It's a Funny Thing
 

by Amy Ohran

Mt. Bachelor Ski and Snowboard

School Director

Spring 2003

The most memorable kid's lessons occur when we create a playful atmosphere in which we emphasize fun. Kids are often nervous about their first lesson experience and will soften if they know that we are focused on fun. You will keep their interest, encourage them to challenge themselves and help them to enjoy snow riding if fun and laughter are the core of your lesson.

One way to create a playful atmosphere is through the use of humor that is appropriate to the age group we are working with. It helps to put things in perspective and can be the best tool to combat tension. Like other areas of our development, our sense of humor develops and changes as we mature.

3-6 Year Olds

Generally appreciate physical humor. Having spent the formative years discerning how the world works, what belongs where, Iearning many, many rules, they will laugh at something that is blatantly out of place. When you put a cone on your head or try to put your skis on your hands,... that's funny. When you put your coat on backwards or fall with extreme physical and vocal exaggeration that's funny.

This is a good way to introduce simple movements and rules. Ask them something like, “Should I ski with my feet crossed like this?" They will love to tell you that you've got it all wrong, and more readily accept and remember the right way. As far as rules go, you might ask, “If someone is in front of me should / just run them over?" They know that's not right, will think it's silly that you asked, and will understand why you are asking them to spread out.

Remember Mr. Noodle on Sesame Street? He is the pinnacle of good 3-6 year old fun. The biggest compliment you can get from these guys? “You're weird!"

7-12 Year OIds

They too will appreciate some old fashioned slapstick comedy, especially involving stunts on skis/snowboards. Their sense of humor has become more complex and they can appreciate more sophisticated comedy. Humor seems to be the way children in this age group primarily communicate with their peers. They will appreciate parody, something mundane that is comically distorted. Drastically change something ordinary and you have a winner. I'm thinking of building jet packs onto my skis so / can go faster." Or, “Wouldn't it be fun to go off that jump and land in marshmallows?" They know that neither of those things are going to happen but will have fun visualizing.

They have an increasing ability to imagine and visualize. "What if” questions such as "What would happen if we built a giant snowman and put him on a pair of skis?" will appeal to their sense of humor. They know we're not going to do that, but can imagine what it would look like.

Teens

Teens can be very tense about their performance and humor is a powerful way to diffuse their apprehension. They will appreciate sarcasm, however, be aware that it shouldn't be directed at individuals. Statements like, "That table top jump is much more fun sliding on your face." Or, "Anyone can snowboard standing up; it takes a true athlete to try it head first." might ease the tension of "doing it right,” when you've already let them know that it's okay to goof up.

I'll be if you think back to your most memorable days on the snow as a child, they involved laughter. My first coach periodically did an entire run of worm turns and stuck straws up his nose at lunchtime and he was my hero. He was a skilled skier and coach, but it was the fun side of Coach Mark we all respected and responded to. Your success as an instructor depends on your ability to connect on a personal level, and humor can be the most powerful way to build a connection. It's a funny thing