Cross-country skiing with your child

1. put on proper clothes

You've probably been there before - you and your kids are going to spend a few hours outdoors only to hear ”Mum/Dad, I'm cold” a few minutes later. To avoid this and make sure you stay warm on the slopes, it's important to put on enough clothes. Use the layer-on-layer principle and also check out our tips on how to dress for cross-country skiing.

2. Let it take time

Once you're warm and cosy, it's time to introduce the children to the equipment. How it feels to put on the ski boots and how it feels to stand on the skis and hold the poles. It's important to allow some time for this - don't rush!

3. start with the most basic

Once the equipment is on, you can finally hit the trails. The first thing to do is to get the children used to the basics - finding their balance, travelling straight ahead and braking.

Firstly, it is important to familiarise children with the basics - balance, glide and braking

When it comes to the latter, braking, we recommend that you teach them to sit on their bums. Don't try to get them to brake with the poles, for example. There is a risk that they will place the poles in front of them, which can cause them to stop suddenly and the poles to hit their stomachs. As you teach children to sit down when braking, you should also teach them to stand up on the track on their own. This is also beneficial in case they fall. Which they will of course do several times.

4. Make skiing a fun adventure

Children are notoriously impatient. That's why it's easy for an aimless skiing trip to become boring. So make sure you turn your cross-country skiing trip into a fun adventure. Skiing should be playful! To make skiing more fun, you can set a goal - how far will you go? You can also stop and play a game with or without skis. Another tip is to ”ski” off-trail, in the deep snow and terrain. It's guaranteed to be a fun and playful activity that children will enjoy.

5. take a packed lunch with you

Cross-country skiing takes a lot of energy. Especially if you're doing it for the first time. To be able to refuel with energy, we therefore recommend that you pack a packed lunch. Aim for a shelter or some other cosy place in the forest where you can enjoy some hot chocolate and sandwiches! We hope these tips will help you get out on the trails and make cross-country skiing with the kids a joy!