Powder Pups (3 months to 4 years)

What we offer

• We offer a full day of activities, 6 days per week
• Your children are collected from your chalet by 9am by our team, leaving plenty of time for you to get older children to the Ski School meeting point and to get yourselves out for a full day on the slopes! Children of all ages are dropped back to their chalets at the end of the day 4.30pm. (These times may vary in resort, but out team will inform you of exact timings on your first night)
• Hot simple lunches on 6 days to appeal to as many children’s tastes as possible ranging from pasta and pizza, to burgers, fish and hot sandwiches. Or for our smallest guests, we make pureés. They’re all fresh – not from jars
• Complimentary nappies and wipes

What kind of activities will my child be doing?

We offer a range of different activities, both outdoors and indoors, that are tailored to the children in the Creches each week, depending on age and ability.

Here are some of the potential activities:

• Sledging
• Snow painting
• Snowball fights
• Nature Walks
• Trips to local facilities
• Taking a ride on a bubble lift or open gondola
• Hot Chocolate trips
• Play Parks
• Sensory play
• Imaginative play
• Crafts – e.g. Salt-dough Christmas decorations
• Soft play centre
• Baking
• Painting

Will my child spend all their time in the den?

We carefully plan and structure our activities based on the children in childcare each week. We aim to be outdoors as much as possible, playing in the snow, sledging, snow painting, nature walks and trips to local facilities are some of the activities we offer. These activities may change depending on the ages and abilities of children each week.

Where are the childcare Dens located?

In Ardent, the pups creche is in Chalet Edelweiss

In Reberty, the pups creche is in Chalet Jazz

Can I pick up my child/baby if I decide to not ski in the afternoon?

Of course you can! We ask that you prearrange this with our childcare team in the morning, as the Pups might be out on a snowy adventure if we aren’t aware in advance, which might make it difficult for us to return your child to you. Please be aware that if you do take them out of childcare for the morning/afternoon we might not be able to arrange for them to re-enter later in the day. Especially if the Pups are off on an excursion.

Will my child be able to have a nap in the day ?

Yes, our days are planned and structured around the children in the creche within that specific week, and childcare staff will attend to the individual needs of your children. At least one member of our staff in the creche is a minimum level 3 qualified childcare nanny, with the rest typically having qualifications or experience in nursery or other child care settings. They have been trained in baby sleep and routines, feeding and hygiene. These integral members of our staff will make sure that your little one is well looked after with all their needs met. Please discuss any specifics with the Childcare Manager in resort, and our team will cater for this.

How are the infants activities balanced with a difference in age and ability?

The week before you arrive in resort, our childcare team will start to plan and organise the activities your child will be doing. We aim to structure our activities around the age and ability of the children in the childcare group that week. For example, if there was a week with mainly infants, we would focus more on sensory play and miss out some of the more physical activities.  And conversely if we were to have a group of mostly toddlers we would be focusing on more outdoors activities. On weeks where there is a wide mix, we may run separate activities for the children, based on their ability and routines.

Can my child ski ?

Some children are ready to ski a few months before our recommended starting age and for them, we offer an additional option called Pups Plus. This option is only available for children over the age of 3 years and 6 months in Ardent or 3 years and 9 months in Reberty.

Pups Plus offers children who are comfortable to start skiing the opportunity before they turn 4. They will be an honorary Powder Hound for the week, with the guarantee that they have a space in Powder Pups if they are struggling.  Whilst this is an option we offer, it is not necessarily one we recommend, and it is very dependent on the child. Skiing can be very physically challenging for even us adults. And for little ones who are potentially experiencing their first time in the snow it can be exhausting, those few months between entering the Hounds club really do make a difference in the child’s energy and ability. If the ESF instructor feels that they are not ready yet, or your child is simply not enjoying it, they have a guaranteed spot in Powder Pups, giving you the reassurance that they will be well looked after. If your child, or the instructor doesn’t feel they are quite ready (this would be the ESF’s decision) there will not be a refund available for the ski lessons.

Just remember that they are young and if you’re in any doubt, there is no harm in leaving it a season.

Nappies and Wipes

It is advisable to pre-book nappies to ensure the correct size is available for you.  You can do this via your Online Booking (once you have received your booking confirmation), by email, or by calling 01684 540333.