Kids can start skiing essentially as soon as they can walk independently and fit securely in the smallest available boot sizes. The earlier they start, the easier it’ll be: a six year old may actually have some advantages over a more-coordinated eleven year old- they’re lower to the ground and generally less afraid of falling. A small child in the snowplow position is incredibly stable- you’ve seen little munchkins straightlining groomers in an unflappable combination of snowplow and tuck.

With modern skis, the learning curve has shortened considerably; shaped skis make for a direct transition from wedge turns to carved turns, eliminating much of the phase we used to call intermediate skiing.

Initially it’s probably better to rent for a while- the equipment that fits now might not next season. Every kid on the hill should have a snug fitting helmet and goggles, and be slathered with copious sunblock.

Boots are the key to the system- they should fit snugly with one pair of thin socks (the boots will be warm enough without thick socks). Make sure the socks are pulled up and their long underwear or ski pants aren’t getting caught inside the boot cuff.
As children improve beyond the wedge turn, rent or buy conventional overlap boots (they’ll probably start in simple rear-entry models). Overlap boots with buckles over the instep are harder to put on, but provide far better control.

For skis, sizing is crucial. Skis that are too long are hard to turn; the overcompensation that results can lead to exaggerated skiing and bad technique. Skis should be about nose height- better too short than too long. If you’re looking for new skis, flex and sidecut are also important. The softer the better: a softer flex will be easier and more forgiving to ski. Skis that are wider underfoot are definitely better: wider skis are easier to balance on and are easier to ski in soft snow.

Poles- not until the skier has a solid wedge turn: at first it’s just a pokey distraction or an impromptu weapon. As with skis, better too short than too long.

Children’s bindings are scaled-down, lighter versions of adult models that will only accept children’s boots (which have smaller toe and heel dimensions). Bigger kids using adult boots need lightweight adult bindings- but not heavy high performance models. For the transitional period, there are ‘junior’ bindings that accept both children’s and adult boot norms.

Make sure to have children’s bindings checked and reset at least once a year- the settings are based on weight and boot length, so as kids grow their bindings will need to be adjusted.
On the hill, watch out for icy or dirty boot soles- kid’s binding settings are so light that anything creating friction where the boot and binding meet can interfere with release function. Always make sure that boots are scraped clean before they step into the binding.

The most important thing to remember with kids on the hill:  don’t take it seriously and have fun.