Top Five Fitness Gifts for Kids!

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Christmas and all the other holidays that are part of Winter's festive season often obligate gift giving, but why buy toys that will quickly break, go unused, or - worse - contribute the increasing epidemic of childhood obesity. Consider these five recommendations from a fitness expert and fabulously fit mom of two children.

Parents often give up the battle to get kids moving. It's hard to find fun, healthy activities for kids, especially in the Winter season when the weather and darkness keep kids locked inside. The following list of the top five fitness toys will keep kids active in an organized way, so that they're not just bouncing off the walls with boredome. Just 20-30 minutes a day with any of these fitness-oriented toys, and the children on Santa's nice list will be healthier and more fit by Spring! All of these fit gifts range in price from $75 down to $15 so that any budget can find fitness this holiday season.

FAO Schwarz Big Piano ~ $75 - Remember Tom Hanks in the movie "Big" as he jumped around on that big piano? The Big Piano from FAO Schwarz is smaller than that one, but it's giant keys are still big enough for your 3 to 7 year-old. Kids can create sweet music on the 24-key piano pad with their hands or feet! Each key is numbered, allowing tiny tumblers to compose their own tunes, experiment with eight instrument sounds, and record and playback their own compositions. The going rate for this gift is around $75 to $80 which is affordable for the family who truly wants to keep their kids off the couch!

Mini Trampoline ~ $55 - If you child loves the trampoline in his or her tumbling class, why not bring one home for Christmas? Known officially as "rebounding," jumping on a trampoline is great exercise for children and adults. It's much easier on the joints than exercising on concrete or other hard surfaces. Kids will natural try all sorts of tricks to mix up their "workout routine." Adults can try sneaking in a few hops to tone their body. Starting at a very reasonable $54 on sale, the Mini Trampoline is also portable!

Moon Shoes ~ $30 - If the kids on your gift list like to pretend they're walking on the moon, let them feed their imagination and have fun while developing balance and coordination. In terms of safety Deluxe Black Moon Shoes have a self-centering platform with a non-skid surface to grip shoes up to men's size-9 and 160-pounds. For around $30 this is a very affordable gift to get girls and boys jumping out their youthful energy!

Cranium - Hullabaloo ~ $25 - This is an ageless, timeless game that will keep little ones and adults moving and laughing. Just spread out the colored shapes, push the button on the console and listen to the directions. Everything is random in Hullabaloo, and you may not always have your spot to yourself! You will be told to "Gallop to a square!" Or you might be told to "Crawl to the broccoli! Now stand on one foot on something red." Little ones will learn how to categorize and sort colors and shapes, and for around $25 nobody will even realize they are getting valuable exercise and fitness to boot!

Family Party: 30 Great Games (Wii Game) ~ $15 - The whole family can play these track & field games, playground games, coordination games, carnival games, brain games, and strength games. According to Christopher Brown of the "All Game Guide," the Family Party for Wii is designed to be accessible to players of all ages. Young and old gamers alike can choose their characters and participate in a variety of themed games. "Battle" mode lets players compete against virtual computer players. "Challenge" mode allows four live friends to compete together, determining the best plate-spinner, soccer player, archer, or rope climber. Working out with a Wii is a fun way to get in shape, and you may want to consider the entire setup if you don't already own one. If you do a big holiday gathering, you can give this gift for $10 used or $15 new to just one child, and soon all the cousins and grandparents will be playing together!

Trying to accomplish Home fitness with kids creating messes and always underfoot can seem like a pipe-dream sometimes. So how can adults get their time in without everyone ending up in time out? Hopefully this list of the top five fitness gifts for kids will help you get your whole household moving and grooving. But remember: you might have to find sneaky ways to substitute "inactive-ities" with "active-ities." Be a fabulously fit mom or dad, aunt or uncle, grandma or grandpa this Christmas season and GIVE FITNESS.