
Bonus: Most gifts are under $50! And some under $20!
Let the gift giving begin!

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! |

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
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


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!