Healthy gift ideas for active kids
Dayton Children’s offers healthy gift ideas for kids

The holidays are just around the corner and shopping malls will soon be filled with shoppers. Some children may already have their Christmas list prepared, but parents should also consider healthy gifts ideas to keep children active.
 
Why are healthy gifts important?

According to the 2008 Regional Pediatric Health Assessment conducted by The Children’s Medical Center of Dayton, one in four area children between the ages of 2 and 14 are overweight.

In addition, parents reported only 70 percent of kids participated in vigorous physical activity at least three days a week and 9 percent did not report any vigorous physical activity.

The experts at Dayton Children’s join the US Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Agriculture in recommending that young people (ages 6–19) engage in at least 60 minutes of physical activity on most, preferably all, days of the week. Despite kids’ full schedules these days, it’s apparent many do not include physical activity in those schedules.

“Active gifts that promote physical exercise can be fun and rewarding,” Christie Bernard, RN, resource nurse for the lipid clinic at Dayton Children’s. 

“This year, consider wrapping up a gift that can provide your child with the encouragement he or she needs to stay at a healthy weight and remain active throughout the year.”

Five gift ideas for a healthy lifestyle:

1. Active gear -Bicycles, skates, sleds, scooters, skis... anything that gets the kids up and moving. Don’t forget the protective gear that goes along with each, such as helmets, elbow, knee and wrist pads and mouth guards. 
   
2. Gift certificates for a fitness facility, gymnastics class or dance studio - Find a facility that offers youth-oriented sessions so your child can have fun with kids his or her own age. 
   
3. Jump ropes, tumbling mats, yoga mats and Hula-Hoops - These low-cost items can provide hours of fun while burning calories and keeping young bodies strong. 
   
4. Kid-focused workout videos and interactive video games - Look into the latest hip-hop video for your young dancer or athlete, or video game such as “Dance Dance Revolution” and “Twister Moves.” 
   
5. Quality time - Give your child a gift certificate that sets aside time one day a week for a play date in the park, at the skating rink, on the basketball or tennis court, on the jogging track, etc. Parents should be role models of a healthy lifestyle. Research shows that kids who see their parents exercise are more likely to exercise themselves.
   

“Communities and schools across the country are experimenting with supplying kid’s pedometers to encourage activity – this might be the perfect stocking stuffer,” says Bernard.

Girls between the ages of 6 and 12 need about 12,000 steps per day, and boys need approximately 15,000 steps per day, to stay at a healthy weight.”

“The holidays are a great time to introduce your child to new active games and equipment,” says Bernard.

“Think activity and movement when choosing holiday gifts.”