Holiday Gift Guide 2008: Gifts for little athletes

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December 1, 12:36 PM

by Angele Sionna, Early Childhood Parenting Examiner

 

 

K’s Kids Athletic Baby Golf-n-Go Starter Golf Set. This machine washable toy for babies 18 months and up comes with a DVD for babies three months and up that shows them how to play. Perfect for those future Tiger Woods. The set includes two soft clubs, three over-sized golf balls, and a small putting green. I love that the clubs are soft because it prevents kids from both hitting/hurting each other with them as well as safer for if they fall down running around with them.

For a little older tot golfer (think 3 and up)– check out Gator Golf. It comes with two balls, two clubs and the perfect kids hole-in-one spot – a brightly colored alligator. When the kiddies get the balls in his mouth, the gator pops the ball back to them with his tail, prompting lots of laughter. Bonus: no batteries are required. Really fun! Check it out in action HERE.

Fun Slides Carpet Skates are one size fits all fun for kids six on up to adults, so even mom and dad can play. Practice your hockey moves or speed skate around the living room. You never know, these may spark a future winter Olympian! Either way they're lots of fun and good exercise that everyone can do together. Watch a video of them in action and see more cool activities to do with them HERE.

Animal Scramble is a great game for kids three and up. It not only teaches children listening and helps them learn to follow instructions, but it's all about running around and getting exercise. Perfect for future track stars! Read the details of how the game works HERE. It's very high tech but still simple to play and lots of fun.

Get little athletes going in tot gymnastics lessons! Many places have them for kids one year and up, with parents taking part, and for three and up with parents just watching. My daughter Ava took gymnastics all summer and loved it. We've decided to make it a yearly thing.

Swim lessons are another option for little athletes and many places offer them year round in in door pools. Just make sure to bundle up and cover wet hair with a warm hat when you get outside. Swim lessons are generally offered for children 6 months old and up. My girls take them once a year. The important thing about babies and swimming isn't learning the breast stroke. It's learning how to be comfortable in the water and water safety.

If you do decide to give a gift like lessons (and you're not the parent), make sure to run it by the child's parents first to coordinate the schedule. I find it best to only do one scheduled activity at a time with young children so they can fully enjoy that special day each week.

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