if you eat the snow, you will not get a gummy

The First Ski Lesson:

• Garmisch, Germany (Bavarian Alps)
  
• 2 full days
• 5, 5-year-old girls and one English-speaking German instructor
• 50+ gummies

Scenes from Day One

The lesson actually started inside, after the groups of older kids headed out to the snow.  Afraid that my presence may cause more harm than good, I kept a safe distance from the lesson and was definitely out of range of the instructor's voice for most of the time.

 
When they moved outside, they spent a good deal of time on one ski.  I also later heard talk of "pizza" and "french fries -- small, medium, and large," which I suppose are ski positions.  At one point I did hear the instructor say, "Don't eat the snow.  If you eat the snow, you will not get a gummy." Poor guy!

 

After lunch they were all able to move independently down a very slight slope, remove one ski without using hands upon reaching the bottom, and then use that ski as an aid in getting back to the starting line, where they were rewarded with gummies.

The ever-so-patient instructor fed them like baby birds.  I am fairly certain that this experienced and patient instructor is what made the difference for all five of these girls.   He gave off a great vibe that he wanted to be here and loved being with these children. (And for my girl, the fact that she had her best little friend by her side was also a success factor.)

I would say that day one was a complete success -- solely judging from the fact that my girl agreed to continue to day two & I didn't hear one complaint.  The instructor made the lesson as much fun as it was instructional, which is exactly what a kid like mine needs in this environment.  There were lots of breaks and snacks in the warm lodge and a bit more "bonus" fun provided courtesy of the instructor. . . scenes from the second day, which includes this bonus, will follow shortly. 

The progress will amaze you.
Okay, so maybe it won't . . . but at least Grandma will be amazed. I mean, how cute is this?