THOUSANDS of British families will be taking to the ski slopes for the first time over the next few months and despite high expectations it can all go downhill - fast.

Travel brochures and holiday programmes may be full of happy smiling children confidently bombing down slopes but taking the kids on a snowsport break has the potential to go badly wrong.

Youngsters can end up cold and miserable halfway up a mountain and terrified of all the strange equipment, accompanied by proud parents who have forgotten just how long it took them to glide down a red run.

However, The Ski Club of Great Britain, in conjunction with the Neilson travel company, has produced a video which promises to be the perfect parents' guide to a hassle-free holiday.

Appropriately titled No More Tears, it is full of tips on how to plan a successful family debut on the slopes.

The 50-minute film follows the progress of the Harts - parents Peter and Jill and their children aged 10 and six - as they take their first winter holiday together in the Norwegian resort of Geilo.

Like many adults, Peter and Jill are experienced skiers keen to pass on their enthusiasm to their offspring.

But as they discover, a successful family winter holiday requires a lot more planning than going away as a couple or with a group of friends.

Here, with the help of No More Tears, are the peaks and pitfalls of that winter trip.

Planning ahead: This is a must as families cannot be spontaneous if they want to get a deal that suits them before resorts close at the end of April.

If the children are at school they are likely to be restricted to taking a break during school holidays, a period which obviously fills up quickly.

Choosing the resort: Adults may love the idea of going to the west coast of America or Canada but the long flight times and high altitudes will not suit children.

Instead, it is better to limit yourself to Europe, Scandinavia or, at a push, the East Coast of the US.

Pick a family-friendly resort and consider one that is purpose built - it may not be chocolate box pretty but it will have been planned with convenience in mind and some even ban traffic from the centre.

Make sure that it has plenty of facilities such as a swimming pool, ice rink or even a cinema to keep children entertained after skiing.

And check the transfer time from the airport to the resort - a bus drive of several hours on twisting mountain roads is going to be a terrible start to the trip.

Accommodation: Whether you choose a hotel or a catered chalet, it is important to make sure children are welcome - some brochures will have a family-friendly sign highlighting accommodation which is most suitable.

A cheaper option is self-catering - just make sure the resort has some reasonably-priced restaurants so it won't involve cooking every night.

What is most important is that it is easy to get to the slopes - either a short walk or by bus. A long morning trek carrying all that equipment will just leave everyone shattered before the day starts.

Clothes: Obviously children need to be properly kitted out for the mountains with salopettes, jacket, hat, gloves and a fleece - all of which can be very expensive as they grow out of them so quickly.

One option is to hire clothes in the UK, although it is worth bearing in mind that clothes can be handed down to siblings.

Equipment: Unless parents are very affluent it is probably best to hire equipment. It can be organised in the UK and taken abroad but some airlines charge for carrying skis so it is best to do it in the resort. It only takes up a morning and at least alternative equipment will be supplied if something is lost or broken.

Teaching: It is up to parents to decide what age to put their children on skis. Getting them started early obviously gives them a major advantage, but a fright could put them off for life.

Under fives are unlikely to be taught much - it should be treated more like play to get them interested.

Teenagers: Older children who have attained a reasonable standard are unlikely to want to spend the whole holiday skiing with their parents.

If they are going with other children, make sure they are in a group of at least three and arrange to meet up with them during the day.

Childcare: Most leading companies offer childcare which will suit those with very young children.

Babies and toddlers can be left first thing in the morning and picked up after a day's skiing.

Check whether there is a babysitting service available. The excesses of nightly aprs-ski might be over but few parents can resist the lure of an evening out - after all that organisation you've certainly earned it.