choose one with an extra-cute mascot, like the Saint Bernard from La Rosière). Does Louise have a fear of heights? Opt for hiking trails at the bottom of the valley, not along the ridgeline. Is Tom afraid of water? Start with swimming lessons, then try paddleboarding on a small, calm lake (at Tignes, for example), before taking him to the ocean. Conversely, teach daredevils and adventurers good practices: start your turns well clear of other skiers on the slopes, stay on the hiking trails to prevent soil erosion, etc. And share a “thrill-seeking” moment with them, like an X-treme sledding ride at La Rosière.

 

Finally, it goes without saying: tailor your vacation plans to the ages of your little ones. Sometimes it’ll take you an hour to cover just 20 meters, because you’ll have to stop to look at every pebble and every butterfly. That’s part of the beauty of the outdoors: marveling at what’s right next to us. So don’t set your sights too high in terms of distance, and stay flexible!

 

Hiking with kids sometimes requires a little creativity if you don’t want to hear them whine after just 10 minutes of walking: “Are we almost there?” Or find yourself facing a slope that’s much steeper than your youngest can climb with her tiny legs (map-reading… it’s quite an art).

 

To avoid these hassles, hire a mid-mountain guide! He or she will know how to choose the hike best suited to your family’s fitness level and profile (Dad, Mom, the older kid, the little one, and Grandma, of course). They’ll share fun and fascinating stories about the plants and animals you encounter. They’ll point out the tracks of animals that passed by before you (never underestimate the excitement of a 5-year-old who discovers a wild animal’s droppings in their path).

 

Having someone with you is enough in some cases. But in other cases, you also need to know when to fully entrust the task of passing on your passion to a pro. Take learning an activity like skiing, for example. An instructor knows all the tips and tricks to help your kids improve while having fun and staying in good spirits! Fun vocabulary (“put your skis in a pizza slice shape!”—much more descriptive than “snowplow”); a proven teaching method to help them adopt the correct posture right away; perfect knowledge of the ski area so they can navigate the lifts and slopes suited for kids… And a healthy dose of patience—which you might run out of after a few hours (we won’t judge!).