Many people are put off skiing because of their kids or on the other hand, expect to much of them. This page is to help you know what to expect as a parent and give you some tips on how to make it fun for everyone.

I will discuss runs by name and areas that suit the family best. My kids started skiing at the ages of 3 and 6 and have never looked back, My Son (James) and his Sister (Rebekah) love the sport they I would say are at their best in the snow.

REBEKAH LEARNING AT 3 YEARS OF AGE

WHAT TO WEAR

Kids need to be warm and don't generate as much heat as adults so wrap them up warm. For small children use a one piece suit with thermal gear under or a track suit under. Make Sure they have gloves or for the little ones mittens, a warm hat (we used to have a strap on Rebekah's to keep it on) and a second set of everything for after lunch in case they pee in it or spend all morning lying in the snow.

As they get older use pants and Jacket so they can go to the toilet easier. If you ski more than a few weeks a year buy your own gear, it a lot less hassles that way.

LESSONS FOR KIDS

Falls Creek Snow Sports School runs great kids programs from 3 years of age up, it includes lunches and two lessons a day on the full day program. The real little kids that can't ski yet have their own area near the Cloud Nine building where the new kids centre is.  This area has a conveyer belt to take them up a small slope.  This will be a unique and fun experience for kids.

Don't however just use the ski school spend time skiing with your kids yourself. Never expect to much, take your time and make it fun, I hate seeing parents yelling at kids on mountain.

One trick I used to do with the kids when they were small was to have them ski between my legs hanging their arms over my poles when they were tired or scared. They soon progressed to skiing holding hands and now well I will never catch up with them.

For the first few years ski poles just get in kids way, they don't need them. Leave them behind they are just clutter.

REBEKAH HAVING FUN

IS IT SAFE FOR KIDS

To say there is no risk is to lie, the fact is skiing is a dangerous sport, but kids will hurt themselves in the street, at home, on their bikes etc so skiing in reality is no different to all the other fun things they do.

You can get helmets for kids to protect their heads. My kids wont ski without their helmets now as they ski in very dangerous terrain but even a beginner can suffer head injuries. Get the kids a helmet, its just not worth the risk and regardless of the risk they will be warmer and their goggles will stay on better. The biggest danger to kids is actually other skiers hitting them, they very rarely cause self injury, they are a lot lower to the snow and lighter so when they fall its not as hard as when adults do.

Just keep them warm the most painful thing for kids is being cold, they don't generate as much body heat as we do.

IN FULL FLIGHT IN THE FOX TRAIL

WHERE TO SKI WITH KIDS

Once kids are confident at skiing all over the mountain but in the first weeks the Playground at the top of Eagles Lift, Wombats, Drovers Dream and Highway and Main Street are great.  Falls Creek is a huge area and the kids will have a ball but if they are under 10 years of age they need to ride with an adult on the lifts.

A great spot to get kids this year is in the Bowl itself as they are creating Australia's first snow fun park there this season with tube sliding, and Snow Bikes.

JAMES AND HIS MATE WHEN HE WAS 6

Skiing for kids is a great holiday, it takes them into a new environment that is unlike any other, they meet heaps of friends and just love to ski and ski.

If you have any questions on taking kids to the snow just E-Mail me. If you are heading to Falls Creek as of 2000 they introduced the Free Shuttle service so accommodation anywhere on the Shuttle Route allows easy access to Halley's for kids. This has made the morning routine for families so much easier.

JAMES LEARNING AT 6, IT TOOK HIM ALL MORNING

Enjoy yourself and always remember, when your kids are having fun in the snow so will you, don't forget to take time out for lunch with the kids so they recover and never forget to make at least one Snowman each and every year.

ADDITIONAL ADVICE FROM THE MUMS OF FALLS CREEK

I got this article from the Falls Creek web site, it has some very good advice

TIPS FROM LOCAL MUMS

Thank you for your interest in our beautiful village and our home. Visiting the snow, even for a few days, can be a daunting journey...especially if you are travelling with children. We hope that the following information will come in handy. 

TRAVELLING BETWEEN MT BEAUTY AND FALLS CREEK:

The road from the base of the mountains to Falls Creek is full of twists and turns. We suggest if your children are prone to car sickness...

allow some fresh air into the car
put away the Game Boys and books and get the children to look out the window
carry a sick bag or container and wipes
some of our children even wear their paint smocks for the journey up & down
have a change of clothes handy

get your children to look out for kangaroos in the lower sections. Half way up they should spot Bogong Village (a beautiful spot to take a break by the lake) and the ‘orange’ bridge. In the final stages look out for the overtaking lane, wombats and lyre birds. Once you reach Howman's Gap you are on the home stretch.

Another activity to get your children looking out the window is to get them to spot the little ‘stone towers’. These ‘rocks stacked on rocks’ have magically appeared all up the road over the past few years. No one knows how they get there. Perhaps they were built by the Mountain Rock Gnomes. See how many your children can spot. 

WHAT TO WEAR:

Children should ALWAYS dress as you would like to be dressed and then some!

Snow to children is not just for walking and skiing / boarding on. It is for rolling in, throwing, digging, eating. Keeping that in mind ask yourself if their clothing will withstand the elements.

Their clothes must be warm and protective

Layer their clothing. Several thin layers trap air and if they are made of material that will stay warm, even when wet, they are better than a couple of thick bulky layers. The number of insulating layers they wear depends on the weather and the activity they are participating in. Manufactured fibres such as polypropylene and fibre pile are even more protective than wool.

   Singlet 
   Thermal leggings 
   Skivvy with a high roll neck 
   Polar fleece jumper or vest 
   Water resistant and wind proof jacket and pants, 
   Water resistant gloves (you can not hire gloves due to health regulations) 
   Beanie 
   Helmet (can be hired from most ski hire outlets) 
   ALWAYS make them wear eye protection (sunglasses or goggles) 
   Neck warmers (not scarves as the can unravel and get caught in machinery) 

Have a change of clothing handy (especially gloves and socks / leggings). If your accommodation is not easily accessible you can keep spare items in a locker which you can hire from Snowsports at the top of the Bilia Bullet Chairlift. 
For the older children bring some large rubber dishwashing gloves. On those wet days put rubber gloves over dry ski gloves and pull the jacket cuff over the glove to seal it. Ski gloves are water resistant not water proof. 

Lip cream, sun block in handy pocket tubes and tissues 
Put a lolly treat (chocolate, jubes) in their pocket 
Buy or hire good walking boots. Rubber boots will keep out the wet however will not protect your child from the cold. 

CLOTHING TIPS:

Label all clothing with the name of the child and with your accommodation name or mobile number. If you are renting clothing and equipment bring some ready made stickers with you and attach them to the inside of the clothing.

Get a piece of wool or elastic and tie a glove to each end. Put the gloves on your child with the wool or elastic behind them. Put on their jacket. When they take their jacket off the gloves stay threaded through the sleeves.

Do not dry gloves by pulling the inside lining out as it is very difficult to get the lining back into position.

To pull a wet glove off hold the glove fingertips and gently pull. This often prevents the lining from coming out with the hand.

Teach your child to avoid touching the inside of goggles (especially new ones). Inside of goggles are easily scratched and will therefore fog.

If you are travelling with toddlers we do have two supermarkets in Falls Creek that stock baby needs such as nappies and wipes. Keep in mind that the price will be higher than your local supermarket.

When your children are wearing ski boots or walking boots pull the pant leg over the boot. Most pants will have a ‘powder cuff’ elasticised lining that goes over the boot to keep the snow out. 

EQUIPMENT:

Hardware items such as skis and boots should always be fitted by a professional. 

Smaller children do not require ski poles. 

Plastic skis and boots are good for toddlers to walk around in the flat areas. Many local mothers have their children in ‘hard boots and skis’ around 2 years old. We suggest you contact a ski hire outlet for professional advice.

Helmets are a must

Label all ski equipment 

PLAYING IT SAFE:

Young children should be in the care of an adult rather than an older child.

If you are not skiing / boarding together then be sure your children know where or how they can find you.

Having a name tag (name, accommodation, mobile number) can assist Ski Patrol locate you should one of your children be lost or injured. Explain to your children that if you become separated they should ask the nearest member of staff (i.e. lift attendant) to call Ski Patrol. You do the same and Ski Patrol Base will match you up.

Skiing or boarding with a child in a backpack / front pack is not permitted. Lift access will be denied to those who intend to ski in this manner. 

Review the trail map with older children so they are familiar with the runs and lifts.

Ensure your children stop for fluids, snacks, food and toilet breaks. Watch for their tired signs, don’t ever push them when they are tired and never let them ski out of their limitations.

Place your children in Snowsports School (Ski School). Not only are they meeting other children they will learn in the safest and most enjoyable environment. Parents tend to get too stressed.

Educate your children on village traffic. Oversnow vehicles and skidoos take time to stop and turn (Oversnow often have to zigzag on the road) and should be treated with respect.

Allow time. Getting children dressed and moving them around the village requires patience and time. Keep this in mind if your children are planning to have a lesson.

If a child is suffering from cold hands do not put them under hot water. Cup your hands around your child’s hands and blow or place their hands under their armpits.

Toboggans can be dangerous and are responsible for many serious injuries when not controlled. Use only plastic toboggans and use only in the designated area near Windy Corner and supervise children at all times. If you are using the toboggan purely to transport toddlers through the village firmly hold the rope at all times. Toboggans are not permitted on the ski lifts.

Snowball fights are great fun however educate children to avoid throwing snow in someone’s face and only let them engage in a snowball fight with a willing participant (surprise attacks on people walking past are seldom appreciated and attacks on vehicles on the road can cause an accident or, as we have witnessed, break windshields). Don’t let it be a costly activity by causing property damage or injury.

Transporting children around the village is made easier with the free shuttle service. When you arrive grab a timetable from Oversnow or your lodge. The vehicles are not particularly fast but they give you the opportunity to sit back and relax. The shuttle operates to a simple timetable and also has express runs operating during peak times to get visitors to ski lessons. 

The village is often sheltered from extreme elements and conditions around your accommodation are often not a good indication on what to expect at the top of the mountain. Our local tourist radio, 88fm, is recorded around 7am each morning and is a vital source of information. You will hear temperature, wind chill, wind, forecasts, what has been groomed, what to wear …. everything for you to make a decision on how to dress your children and even if the conditions are suitable for you to send your children up to the top of the mountains. 88fm can often be heard in Mt. Beauty for those planning to travel up during the day and comes across loud and clear in Falls Creek. Tune in.

We hope this site has been of some help. Enjoy your stay in our community. 

Regards,

The local mothers of Falls Creek