There are several benefits to snowboarding, just not as many as some other sports offer.  Snowboarding improves strength, cardiovascular fitness, agility, fitness, balance, athleticism, and helps children learn persistence.  While most children can be successful at snowboarding those who excel are athletic, have good stamina, great muscle control, as well as wonderful leg muscles since those are the muscles that move the board.  Another key trait is a superb sense of balance. 

Children can start learning snowboarding as young as 3 years old, however there is limited ability a child that young will have at handling their board.  The best age to start being good at snowboarding is closer to 7-10 years of age once the child has the leg strength to turn the board.  One benefit to starting snowboarding so early is young children usually are a bit fearless and more likely to try some adventurous moves. 

When you start looking for the perfect snowboarding program, look for a half or all day lessons to start with to allow your child several opportunities to see if snowboarding is the sport for them.  This way you can rent the necessary equipment for those days so that there is no major time or financial obligation unless your child is truly interested.  Once your child has determined snowboarding is the sport for them you can start looking for group and private lessons so that your child can have more practice. 

You want to look for a program that covers the basics such as edging, applying appropriate pressure to the board, and steering.  Once the basics are mastered, they can start looking towards mastering the more advance skills as well as potentially start looking towards competitive snowboarding.  Your child is quite likely to be highly discouraged for a while until they master the basics, there will be numerous falls, and numerous lessons before your child masters the skills necessary.  Be ready and willing to offer support and encouragement. 

Remember one of the biggest reoccurring expenses with snowboarding is lift fees which are required whether it is skiing or snowboarding.  The biggest single expenses will be the board, which can easily range from $500-$1200 depending upon the size and material it is made from.  The costs of the boards is what makes many parents decide to rent equipment for several seasons until they are sure of their child’s determination level.