Les Arcs skiing: bonding on the blues and reds We spent our first breakfast poring over the piste map. Les Arc-Peisey system is outstanding for beginners, offering a wide variety of blue runs - you can even ski all the way to La Plagne without venturing onto red or black, so despite arriving late in the season, we still had a reasonable choice. Ignoring Oscar's suggestion that we start with a red, I chose a chair lift and then a gondola that took us from 2,000m to around 2,700m and gave us blue runs all the way back to the village. Teaching children to ski is hugely rewarding, not least because of the speed at which they pick it up, regardless of one's own incompetence as an instructor. Rather than ski in front of my son, I showed him the basics and then got behind him. This meant that when he fell, I could just sweep down, sort out his skis and get him on his way again with the minimum fuss. The only real tumble we had on our first run was when a tiny four-year-old came hurtling down, squealing with joy, and sped over the front of my skis. I regained by balance just in time to be wiped out by her frantic and considerably more substantial mother. By the end of the run I was confident that Oscar could turn and stop with reasonable proficiency. He, of course, was confident he could take on Eric Guay. By the third morning, he was onto reds and I was offering periodic prayers of thanks that his mother was at home and couldn't see the outrageous speed he was travelling. Alas, he was beaming footage to YouTube and she could. Never during our week did I once have the desire to escape on my own and try to recapture a little of the glory days of icy blacks and off-piste. Watching him growing in confidence and ability almost hour by hour was utterly absorbing and I wouldn't have missed a moment of it. Between them the Arcs have a wide range of après-ski but our evenings tended to revolve around swimming pool and crêperie in Arc 1950 and the bowling alley in Arc 2000, a short, free gondola-ride away. The former was a sobering reminder of just how few downhill miles you get per €11 pancake from the average 11-year-old. The evening was invariably rounded off with the day's tables turned and a little instruction for me on a variety of impossible dual-player PlayStation games. On our return, Oscar was back in his natural cyber habitat. I looked over his shoulder to see him informing his Facebook friends that it was "so cool - just the best time ever." And that will, I think, do nicely. Arc 1950 (arc1950.com/en) is a 10- to 11-hour drive from Calais; tolls cost around €100. The nearest airport is Geneva. EasyJet (easyjet.com) offers return flights from £39.98 in January. Packages Erna Low (0845 863 0525; ernalow.co.uk) offers seven nights" self-catering in a one-bedroom apartment in Le Village, sleeping two-four, from £975 per person based on two sharing (£488 per person max occupancy), including return FlexiPlus Eurotunnel crossing. Crystal (0871 231 2256; crystalski.co.uk) also offers packages to Arc 1950. Ski passes/equipment rental Ski passes covering Les Arcs Peisey-Vandry cost €214/ £182; €160.50/£137 child (skipass-lesarcs.com). An average seven-day ski hire package including skis, boots and helmet costs around €160/£137 for an adult and €80/£68 for a child aged between seven and 12 (precisionski.co.uk). The best accommodation Residence Charmettoger, Arc 1800 ££ The only accommodation in Arc 1950 is at Le Village but a less expensive option is a studio apartment here in Arc 1800 (0845 863 0525; ernalow.co.uk; from £189 per person for seven nights" accommodation only, based on two sharing a studio apartment). Hôtel Club Les Mélèzes, Arc 2000 ££ If you would prefer a hotel, the Hôtel Club Les Mélèzes is a good option in Arc 2000 (0845 863 0525; ernalow.co.uk; seven nights" half board from £680 per person). Le Village, Arc 1950 £££ The choice ranges from two- to five-room units. The best restaurants Crêperie La Bolée £ An excellent selection of savoury and sweet crêpes plus a child's menu with the usual favourites (opposite Manoir Savoie; 0033 479 003174). Nonna Lisa ££ A good child-friendly Italian serving wide range of pasta and pizzas plus some classic Italian starters and main courses (48 Refuge du Montagnard; 075648). Brasserie Le 1950 £££ Smart Parisian-type brasserie both in style and cuisine (Manoir Savoie; 244682). Lifts can be crowded first thing in the morning so start a little later than the pack. Three hours in the morning and another three in the afternoon will be plenty for most young beginners. Kit in Les Arc is expensive so to avoid overspending, pack two pairs of ski gloves for your child - they will lose at least one pair. The red run down from the Aiguille du Saint Esprit links nicely into blues back to the village and looks a good option for first-weekers but it can be icy and tricky before the afternoon.