Toys And Games To Keep Your Children Active

Children glued to the telly? Lure those lazy little buttocks outside with some novel outdoor toys. The sad fact about childhood obesity is that we as adults have to shoulder a large part of the blame. Healthy eating habits start at home. The weight gain equation is simple: kilojoules consumed should equal kilojoules expended, otherwise the excess energy gets stored in the form of fat.

One could argue that the prevalence of media campaigns that target children contribute to the frightening obesity statistics, but the fact of the matter is that children emulate their parent’s behaviour. If you grab a hotdog and hot chips for lunch, chances are little Bobby won’t be heading for the fruit stand any time soon. It is time that we step up and take responsibility for our actions. We are here to guide our children to make correct life decisions and so far we haven’t exactly been doing an admirable job.

So, now that we’ve established that there is a problem we have to work towards a solution. It’s all good and well to introduce your child to the fundamentals of nutrition and exercise, but this is the point where you have to lead by example. Don’t dish up dreary, boiled-half-to-death vegetables and stale Greek salads, make meal times exciting. Presentation is vital, so make sure that fruits and veggies are bright and colourful or cut them up into funky shapes. There are many ways to skin this particular cat, have a look around on the Net or wander into your local bookstore and you are bound to stumble over a myriad publications offering hints and tips.

The getting active part is going to be slightly trickier. Modern society is swiftly moving towards a completely sedentary lifestyle and words like ‘exercise’ conjure up images of drill sergeants and muddy boot camps in old and young alike. You are going to have to be sneaky. Outdoor toys and games can be a great tool. The key is to promote activity, not exercise. Stock up on a few inexpensive children’s toys and get the ball a’ Rollin’, so to speak. The following suggestions are sure to send you and your family well on your way to a more active, healthy lifestyle.

To keep children interested in fitness you have to make it FUN. Here’s how:

• Let down you hair. Show your younger offspring how fun much being active can be. Walk like a spider, run like a gorilla, chase them around pretending to be a demented alien. Anything goes, really. Just get silly, you’ll probably have a lot of fun in the process as well.

• Embrace technology. If you have the cash to spare in these trying economical times, a Nintendo Wii games console can be a great investment. Older children will enjoy the combination of gaming and exercise and once they’ve exhausted themselves playing games like boxing or tennis, you can plug in the Wii balance board and catch up on your yoga. It’s a double whammy!


• Set a time. Hectic schedules all around mean that exercise often falls by the wayside due to time constraints. This can be remedied by setting aside time slots expressly for active pursuits. Get up a bit earlier and take the family dog for a walk (the pooch is sure to appreciate it as well) or schedule a friendly game of tag every Saturday morning with prizes awarded to the winning team. Prizes don’t need to be tangible; you can simply make the losing team do the bulk of the chores for the next week!

• Get building. Construction toys are the perfect way to stimulate inquiring young minds and will improve hand-eye coordination and problem solving skills to boot. Lego toys are great, but maybe you want to get out a bunch of materials such as wood, glue and cardboard and help them to construct an impromptu fort in the backyard?


• Join the party. Activity parties are all the rage, so for your child’s next birthday celebration organise a bowling party in the backyard, go on a hike in a nearby forest or park or simply suggest games like a three-legged race and running with an egg on a spoon.

There are many ways to get children to spend time outside, but don’t expect them to figure it out for themselves. Accept that you are responsible for your children’s well-being and that incorporating physical activity in your family’s daily lives will do more than promote a healthy weight, it will set the foundation for a lifetime of fitness and good health.

So what are you waiting for? Get up off the damn couch, gather up the outdoor toys and head outside! You won’t be sorry and neither will you child.