Children's delights

The mountains are not just for adults. Resorts are increasing their efforts to welcome little ones and to propose age-appropriate activities, giving parents the time to take full advantage of their holidays.

From the youngest age

Feet in the snow, cheeks pink from the cold, tiny tots discover an indescribable delight in plunging their mittened hands into fresh snow. Children can discover magic moments like these at the nursery, or, with their new friends, experience their first descent in a sledge and first snowball fight under the watchful eyes of their caregivers. Veritable mountain crèches, these day care centres propose hours adapted to parents’ needs. The kids won’t want to miss a moment, alternating safe outdoor activities with times to relax and warm up indoors.

Snow kindergarden

From 3 to 5 years of age, snow kindergarden welcomes your children. Veritable ski school for the little ones, it is an ideal opportunity for an introduction to winter sports. Magic carpets, handle tows, inflatable structures and button lifts are supervised by French ski school instructors. Snowplow, full throttle, triangle drills, parallel or on-the-bum stops ; here there is no need for poles or a pass, and bigger kids can even practice for their oursons, flocons and premières étoiles.

Growing up on the mountain

From the age of 5 until autonomy on the slopes, there are a multitude of activities :

• The sledge slope : each resort has one or more slopes of varying difficulty. Slopes are often bounded by inflatable safety devices, and are isolated from the ski slopes in order to keep children safe.

• Les petits curieux (curious kids) discover the mountains through educational walks and hikes. These short walks have an environmental theme, allowing little ones to come face-to-face with the richness of the natural world, in the hope of meeting wildlife creatures. Under snow-covered evergreens, kids can follow the tracks of hares, grouse and martens. From 4 years of age, lace up the snowshoes.

• Les petits riders. Individually or in a group, from 1-5 hours per day, kids can learn to ski at their own rhythm. Supervised by certified instructors of the French ski school, they start out in reserved areas before hitting the slopes.

Time for family

Relaxed and rested after a day of contemplating the landscape, or tired after a few runs down the slopes, parents are reunited with their children, animated and filled with wonder. The evening is a time for sharing. From the biggest to the smallest, each has had a very different day, but in the end, the mountains bring out the same emotions in everyone. A sledge ride for the youngest has the same effect as the first trip on the chairlift for the older kids. Mum’s progress on the slopes is every bit as important as the children’s, and the fresh air has everyone agreed on a good night’s sleep.

First slide, first turns, first snowball fight, first sight of animal tracks, first tumble, first igloo, first torchlight ski, first heated outdoor pool…in the mountains, at every age, each day is a first !

  Famille Plus Montagne