How to Evaluate Your Child's Ski Instructor

Since you'll be discouraged from tagging along during the lesson, you'll have to rely on pertinent questions at the end of the lesson to determine if the instructor did a decent job. Or hide behind a tree on the slope and watch.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Find out if the instructor rode the lift with your child at least once. This one simple act shows that the instructor spent some time talking with your child.
2. Make sure the instructor knows your child's name before the lesson begins.
3. Determine what skills your child learned and/or improved upon by asking the instructor for a recap of the lesson.
4. Ask your child if she/he would want to take another lesson with the instructor. However, your child may instinctively say no because they want to ski with you.
5. Ask your child if she/he had a good time.
6. Ski with your child at least one run after the lesson. You may get numerous assurances that your child has improved, but visual proof helps make any determination.

Tips & Warnings

• If the instructor addresses question to your child rather than you when they're first introduced, that's a good sign. You're not being ignored. You're just not taking the lesson.
• Take a moment to chat with the instructor at the end of the lesson. They generally do a good job of summarizing what skills your child improved and what still needs work.

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