How to Keep Calm When Skiing with Kids

Family ski holidays are meant to be magical – but anyone who’s wrestled with ski boots, missing gloves, and pre-lesson chaos knows they can also test your patience as much as your balance. That’s where mindset matters.

In this guest post, The Ski Mindset Coach™, Kate Casali, shares her expert tips for keeping calm when skiing with children – from managing morning mayhem to finding those small, joy-filled moments that make family holidays unforgettable. Whether you’re a first-time ski parent or a seasoned pro, her advice will help you swap stress for smiles and turn chaos into connection. Because family holidays are meant to be memorable, not meltdown-inducing.

Picture it: the smell of croissants wafting through the chalet, one child insisting their ski socks have “wrinkles” and can’t possibly be worn, another unable to find a glove, and someone - usually you - already wondering how many layers you can wear before perspiring into a hot mess. The excitement is there, but so is the tension.

Skiing with children is one of those beautifully chaotic experiences that can make your heart swell and your patience evaporate, often within the same minute. Yet with the right mindset, it’s entirely possible to stay calm, connected, and genuinely enjoy the week.

As a Mindset Coach who’s worked closely with ski instructors and hundreds of families in the Alps, I’ve seen countless parents start the day with the best intentions, only to feel frazzled before the first lift. The difference between a chaotic day and a joyful one isn’t the snow conditions, it’s your mindset. Easy for her to say, I hear you mutter!

Parents (especially mums) often carry the invisible load of “making it magical.” You want everyone to be happy, safe, fed, dressed, and on time. The problem? That pressure often translates into over-preparing, micromanaging, or snapping at the very people you’re trying to create memories with.

But as we all know deep down, children don’t need perfect, they need present.

When you notice that rising urge to control every detail, who’s got their lift pass, who’s had enough porridge, who’s wearing the wrong gloves, take a breath. Remind yourself that calm energy is contagious. Again, easier said than done, but hear me out.

Your children won’t remember whether you made first lifts; they’ll remember the hot-chocolate stop where everyone laughed until their marshmallows sank.

So, drop the perfection goggles. Let the day unfold. It might not go exactly to plan, but that’s often where the best stories begin.

Every ski parent knows the pre-lesson chaos: missing helmets, sudden hunger, boots that “don’t feel right,” ski gear zipped up and ready, only for someone to announce they need the loo. These moments can tip even the most patient person into meltdown territory.

When it happens (and it will), try this simple mantra: anchor before you avalanche.

Before reacting, pause. Take one deep breath. And smile… even if it’s through gritted teeth. This two-second reset signals calm to your nervous system and to your kids.

You can even turn the chaos into connection. Create a family pre-slope ritual; a quick group high-five, a silly chant, or ten seconds of quiet breathing together before stepping outside. It sets the tone that skiing is about teamwork, not tension.

Once you’re finally skiing, it’s tempting to stay in “parent mode”, checking, managing, coaxing. But sometimes, the best thing you can do for everyone is to take a solo run (not to the next valley!) and reset.

Think of it as the oxygen-mask principle: calm, happy parents fuel calm, happy children. Even one lift ride alone (or a quiet glide down while the kids are in ski school) can shift your entire energy.

When things feel overwhelming mid-mountain, use a mini reset: pause at the top of the slope, take three slow breaths, and notice the view. Remember why you’re here; fresh air, family time, and the simple joy of sliding on snow.

And when someone inevitably takes a tumble, pause first. Check they’re okay, then model calm rather than panic. Showing your child that it’s safe to slow down, take a breath, and try again teaches them more about resilience than any pep talk ever could.

Evenings in the Alps are made for reflection: a warm bath, a story before bed, a glass of something chilled by the fire. Use that time to wind down and reframe the day.

Ask gentle questions: What made us laugh today? What did we handle better than yesterday? What would we like to try differently tomorrow?

By focusing on effort and progress, you teach resilience and turn small mishaps into learning moments. You’ll go to bed with a sense of calm satisfaction rather than exhaustion from trying to control the uncontrollable.

The best family ski days aren’t perfect, they’re present. They’re filled with tiny, imperfect moments that somehow become the ones you talk about for years.

So next time you feel the morning rush building or a wobble on the slopes, take a breath, reset, and remember: your calm is the anchor your family needs.

When you stop striving for perfection, you make room for presence, and that’s when the best memories begin.

Kate Casali is a Certified Mindset Coach and EFT Practitioner based in the French Alps. A former ski industry professional and founder of The Ski Mindset Coach™, she helps skiers overcome fear, rebuild confidence, and rediscover joy on the mountain.