AVANT & APRÉS SKI:

Where are you heading off to?
Courchevel 1850, in Les Trois Vallées, France. 

You love to ski and regularly head off on family trips - what are your tips for taking small children skiing for the first time?  
My husband and I have always loved skiing, so we went as a family for the first time as soon as my eldest son, Caspian could walk. I would say the most important thing if you’re going when they’re very little, is to keep it short and sweet. Keep it fun, and don’t forget to go out armed with chocolate in your pockets. When my children were very young, they liked to stop often. Make sure you choose snowsuits that are easy to get in and out of for loo breaks. I find ski school or having an instructor is always a good idea, because it keeps them safe. Lastly, know when they’ve had enough and call it a day.  

What do you look for when picking the perfect family ski destination?    
The reason I love Courchevel is because I grew up going there with my family. Most of their hotels and chalets are ‘ski-in, ski-out’ so you don’t have to walk for miles with skis on your back. Good food is a must for me if you’re skiing all day, and it’s the only time of the year that I have about five hot chocolates a day.

What do you love so much about skiing as a family?    
I love having time as a family, where I forget about my mobile phone and try and keep it on aeroplane mode when I’m with the children. It’s a lovely family holiday because everybody is so active, and there’s something about the mountain air.

What activities do you partake in other than skiing with the little members of the family?   
Anything that’s on offer really, I love sledging with the kids, and last year we took husky rides around the slopes. Every day we go into town for a crêpe, and they also have lovely horse and carts riding around the village. My children love building snowmen, but my favourite thing to do in Courchevel has to be the Indian village, where they get to do archery with a famous man called Grey Wolf.

What clothing do you pack for the children? 
Layers! We always start with thermals, and then my children like to wear t-shirts under their ski suits. I always take a little backpack to keep their jumpers, sunglasses and extra gloves. My children love wearing fleeces on the mountains, and we always pack two ski suits. An extra luxury for me would be hand warmers. 

With the high altitude, dry air and plentiful exercise, it’s easy for little ones to become dehydrated. Do you arm yourselves with snacks or plan regular pit stops?    
I definitely pack snacks and a bottle of water, but my daughter likes to stop for very regular pit stops! I’m not sure if hot chocolate counts as a hydrator, but we do drink as much water as possible, and I often pack a humidifier so the room doesn’t get too dry in the evening. 

Do you have any specific skincare products or health supplements you take to help them combat the cold?    
Things I always forget, but are a must, are sun cream, lip salve, and plenty of pocket tissues. In addition, I’m obsessed with Childs Farm cream, which gets rid of eczema in days. I layer on Bamford Baby Oil after bathtime, and rub Snufflebabe on their chests. I’ve always got Pommade Divine in my bag, and my new wonder barrier cream is Tiny Troubles. I also love a good natural sleep spray to calm them down at the end of a busy day.

How do you spend your evenings after a long day on the slopes? 
We usually go for a swim and then jump into PJs for a movie and room service. 

Are Scarlet and Caspian confident on the slopes?   
Very, almost too confident! 

Little Atticus is going to be one whilst you are away -  has he ever experienced snow?    
He’s actually experienced quite a lot of snow this year in the UK, it was snowing this morning, but I can’t wait to see his face when we’re up the mountains. I bought an all-in-one Mini Rodini panda suit that I think he’s going to live in. He’s not very steady on his feet, but I might take him on the magic carpet to get him started on skis, this is where both my other children learnt to ski.

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