Private nannies are a good option to consider if you are staying in a chalet with your family or a group of friends. They can make your holiday and give you as much skiing time as your legs can cope with.

You can expect the Nannies to come to your chalet armed with arts & crafts, games and bags of enthusiasm to keep your children entertained all day or after ski school if they are a little bit older.

There are a huge range of Nanny companies available in most European resorts. So, to help you decide whether this option is for you, I asked Alexandra Chapman from Snow Angel Nannies a few questions:

What are the most important things to check with a private nanny service before booking with a company?

That the nannies are qualified, CRB checked and carefully selected and interviewed by the company.

What age range will Nannies cater for and will the look after a mixed age group with older children?

For a Snow Angel Nanny looking after all age ranges is a joy, It is no problem to have differing ages in the group so long as the number of children fit within our ratios.


Will the Nannies drop some of the children to ski school while looking after the younger children?

Yes they will. In fact a trip to ski school can be made quite fun with hot chocolate stops or snowman building on the way back!


How many children will one nanny look after?

All companies have different ratios they work to, it is important to ask this at the time of booking. Snow Angel Nannies works on a 1:1 under a year 1:2 from a year to 2 years and 1:4 for older children.


What type of activities can I expect my children to be doing?

You should expect a multitude of activities based around your children's preferences and ages. Some examples include Snow sculpturing, sledging, scrapbook making, treasure hunts, painting/drawing, reading, singing, snowy adventures and many more!

So if this sounds the perfect solution then start now contacting the companies as the popular skiing times get booked up early!

NipperGrip: Teach your kids to ride a bike

The warmer weather has encouraged us to dust off the bikes and start cycling as a family again. On a particularly busy afternoon at Clumber Park, I noticed all the little ones out trying to cycle on two wheels and many older one on stabilisers that really need to just go for it. I remember teaching my two how to cycle on a big open park in just the same way, but running alongside side, holding the seat and letting go (usually at the wrong time). I then remembered Katherine from NipperGrip recommending its uses that weren't just skiing.

So if you have bought a NipperGrip during the last ski season on thinking of doing so for next year's season remember that it can also be used to teach your child to ride a bike and swim (without the reins on!)

The harness fits snugly and securely with a handle on both the front and back so you can run alongside your child and guide them as they build their confidence just to cycle.

The key to teaching them is to have as big a space as possible and just go! At least using a harness you wont be running along bent over like i had to! Wish I had thought of it then!

Buy NipperGrip ski and bike reins

Families on the slopes

The ski season is ending in Europe, so now is the perfect time to organise your next ski holiday. Mountains are definitely at their most enchanting in winter, with stunning snowy scenery. Ski resorts across Europe offer plenty of ski classes to help improve your skiing skills. Most of them speak English and provide everything needed for adults and kids alike. But if you want to be sure of where you should book next year, here is a small selection of the best ski resorts that are best suited for families.

Italy’s reputation for ski holidays is growing year after year. Val di Fassa ski resort is ideal for family holidays. You will find plenty of activities especially for the kids in the famous kids’ club, as well as easy slopes to practice on.

Villars in Switzerland is a friendly resort with one of the most original ski schools. Here you will learn how to ski with short skis. The better you get, the longer the skis you can wear! On top of that, the village is lovely and offers nice relaxing evenings in restaurants.

Austria is not to be missed either. Fieberbrunn is a real hidden gem, that you have to go to at least once in your life and there is plenty to do on and off the slopes. What’s more, the resort isn’t too crowded, even during holidays, so you can enjoy the skiing area in its entirety.

In France, of course, you have a choice to make. More than 40 resorts are supposed to be the best for families and kids. Amongst them, Les Gets in the northern Alps offers a free area called Mappys, especially for kids wishing to live with…. Native Americans! It is by far the most unusual club in the Alps!

Of course this is a just a small list of what there is on offer for families looking to ski in Europe. Plenty of resorts have everything you need for your ski holidays. If you want more tips on booking, where to go to, or what to do in the mountains, just read The Ski Holiday Guide by SkiHorizon.