Exercising with Toys

• Jumping up and down on a pogo stick may keep your child busy and active for hours. As this toy takes a bit of skill to master, your child may enjoy seeing how long he or she can keep going without losing balance.
  To find out which pogo stick is best for your child, look at the side of the product's box, which will provide information on weight guidelines and age recommendations. There are pogo sticks available for children as young as age five. Covered in safety foam, the Maverick pogo stick by SBI Enterprises is appropriate for ages 5-9. Pogo sticks are also manufactured in sizes that will accommodate an adult, so you can join in the fun, too.
  Hula-hooping is a pastime of old that many kids still enjoy, as is jumping rope. Make a game by timing kids with a stopwatch to see how long they can keep hula-hooping or jumping rope without stopping. Jumping rope is a great cardiovascular workout for children.
  The same concept applies to trampoline jumping. If your child is too young or if safety is a concern, let them jump on a mini-trampoline. Mini-trampolines are designed for exercise purposes and only allow one person to jump at a time. As they are portable, they can be used inside or outside, so you can easily monitor your child's safety.
  Mini-trampolines come in four shapes: rectangular, circular, octagonal and square. Although they tend to be more expensive, rectangular mini-trampolines are the safest. The springs on a rectangular-shaped mini-trampoline crisscross each other, so the bounce is more balanced and even. Mini-trampolines are also sold with a safety handle that children may hold onto when they are jumping. Check the product's age and weight recommendations to determine which mini-trampoline is right for your child.
  
  

Exercising with Games

• Duck-duck-goose, anyone? When children have playmates over, planning physical activities like a game of tag, or perhaps a scavenger hunt or obstacle course, will keep their legs running and their minds active. During games that require fast running or sprinting, their hearts get pumping and they get a great cardiovascular workout while having fun at the same time.
  
  

Rainy Days

• When dreary weather keeps children inside, they still can get their exercise and have fun at the same time. Children that are age-appropriate may enjoy playing video games on the Wii Fit. As many children love to play video games, they may forget that they are actually getting exercise. They can also try activities like yoga, which they might not be familiar with yet.
  Some health clubs offer memberships for children. Action Kids Fitness Center, with two locations in California, offers many fun ways for children to get exercise: They have resistance machines and stationary bikes that connect to Playstation 2 units. They also offer hip-hop dance, karate and yoga classes. Check your local city directory to see if any exercise clubs offer family memberships. Exercise can be a fun activity for your children, especially if enjoyed as a family.