Tell your son to exercise and he may equate it with boring gym routines and sometimes even as punishment. With kids, exercise does not seem to be about having fun, which is exactly what it should be. However, tell them to go shoot hoops, jump rope or skateboard and they will be outside in a flash. They do not realize that the pounds are melting away and their muscles are building up while they are moving, running and jumping. With childhood obesity running rampant in our country, there is much that parents can do to promote activities that keep their children active, fit and healthy.
Fitness Equipment to Get the Kids Off the Couch
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, the average child spends over five hours a day on all screen media combined, including TV, videos and DVDs, computer time outside of schoolwork and video games. These sedentary activities do nothing to promote:
- Strong muscles and bones
- Leaner bodies
- Healthy weight
- Decreasing the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes
- Normal blood pressure and cholesterol levels
- A better outlook on life
How can parents compete with the screen entertainment that engrosses their children and get them into an activity that does not require sitting? Simply opt for those games that require movement. According to a the article "Fitness for Kids: Getting Your Children Off the Couch" on the Mayo Clinic website, "kids who traded sedentary screen time for active screen time more than doubled their energy expenditure."
Christmas Gifts That Promote Fitness
In addition to toys that promote brain fitness, there are many fun games and equipment on the market today that put the "fun" in exercise. Many of them are ideal for the entire family to get involved with, too. Most of the fitness equipment listed here can be found at WalMart or online at Amazon.com. Time for Fitness is another exercise equipment resource for parents who wish to invest in their child's fitness health. The gift ideas listed are not in any particular order of importance or effectiveness:
- Hop Balls. Promote coordination, balance, circulation and overall fitness. $25.
- Geospace Kickaroo Boots. Burn calories, build coordination and strengthen leg muscles. Less than $80.
- Aerobic Spring Ball. A mini trampoline, it is great fun and exercise and teaches balance and coordination. $18.
- Little Yogi's Yoga Kit. Get your child started on the path to a long and health life. $40.
- Stretch 'n Play Ball. Mom, grab your exercise ball and join your little one as you exercise to enhance strength and balance. $25.
- Cranium Hullaballo. A high-energy game that gets kids moving with each other. $30.
- Digital Speed Sensing Baseball. Dad, get out there and throw the ball to your son clocking the speed of your pitch!. $24.
- Pedz Pedometer. Keeps the kids walking and counting their steps, miles and calories with this fun, frog pedometer. $22.
- Wii Dance Revolution. Keep them toned, active and rhythmic with the various dance revolution games. Approximately $25.
- Boxing Gloves. Dad! Put up your dukes and get out there with your son for some good aerobic moves. Price varies depending upon quality.
- Kick Boxing Plug and Play. An interactive game that relies on sensors and a child's moves to win the match. $68.
- Resistance tubes. Effective for performing strength and fitness exercises. $10/band.
- Wobble board. If your child has trouble with balance, check out the wobble board for balance training fun. $25.
Use Fitness Equipment to Become a Role Model for Your Child
Encourage your children to live leaner by becoming an example of healthy fitness yourself. Elizabeth Quinn, M.S. in her article, "Getting Kids Involved in Exercise" on TimeforFitness.com (accessed September 2010) states, "Take part in your own fitness program. A research study showed that in families where both parents were active, 95 percent of the children were active."
Even if you are not as fit as you would like to be, do not worry! Your encouragement still makes a difference to your child. So get a fitness game, get outside and get active with your child!
Kathleen Armentano - A freelance writer and website publisher, Kathleen has spent over 20 years researching and writing for B2B corporate America and graphic ...
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