Fitness Gifts for Kids

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

11 Dec 2006 06:02 PM

So you're standing in the middle of Toys R Us and you're staring at this absolute plethora of games, video games, toys, dolls and more. The music overhead is just this side of monotonous and you're looking down at the Christmas wish list written by your child and the mind just boggles. You want to give your child a great deal of opportunities. You want to give your child the chance at a better world, a better one than you have known and ultimately you want to leave to them what you know.

Don't Just Go for What's Hot Right Now

Too often, our children are the victims to advertising and what's hot in the toy industry. We see the advertisements and they are captured by the magic of them. So they ask for lots of things and sure, letting them have the magic is great. Letting them get toys that stimulate their imagination or challenge their logical minds is also great.

But it's also a good idea to give them things that stimulate their bodies and get them hopping rather than something that just plops them down in front of a computer or television screen. Consider, for example, the Dance, Dance Revolution - it takes a dance pad and a game for the Playstation 2 or the Xbox and not only do they get a fun game - they get up and they get moving.

What about a pair of roller skates? Or a good old-fashioned jump rope? Too often we forget what it was like when we played outside whether it was jumping on the trampoline, roller skating or going for a bike ride - and because we're forgetting, we might be forgetting what it would be like for our kids to do the same.

So while you are out there shopping this holiday season - consider getting your kids up and running and get them up and moving with the gifts they find under the tree.

What was one of your favorite activities to do as a child?

Related Articles:

Parenting Style Affects Health

Sports and Your Kids

Gift Certificates for Fitness

Ut oh - Is it already Friday? How is the shopping going?

Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

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