*This is a collaborative post.

Christmas is approaching and if you haven’t bought all of your gifts for the kids yet, you need to get a move on. When you are buying gifts, you have a good opportunity to encourage your kids to get outdoors and stay active, which can be a struggle sometimes. Kids don’t always want to play outside and exercise because they would rather be at home playing video games or watching TV. But these great gifts should inspire them to be a bit more active, so they develop good habits as they get older. 

A Bike 

If you have young kids and they haven’t learned to ride a bike yet, buying them a bike is the perfect gift this Christmas. Every kid should learn how to ride a bike and it’s a great family activity that you can do together. Once they are confident on two wheels, the whole family can go out and ride together, and it’s a brilliant way to stay fit. If you are a little apprehensive about teaching your child to ride a bike, this great guide will help you. 

A Pair Of Roller Blades 

Older kids may already have a bike, but what about some rollerblades? People don’t realize it but inline skates are great exercise, and they’re so much fun for kids as well as adults. So, buying the perfect pair of inline skates this Christmas is sure to be a hit with your kids. If you are feeling brave, you could even get a pair for yourself so you can all go out together. Just make sure that you buy plenty of safety gear for the kids as well because there is likely to be a few falls along the way while they are learning. 

Active Video Games 

Kids love playing video games and a lot of parents wish they would spend more time outside doing something active instead. But you can have the best of both worlds if you buy them some active video games. There are some great dance games and some fitness ones that give you a real workout. The kids will get to enjoy playing video games and you don’t need to worry because they’re still doing something healthy. 

A Pet 

Pets are brilliant for kids because they help to teach them responsibility and they keep the whole family active because you need to take them out on walks every day. If you really want to surprise the kids with an amazing gift this year, why not get a family pet? It’s sure to be a popular gift, but make sure that you are prepared for it. Taking care of a pet is a lot of hard work, especially over the winter, so don’t buy one without considering it carefully. If it’s something that you have been thinking about for a long time, then go for it. But don’t buy one if you are not willing to take on the responsibility of caring for it. 

If you want an opportunity to encourage your kids to stay active in the new year, these are all great gift options.