The Best Active Toys To Get Young Kids Moving

Every parent wants their child to grow up to be healthy and happy, and that means getting them into good habits from a young age. Making sure that they eat a varied diet and encouraging them to be adventurous with food is crucial. Getting them to exercise is also incredibly important and if you can make it a habit while they are young, they are far more likely to stay active when they are older. 

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Unfortunately, this last one can be tricky, especially as kids often prefer to stay inside playing on screens. However, there are some great toys you can get for young children that encourage them to get outdoors and move around. These are some of the best active toys for young kids. 

A Bike

A bike is one of the best toys for kids because it gives them that sense of adventure and keeps them active. You can get some great bikes and trikes for young kids at Foryourlittleone if they are not ready for a proper bike yet. Teaching them to ride their bike is a great bonding activity and you can all go out on family bike rides together too, so everybody stays fit and healthy. 

Jump Ropes

Jump ropes are a fantastic and inexpensive piece of equipment to get your kids active. They don't need much space, so can be used in the garden or even indoors if you have enough room. Jumping rope is one of the best ways for kids to burn off excess energy during the day and it's a fun activity too. You can get cheap jump ropes so they're ideal if your budget is tight. You probably remember all sorts of different jump rope games you played when you were young, so why not teach some to your kids.

Jungle Gyms

Having a great place for kids to play is one of the best gifts you can give them. There are some great jungle gyms you can get made from plastic or metal, so they are incredibly strong and long-lasting too. If there is enough space in your back garden, buying your kids a jungle gym will give them hours of fun while they climb about and take in their surroundings. You should be able to find jungle gyms designed especially for toddlers too. Just make sure that you are always watching them while they are climbing because it can be dangerous.

Swingball Sets

Swingball sets are a fantastic way of getting your kids active and they can be used both indoors and outdoors too. It is one of the best games kids like to play because it's fun and it gets them moving about at the same time. It's a classic toy but it's had a few updates in recent years. You can get a soccer version as well as the classic tennis swingball, which might be better for young kids. 

If you are worried about keeping your kids active, you should by them these toys when they are young and make exercise fun for them.

Never Underestimate the Importance of Exercise for Your Kids

Infographic Design By CiscoAthletic.com

When we think of our kids’ wellbeing, we take all sorts of things into consideration. We do our utmost to make sure they’re getting everything they need in their diet - their vitamins, their minerals, their nutrients. We want to get them into the best education possible so their minds can grow and expand. We want to make sure they’ve got positive social circles who aren’t being a bad influence to them. But one thing we don’t often take into account enough is whether our little ones are getting sufficient exercise on a daily basis.

This is understandable. Kids tend to run about and wear themselves out of their own accord. But some structured exercise could be a great addition to their weekly routines and they could even develop a love for a sport or area that they pursue for the rest of their lives for the sake of enjoyment alone! So, where can you start out?

Well, the infographic by CiscoAthletic.com below can help you to see common trends in youth sports participation and give you some ideas as to what your kid might like to get involved in. Remember, any exercise is positive, so even the smallest participation can go a long way. Whether that’s group sports, individual sports, or even soft and gentle exercises like stretching and flexibility work. Whatever your kid takes a shine to, pursue it. If your kid doesn’t seem to be enjoying something they’ve tried out, don’t force them to continue. There’ll be something out there that they like. It’s just a matter of maintaining the patience and persistence to finding it.

Affirmations for Kids 👧👦👶

Self Affirmations for Kids

My daughters mean the WORLD to me. I'm not sure what I would do without them. Despite how much they challenge me. My goal is for them to know they are loved, beautiful, and smart. I want them to know about self-love. I encourage them to ask me questions. No question is off limits (and granted that can get out of hand) but it keeps a healthy and open relationship between us.

After realizing how important affirmations can be I decided to place sticky notes above my daughters' beds and recite them with them every morning. Sometimes, it doesn't happen every morning BUT we I always make sure that before we pull out of the driveway I give them an encouraging word to remind them just how great they are! 

Below are my top 20 POSITIVE Affirmations that I share with my daughters. Some are gender neutral so feel free to do this with your son as well. Remember, the goal is to raise confident little humans!

 

20 Affirmations for Kids

1. I like me.

2. I am beautiful/handsome.

3. I am smart.

4. I can do all things!

5. My body is PERFECT the way it is!

6. I am happy.

7. I am loved.

8. Today WILL be a great day.

9. I CAN listen and learn!

10. I am capable of doing the impossible.

11. I love myself.

12. I forgive myself when I make mistakes.

13. I believe in myself.

14. I am strong.

15. My voice/opinion matters.

16. I respect others even when I don't agree.

17. I am allowed to have feelings.

18. My skin is a beautiful shade of brown. (This is my favorite for Kay!)

19. My hair is perfect straight or curly!

20. I can be anything I want to be IF I put my mind to it. 

As a mother of little brown girls, it's important that I teach them how important it is to love themselves. I don't feel I was really taught that growing up. I'm sure my mom said something here and there but it wasn't what I envisioned or give to my daughters now. What I can say is...I'm so grateful that my mom knows how important being it is that I express love to my girls through affectionate behaviors. She has a thing that she does with each of them to remind them just how special they are and I love it. 

I guess its true, the things you wished for as a child you parents in turn give it to your children. 

Brownies...Anyone?

Soooooooooo, I’ve had a major sweet tooth lately and while shopping in my local Walmart, there was a huge display for brownies. I have a thing for fudgy brownies and when I saw the box labeled “fudge” I knew they were just for me. Surprisingly, I didn’t go home and bake them right away but I waited for the weekend and O-M-G they were worth the wait! I followed the instructions exactly and got the fudginess that I was looking for. Good look Betty!

P.S. Moms, this was super cheap and fun to do with the kids.

Parenting Failures

As parents, at some point, we have felt like an ultimate failure. Parenthood does NOT come with  a guide. No matter the books you read, research you've done or classes taken, you are never truly prepared for what life throws at you. 

With my oldest, I was not ready to be a mom but I knew that I had to do it. As a high school student, I realized it was the unpopular choice but I did not want to think back on “what if.” Could I live with the guilt of not giving birth or giving her away? A lot of people wanted my daughter. They felt that they would give me a new lease on life BUT that wasn’t the right option for me.

My biggest failure was allowing violence and hostility around her. I was in an abusive relationship with her father and for so long, I stayed. She became familiar with the yelling, screaming and the often breaking of items in the house. One day I'll share the story of how I got out but I can't help but wonder how that experience affected her. Would she be more outgoing having not been exposed to this at an early age?

With my second child, I did my best to get it right and in my efforts, I may have over indulged with her. I spent almost two years at home and she was attached at my hip. Now don’t get me wrong I LOVED being a stay at home mom. It was the best decision of my life BUT I realized that I needed to teach her some independence in order to have a well mannered and balanced child. 

No parent is perfect. What IS perfect is the depth of love we have for our children. We never stop trying to get it right. Hold your babies tight! Know that you will make mistakes but your love will never fade and love conquers all! 

Fidget Spinners

I'm sure every parent in America has heard about these new toys called "Fidget Spinners". The other day, Kay (8), texted me while I was away and told me that she "needs" a Fidget Spinner. I was immediately alarmed! I have been  told that these toys were used to treat ADHD and anxiety. As any panicked mom would, I responded back with hundreds of questions about why she wanted one and who told her she needed one. Her response? Simple. "I miss you when you have to work out of town." I know the separation can be hard for kids especially when there is only one parent. So, I decided to look into getting her one. I cannot seem to get my hands on one for less than $20 and I'm not willing to pay that. I need you guys HELP! lol Give me some feedback! Have you used one? Does it work? Can I find a less expensive option?