On 9/6/05, Dana Dorsett <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> FULL DAY LESSON???  For a 7 and a 10 year old? > >  I'm doubtful that it'll be easy to find a ski school that would even take> that on, but it seems like really lousy idea.  Try a 1 or 2 hour lesson, let> them try it out a bit on their own, take breaks at will and try to keep it> upbeat. Full-day lesson/abandonment for kid first-timers sounds like a> recipe for evoking the "daddy, mommy I HATE YOU!" response for a lot of kids> in that age range. But I s'pose it beats a full day lesson with mommy &> daddy as instructors…  It'll be much better if they have some peers to play> with in a non-instruction setting too. Good luck! 
Why not?  @ Boogersush, I taught 7-12 yr.-olds ("Sugarbears"). Friends of mine taught 5(4?)-6 yr. olds ("Minibears").  I actuallydid, too, on New Year's.  I had served as DD, so I wasn't hungover,but still, I hadn't slept more than an hour or two.  Anyways, afull-day lesson is hardly a lousy idea.  Most kids don't interpret itas abandonment.  Of course a good instructor and fun peers help, butI'm sure that there are plenty of instructors who know how tointegrate fun with learning.  One reason why lessons are a better ideathan none is that it minimizes the kid's frustration level, which canquickly take the fun out of a day.  They usually still have time afterthe day is over to ski a few runs with the 'rents.  Get thefirst-timer excited about taking the lesson.  He or she will be taught"by a real pro."  And remind the it that it will be with other kidswho are exactly in the same situation as first-timers.  Comfort innumbers and all that.  For most kids I think lessons are the bestroute.  Of course a good ski school helps, but my year of takinglessons via Brattleboro's after-school program was at Maple Valley,and I had a great time.
El Scorpion

caveat lector

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