10 Gifts for Your Kids That Promote a Healthy Lifestyle

If you haven’t been in a department store or seen a TV commercial recently, you may be unaware that the holidays are approaching. Or, you’re in denial.
To create a healthier, happier life for you and your family give holiday gifts that encourage your kiddos to develop the healthy habits they’ll rely on for the rest of their lives. Whether you’re a last minute shopper or an early gift buyer, we’ve got some suggestions as you’re making your list—and checking it twice.

1. Bicycle

Bikes are the quintessential Christmas gift for young children, and for good reason. When your child gets a bike, their world expands, both figuratively and literally. Kids don’t intentionally ride their bikes for exercise. They ride bikes to feel the wind on their faces, to go to a friend’s house, and to test their limits. Riding a bike is fun. It just also happens to be a great way to exercise—which they may or may not realize.

2. Sports equipment

Long before they learn the rules of most sports, they throw balls and swing bats with glee—and often little aim.
When you buy sports equipment for your kids, you give them tools for staving off boredom with physical activity. Younger children create their own games. Older kids practice their skills or challenge friends to a game.

3. Mini trampoline

Kids are like energized bunnies—always going and going and going. There are few toys that display the endless energy of children like trampolines.
For families who don’t have the outdoor space, or for parents concerned about the safety of the larger models, small trampolines are now being sold with children in mind. They include a bar attachment for kids to hold while jumping. In addition to providing extra stability, this bar attachment gives kids the opportunity to bounce hard without the risk of flying off.

4. Interactive video games

Surprised to see video games on this list? Video games are often lumped in with other forms of screen time when we talk about kids—for good reason. Not all video games are created equal.
Interactive video games require players to stand up and mimic an in-game character’s actions. Kiddos jump, dance, swing, and play their way to healthy. These games are a great way to encourage physical activity when it’s cold outside.

5. Healthy cookbooks and cooking supplies

Is your dinner table a battleground? Are wars waged over finishing green beans? Or, adding extra butter to Brussels sprouts?
Healthy eating habits are difficult to establish in young children. Food resistance is one of the first ways children demonstrate their independence. By giving your kids the tools they need to help in planning and preparing their own food, you give them another way to assert their independence at mealtime. In addition to encouraging children’s healthy eating habits, teaching children how to cook is a valuable life skill.
If your kids are too young to join you in the kitchen, how about some fake (healthy) food and a play kitchen set? These are a positive way to introduce your toddler to fruits and veggies, and the joy of cooking.

6. Portion-friendly plates

It is no secret that oversized portions contribute to obesity.¹ Help your kids learn proper portions with portion conscious plates. Many portion plates have physical dividers to teach kids what a healthy portion looks like. There are even versions that have removable dividers, so older kids can take responsibility for their portions.

7. Every Kid in a Park pass

If you have a fourth-grader in your home, you and your family can get an Every Kid in a Park pass from the National Park Service for free. This pass is valid for a year and gives your family the opportunity to explore hundreds of our national parks, lands, and waterways.

8. Activity tracker

Wearable fitness trackers aren’t just for adults anymore. Help your kids develop the habit of daily movement with an activity tracker geared for them. For younger kids, consider a tracker that focuses more on encouraging activities than step counts. Fitness trackers help adults be more aware of their own activity levels and they can do the same for kids.

9. Puzzles

Health and wellness in the body isn’t sustainable without health and wellness in the mind. Puzzles, building blocks, and other traditional toys encourage healthy minds. When children play with these types of toys, they learn how to problem solve, plan, and create.

10. Art Supplies

Children who regularly create art are more likely to be successful in other subjects at school.² Creative, artistic activities help kids develop motor skills, practice decision making, and encourages language development. Additionally, creating art can have a positive impact on a child’s social and emotional well-being. When children create, it boosts their self-confidence and helps with non-verbal communication.This holiday season, give your children the gift of lifelong health. Presents that encourage healthy habits make it easy to feel good about giving. Children learn best by example. Model healthy habits, not just during the holiday season, but all year long.

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References
¹ Ledikwe JH, Ello-Martin JA, Rolls BJ. Portion sizes and the obesity epidemic. Journal of Nutrition. 2005; 135(4):905-9.
² Deasy, Richard J. (editor) (2002), Critical Links: Learning in the Arts and Student Achievement and Social Development, Washington, DC: AEP.

How to Give the Gift of Health

Gifts related to health and wellness are usually well-intentioned, but they aren’t always well-received. The gift of exercise equipment, a gym membership, or a diet book can often be misconstrued to be an insult to the recipient’s lifestyle or appearance. In short—it can make you look insensitive.
Thankfully, that doesn’t have to be the case. The truth is, these gifts are thoughtful and useful and may be just what your loved one is looking for. So how do you give such gifts without offending anyone?
Well. We can’t guarantee anything, but we do have a few tips. Read on to learn how to give health-related gifts in a way that won’t be taken as an insult.

Talk about it ahead of time

If you can, talk about the gift ahead of time to make it seem more natural and thoughtful. You could say something like, “wow, we really need a nicer scale in this bathroom; I’ve seen ones that can even calculate body fat!” Or, “have you seen those new fitness tracker watches? I’ve been thinking of getting one. They look so cool!”
By bringing up the possible gift in normal conversation, it’ll seem like you bought the gift because it was something you had talked about and showed excitement over, rather than you thought the recipient really “needed” it.

Point out the features

Instead of letting that gym membership speak for itself (which could be a really bad thing), point out the great features of the gym—its convenient location, its great child care, or its free group classes.
Don’t just give them some free weights and an at-home workout DVD. Instead, point out how this is your favorite DVD and you thought it would be perfect for her! You know how busy she is and this makes it easy to get in a quick workout.
If you make it more about the benefits and not about the weight loss, they will be less likely to take offense to your gift.

Make it for both of you

This works especially well for a partner or roommate, or someone you see often. Buy a health-conscious gift that benefits both of you. Get a gym membership for two, a blender with some protein shake mix, or a cookbook with healthy recipes. This way, the gift won’t be taken personally, since you are admitting that you need it, too. (If you go this route, make sure you get the person a separate, “just for them” gift as well. You don’t want them to feel cheated out of a personal present!)

Package it

Soften your approach by packaging health-conscious gifts with other things. You might create a “spa basket” including pampering items like lotions and scrubs, as well as a fat burning supplement or beauty vitamin. You could create a kitchen or food-based package, complete with their favorite snacks, a fun kitchen gadget, and dietary supplements that block the absorption of up to 48 percent of carbs and sugars, or a system for managing gut health. If you make the health-conscious or weight-conscious product part of the gift, rather than the main focus, it will blend in more as a part of a whole, rather than a statement of its own.

The gift of health is one of the most thoughtful, supportive things you can give to a loved one during the holidays, but you want to make sure it is received correctly. Ultimately, you have to decide what will help your gift be received in the right spirit. Be courteous, be loving, plan ahead, and your gift will undoubtedly be a hit!

Gift Ideas for Health and Happiness

 

The holidays are particularly magical: the anticipation, the lights, the treats, the music, and of course—the presents.
Gifts get a little different as you get older, of course. (Let’s face it: unwrapping a toaster will never quite be the same as unwrapping that shiny new bike bugged your parents about for months!) Fortunately, we’ve rounded up a few gift ideas that, while technically made for grownups, are perfect for bringing out the kid in you this holiday season.

Remote control…everything

There’s nothing like getting behind the wheel (well, remote) of a helicopter, race car, or airplane to bring out the kid in you. There are plenty of options available that are just plain fun, like these super affordable mini quadcopters, or this sophisticated all-terrain monster truck. There are even options that will let you go head-to-head with your friends, like these surprisingly fun RC bumper cars, or these battling drones.
Of course, there are a few more practical options, too. Many drones now have built-in photography capabilities, making them great options for photographers and videographers. And some robot vacuums also work with compatible remotes or mobile phone apps, so you might actually enjoy cleaning your floors for once. Function, meet fun.

Coloring books

They’re not just for kids anymore. Coloring books for adults have really caught on in the past few years, and for good reason. Many adults are turning to coloring to help relieve stress and improve focus. There are coloring books full of mandalas, animals, inspirational quotes, pop culture, and even humor. Staying inside the lines is optional.
And don’t forget your coloring tools! Classic crayons are always a popular choice, but a more grown-up approach might be to splurge for some artist-quality colored pencils, or smooth flowing gel pens. Whatever you choose, you’re sure to be creating works of art in no time with this fun, youthful gift.

Trampolines

As a kid, a trampoline was a gift that would probably keep you busy all day. As an adult, a trampoline can be an excellent addition to your home workout equipment. Whether it’s a full-size trampoline that your whole family can enjoy together, a simple personal trampoline for getting in a little cardio, or a full-blown trampoline workout system that gives you a variety of options, a trampoline is a fun, unexpected gift that could change the way you think about at-home exercise.

Health and energy

Most adults have envied a child’s energy at one point or another. Wouldn’t you love to be able to give yourself the gift of that youthful vitality?
Okay, so it’s not exactly possible to bottle that up. But there are health products out there that are specifically formulated to increase your energy and leave you feeling (almost) young again. Plexus EDGE^™, for example, provides healthy, sustained energy while enhancing concentration and improving your mood. Plexus TriPlex^™ is another great option; it promotes gut health and helps to improve all those tummy troubles that seem to get worse with age (and the holidays). ^1*
Don’t think that your age means you can’t feel energized, comfortable, and healthy this holiday season. It really is possible to give yourself (or someone you love) the gift of more energy!
So what’s on your wish list this year? Before you resign yourself to receiving a new pair of slippers, think about how you could unwrap the kid in you with one of these fun gift ideas for the young-at-heart.

References
¹ D’Souza, A. L. (2007). Ageing and the gut. Postgraduate Medical Journal, 83(975), 44–53. http://doi.org/10.1136/pgmj.2006.049361