03/04/2026
🎿 Ski lift safety for young children — what I do as an OT and a ski mom
As an occupational therapist and mom to a 5-year-old boy, I think a lot about how children’s bodies actually work on ski lifts. Trunk control, postural reflexes, reaction timing — these develop gradually, and the lift environment tests all of them.
I’ve also, sadly, watched two children fall from lifts in the past two years. So this is something I feel strongly about sharing.
This isn’t meant to scare anyone away from the mountain. It’s just what I’ve learned, and what I do with my own son. Follow along as I share our loading routine. 👇
Here’s what I do every single time:
✅ Seat position first. As we approach the chair, I cue my son to “stand tall” — this gets his body upright and ready, and gives me the leverage to boost him as far back into the seat as possible. Small bodies slide forward easily, especially once skis are pointing downhill and gravity kicks in. That boost onto the back of the seat is one of the most important things I do.
✅ Safety bar between the legs. To make sure we have time to get properly set up before the lift keeps moving, I cue the lift operator to slow the lift down before we board. That extra time means we’re not rushing or shifting around as the chair starts rising. Once seated, rather than just lowering the bar in front of him, I position him so the bar comes down between his legs. This creates a physical stop if he shifts forward.
✅ Cue him to stay still. Before we even load, I remind him: stay still, hands on the bar, eyes on the chair in front of us. Having a focal point really helps kids stay calm and grounded.
✅ He’s in a harness. I use a child ski harness and hold onto it for the entire ride. Not sometimes. Every time.
✅ My hand stays on him. An arm around the shoulders feels reassuring but does very little biomechanically. I keep a hand on his thigh or firmly on the harness so I can actually control his weight if something unexpected happens.
The reason I’m particular about all of this is that young children — especially under 7 — don’t yet have the automatic postural responses to catch themselves if they shift suddenly. A gust of wind, a bouncing chair, or simply turning to look at something can be enough.
One thing that also concerns me is seeing one adult responsible for multiple young children on a lift. Even the most attentive adult can only physically secure one child at a time.
If the ratio isn’t right, the magic carpet is a completely valid choice. The mountain isn’t going anywhere.
