For many people (including youngsters) the winter months are spent indoors, hiding from the cold; during this time that is often spent immobile in front of a computer or TV there is the great potential for gaining weight. Weight gain is especially likely because of the range of foods that often show up during this time of year. Rather than let a child spend their winter-break being sedentary and unproductive, parents may prefer to let their children spend some time outdoors exploring the winter landscape and where they can learn to be comfortable on the ski slopes.

The benefits of learning to ski include the fact that it is something that the whole family can do together. A family ski trip can be a wonderful way for parents and kids to have fun together. Furthermore, it is an enjoyable and effective form of exercise that can help families to live healthier lifestyles. It is one of those sports in which people may be able to participate well into their senior years. Another benefit comes in the form of relief from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) that may afflict some individuals at this point in the year. Going outside and participating in a strenuous and enjoyable activity may help with this problem. Aside from these health benefits, attending a ski-camp allows for bonding and relationships to be formed by participants of all ages, including children.

Professional ski lessons are the most effective means for kids to learn how to handle themselves on the slopes. For one thing it prevents the bad habits that may be difficult to break later on. Parents may have these habits themselves and therefore not qualified to properly teach, or simply do not have the time to be as thorough as a professional instructor will be. Skiing instruction can be complex and may involve teaching the student about how to angle skis, how to assume the correct posture as well as how to better distribute weight. A family trip will be much more relaxing and pleasurable if everyone is able to go out and ski rather than spend much of the time learning how to do it. Professional instructors can guide their students through a self-paced course of learning that will have them enjoying their winter break while they learn how to use their skis.

Parents who want their children to not only have fun but who want them to get as much as possible from ski camp during their winter break should ensure that the camp has experienced instructors. The knowledge of the instructor obviously has a lot to do with how proficient kids become at skiing. Parents will also want to ensure that class sizes are small so that each student gets individual attention from the instructor.

While it may take many winters of practice to become a master of the slopes, learning the basic coordination and techniques may take only few hours of learning. With a little practice and effort a youngster may turn into a proficient skier fairly quickly.