La Plagne for Families & Kids

La Plagne does its best to be a family-friendly resort. You will find a number of childcare options for all ages, many offering a great programme of sports and fun activities to keep your little ones busy. We recommend that you book well in advance and find out what the price includes (ie meals, transport to and from accommodation, excursions, etc). Some companies may request medical/vaccination records, so be prepared with all relevant documents when you arrive. ... see "La Plagne Childcare" for more

With 6 different villages to choose from you are sure to find plenty to keep the children entertained in La Plagne. Obviously the main activities in winter are skiing and snowboarding and there are a number of ski schools who offer kids' lessons and may also arrange child-minding, pick-up services, and other activities. On top of skiing, many of the other winter pursuits such as snowshoeing and tobogganing are also suitable for children and great fun for the whole family. ... see "La Plagne Activities - Families & Kids" for more

Most ski teachers wouldn’t recommend starting skiing before the age of three or four at the earliest. The right age will vary from child to child, and depends upon the child’s strength, co-ordination and attitude. For this age group skiing should remain a play activity, so don't expect a young child to ski all day - a couple of hours is ample.

There are ski schools in each resort of La Plagne offering group and private lessons for children. The ESF also has a "Jardin des Neiges" at each level, where children from age 3 upwards can take their first steps on skis in perfect safey. ... see "La Plagne Skiing for Children" for more

France divides its school holidays into a regional timetable to ensure that the entire country doesn't go on holiday at once - however this staggered system can mean that some months (particularly February) can be busy from beginning to end as one region after another arrives in resort! Planning ahead can help you avoid the crowds...

• Zone A - Caen, Clermont-Ferrand, Grenoble, Lyon, Montpellier, Nancy-Metz, Nantes, Rennes & Toulouse
• Zone B - Aix-Marseille, Amiens, Besançon, Dijon, Lille, Limoges, Nice, Orléans-Tours, Poitiers, Reims, Rouen & Strasbourg
• Zone C - Bordeaux, Créteil, Paris & Versailles

• When taking babies and toddlers on a ski holiday, you will need to take special precautions against the altitude, sun and cold.



• As you drive up to the resort, the rapid drop in air pressure may cause problems for a young child’s ears. Take a 15 minute break on the road up to the resort, and give young children a drink or something to suck to help them equalise the pressure in their ears.



• Paediatrician Nathalie Blot suggests not taking a child under one to above 1200m altitude. A baby may suffer acclimatisation problems due to the drop in air pressure and decrease in oxygen level. La Plagne villages lie between 1800-2100m, and a baby cannot always equalise the pressure in his or her ears as easily as an adult. The local doctor recommends taking the journey up the mountain to the resort slowly.



• She strongly advises against taking any child under three years on a gondola lift as they find the changes in altitude too sudden.



• The cold is another danger for very small children, whose temperature regulation systems are not yet fully developed. Waterproof boots, good quality mittens and ears protection are essential to protect from frostbite. Do not take a baby skiing with you on your back – immobilised, he will quickly lose heat, and the risk of collisions or falls on the piste is always present.



• Remember children lose heat faster than adults so dress according to the weather conditions and make provision for it changing - hats, waterproofs and gloves are essentials. Helmets are recommended for skiing and boarding too.



• Remember to protect your child's eyes and skin from the sun - not only are the infra-red and UV rays less filtered by the atmosphere at altitude, but 85% of the rays are reflected by the snow. Use category 3 or 4 UV sunglasses/goggles, and reapply SPF30 suncream at least every two hours.



• It's a good idea to have a contact phone number and address in your child's pocket in case you become separated on the mountain.