Gifts for kids on Holidays are fun, and we all love giving gifts. My kids start begging for Christmas around Halloween. That new iphone, lego set, or computer game is not going to get them outside or moving. I’ve spent the last many years of my life in health and fitness as well as teaching Pilates to Children in my after-school program and I know that our kids need to MOVE MORE. If you have a little person in your life, check out this guide! They don't need to cost an arm and leg, just use them!
Bonus: Most gifts are under $50! And some under $20!
Bonus: Most gifts are under $50! And some under $20!
Let the gift giving begin!
1. Balls: ANY KIND. For inside the house soft is good! Bouncy is good. Bumpy is good. If you go big, like this one —most elementary school aged kids will have a ball! Literally. And Figuratively. Search yoga or Pilates ball to find a massive selection. Pretty much any store that carries fitness stuff will also have a great selection. $15-20
2. Hula hoops: Still cool. They are great for all sorts of impromptu games in addition to the basic hoop’n. Our kids used to dive through them into the pool. I saw a post from Nutritious Movement where kids threw "arrows" through them. Be the super cool aunt/uncle and come ready with some ideas to play with them. Youtube games with hula hoops for inspiration or take a look at the link above. $5-10
3. Rope climb: When we had to leave our amazing rooms (see below) our sweet friends sent us off with this climbing rope! How cool was that? It helped take the edge off and they did try to hang from the second story with it... It has been reappointed to a tree for now. One like this is good: $15-20
2. Hula hoops: Still cool. They are great for all sorts of impromptu games in addition to the basic hoop’n. Our kids used to dive through them into the pool. I saw a post from Nutritious Movement where kids threw "arrows" through them. Be the super cool aunt/uncle and come ready with some ideas to play with them. Youtube games with hula hoops for inspiration or take a look at the link above. $5-10
3. Rope climb: When we had to leave our amazing rooms (see below) our sweet friends sent us off with this climbing rope! How cool was that? It helped take the edge off and they did try to hang from the second story with it... It has been reappointed to a tree for now. One like this is good: $15-20
| | 4. Inside jungle gym: Did you see what we did to our kids’ rooms? If not, check it out. This is one BIG option. But even one of these parts would be cool. My friend Mara, simply installed one set of hanging rings and a bar in her son’s room and he loves it and has gotten much stronger. $20 for a piece or $300+ for the whole thing! If you have leftover materials and some skill... could be pretty cost effective! |
5. Pilates/yoga mat and props: Just having a mat around can make your kids do Pilates or yoga. Beware: they are going to do it if you do it with them! So.. consider yourself warned! However, I have personally found that if I ever put my mat down and begin Pilates it is nanoseconds before my kids want to join. (blessing? curse?). Nah, blessing! $10-30
6. Zip line: Do kids ever outgrow this? Not if it is used in the right way! We used to have one over our pool (insert legal jargon about how this in not recommended and might kill you). We also know a family who had one over their pond and kids used it all through high-school. Yes, a hallway could work. Get creative, be good for goodness sake!
7. Squatty Potty: This is for your annoying brother (or any family member) who won’t get off the toilet. In all actually, this is a great product and we have 3! But it could also be a pretty funny gag gift (but the kind they actually use in secret). Have you seen their silly video? $35-50
7. Squatty Potty: This is for your annoying brother (or any family member) who won’t get off the toilet. In all actually, this is a great product and we have 3! But it could also be a pretty funny gag gift (but the kind they actually use in secret). Have you seen their silly video? $35-50
8. Date to rock climbing gym and membership: Kids love to climb and if you take them to a rock gym (after they get the hang of it) they will love it. It is so fun and it really makes the climber feel powerful when they go a bit higher! It is a great confidence booster and so good for those arms and core that our kids of all ages need. Plus, come on, it is just so fun. $25+
9-14. Bike, skates, scooter, trampoline, hoop etc: These are all probably a pretty good options. If you haven’t thought of these, you really do need this list. $40+
15. Water shoes and a date to find river rocks: This might be out there. But it is just the sort of thing I would give. (Really, that’s how I KNOW its out there). But fun for the whole family. Plus there are lots a great health benefits for kids to wear minimal shoes (click). $10-15
9-14. Bike, skates, scooter, trampoline, hoop etc: These are all probably a pretty good options. If you haven’t thought of these, you really do need this list. $40+
15. Water shoes and a date to find river rocks: This might be out there. But it is just the sort of thing I would give. (Really, that’s how I KNOW its out there). But fun for the whole family. Plus there are lots a great health benefits for kids to wear minimal shoes (click). $10-15
16. Slack line: If you don’t know what this is, you are not alone. I first saw this a couple years ago at a party and like most people who see things being done well, they think its easy. Nope. I am pretty cocky with all my Pilates and balance training. Knocked me right off my pedastal. Couldn’t even stand on the darn thing. So of course I bought one. The kids love it and I know its good for them. Teenagers love it and typically can end up doing cool stuff on it. There are also slacklines with a trainer line (what we have) for younger kids. Have grass and a couple trees? Ready to slackline! $40-60
17. Hanging hoops: Some amazingly strong dude at a park I used to go to would come every day and hang and do tricks with his hoops. It was so cool to watch. And not expensive at all. Great gift for kids of any age. Take them to the front yard and watch the line of kids come to play! $20
18. Slip and slide. Old fashion fun. But you better not live where I do or the kids will kill you for giving them a slip in slide when it is snowy outside.
19. All free ideas: This is a wonderful list created by By Megan Sheakoski, author of Coffee Cups and Crayons. All the ideas are great and although most can't be wrapped, a couple can (if you are creative!). Also, when you have the kids home for the Holidays, these could be life savers! Enjoy!
20. BOSU. This is fun for us year round. The kids hop on, over, around and balance all throughout their day. Very good for balance and lower leg/feet/ankle strength. I saw them on sale at Costco for $90 (often they are $150). Expensive, but they last a long time and also are good for the whole family. You can see our class using BOSU's here - just one of hundreds of ways to play on them!
P.S. My husband once bought our kids an electric scooter for Christmas–you know, the kind that the kids don’t even need to push. Please, don’t do that, unless they are under 16 and have a job to get to that is at 5am and 45 minutes away, in the dark, uphill both ways, in winter... I am still “getting over it”.
P.P.S. I specifically avoided technology in this list. Not because it is bad. But because it is everywhere. You will have no problem finding technology out there! You might have trouble finding tech that will get your kids moving, but if you do please, let me know!
And for adults, my friends over at fitink created a wonderful guide as they do every year. Check it out!
Do you have anything to add? We would love to build even more great ideas to share!
18. Slip and slide. Old fashion fun. But you better not live where I do or the kids will kill you for giving them a slip in slide when it is snowy outside.
19. All free ideas: This is a wonderful list created by By Megan Sheakoski, author of Coffee Cups and Crayons. All the ideas are great and although most can't be wrapped, a couple can (if you are creative!). Also, when you have the kids home for the Holidays, these could be life savers! Enjoy!
20. BOSU. This is fun for us year round. The kids hop on, over, around and balance all throughout their day. Very good for balance and lower leg/feet/ankle strength. I saw them on sale at Costco for $90 (often they are $150). Expensive, but they last a long time and also are good for the whole family. You can see our class using BOSU's here - just one of hundreds of ways to play on them!
P.S. My husband once bought our kids an electric scooter for Christmas–you know, the kind that the kids don’t even need to push. Please, don’t do that, unless they are under 16 and have a job to get to that is at 5am and 45 minutes away, in the dark, uphill both ways, in winter... I am still “getting over it”.
P.P.S. I specifically avoided technology in this list. Not because it is bad. But because it is everywhere. You will have no problem finding technology out there! You might have trouble finding tech that will get your kids moving, but if you do please, let me know!
And for adults, my friends over at fitink created a wonderful guide as they do every year. Check it out!
Do you have anything to add? We would love to build even more great ideas to share!
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