I have a little skier that’s started at age 3. I think the first thing you need to accept is that it’s not really going to be “fun” in the traditional sense of the word. At age 3, she would get tired and bored after just a few runs. At age 4, she could hang for maybe 2-3 hrs. Now she’s 6 and she can ski for a whole day but she gets colder and needs more breaks than the older kids. Little kid gear isn’t as nice or as warm, and that small body gets cold a lot faster than ours.

If you and DH want to enjoy yourself, you should put her in daycare. And there’s no need to fight with the Presidents’ Day crowds to spend a few hours on the bunny slope with a 3 year old!

Also highly recommend a harness. Just having the handle is really useful because you will be picking her up a lot.

We started at 5 for skiing but 4 for ice skating. Made skiing much easier.

3 is young and challenging with coordination. We waited till DS was 5 and taught him ourselves (we are both skiers). I think 4 might be good to start 1/2 day kids ski school.

My daughter started almost right when she turned 3 and this is her third season, and she's been excited each time. The first season was group preschool lessons at a local ski hill (I'm not in DC) that were part indoors and part outdoors with parent involvement. She has only ever gone skiing at that small ski hill for just an hour or less at a time. There have been a few times where she's gotten cold or her boots didn't fit right that day or something and we just go home. It's never been a big pressure situation. Not sure if any of that has made a difference, but like I said, she has liked skiing from day 1.

An older 3 year old is fine. I'd do a a ski school if he's comfortable being dropped off and then ski with him later in the day. I like the ski harnesses and edgie wedgie's that people use. Once your child picks it up they will love it! Good luck and fwiw my brother started at 2. He used to nap on the lunch table and he is an incredible skier.

Where are you going? 3 is definitely not too young but I personally wouldn't want to spend my President's Day weekend teaching my 3-year old. Deer Valley has an awesome 3-year old program where they get an hour of a private lesson per day plus they spend the rest of the day in their day care center, which is nice. Win for all. For reference, I taught both my kids to ski at 2.5, but from 2.5-4 we never skied longer than 2 hours per day and it wasn't very fun for me as the teacher, but now they are fantastic skiers and both have competed in various snow sports.

With a kid not school age - I would not go the most crowded weekend - Pres day and instead go mid week for lower crowds. That's me personally. When my kids were younger we used to pair it with a place like massanutten or camelback and do the water park too. lots of hot chocolate. My kids didn't start til 4 but you and your husband are bigger skiiers than us so I'm surprised you would go pres day weekend - that's like a rookie mistake LOL.

Wait a year. And as previous posters have said, make sure they're warm, can move in the equipment, and don't make it last too long. First time on the mountain on a vacation weekend may be overwhelming. And don't force them out in wind or heavy snow.

Also, consider putting your child in lessons. Seeing their peers and working with an instructor can be a better learning environment. Then ski with them a bit after and have them show you what they learned.

I’d wait another year.

At age 3, my kids still had fun in the ski nursery, playing games with the other kids while spouse and I skied. You can still have a good vacation.

Also, it’s one thing to introduce skiing to a young child and another to expect him to tolerate several days of it. Start slow, like one morning and see how it goes before you add an additional day.

If you are going to start at 3, make sure he is fully potty trained or that will be a big pain to come off the mountain and try to derobe in a hurry. Offer a good reward for an hour or so of effort (like hot cocoa). If he is the kind of kid who is self conscious or hard on himself, wait - you don’t want him discouraged if his first experience is a lot of falling.

Make sure that they are warm - proper clothing and properly fitted boots, and lots and lots of cocoa. Do not underestimate how much a cold and wet experience will color their perception of skiing forever after.

On a holiday weekend with a three year old none of you will have fun. Save your money and go next year on a weekday.

- skiing family

My kids started ice skating first at this age, helps with balance.
Tow ropes at bunny slopes are great, really lets them learn on their own. Just teach them the basics, "french fries, pizza", etc.

My kids are older and ski instructors at 15. They love the sport.

Three is young but not out of the question. I wouldn't do it on a holiday weekend, though. It will be too crowded and there will be too much waiting around.

I would take a vacation day and go midweek. One great day at this age would be plenty.

I would recommend waiting another year. 4 is optimal, less chance of meltdowns because they are cold/don't like helmet and equipment etc.

Dh and I are big skiers. Our older child is 3 and we are debating taking him skiing for the first time presidents weekend, but not sure what the right age is to start. What’s the best age that he’ll be excited, not scared, and will want to do it a few days in a row? We are not planning to do more than bunny slopes or rope tows with him at this point. How did you get your kids to like skiing?

I was so young when I learned, I barely remember it, but I was probably 4 or 5. Is LO too young?