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Article Christmas gifts to get your kids outside this summer

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How much fun is Christmas shopping?  Ok so don’t answer that.  Some of us love it, some of us don’t, but we all do it.

I’m not one of these ladies that can shop all day – I have a shopping tolerance of about 3-4 hours maximum, so it takes me a couple of goes at it to get it all done.

But the most fun part of all my Christmas shopping has always been finding great stocking fillers and fun gifts the kids will love to play with over Christmas.

As health has always been a priority for me, I always tried – and still do try – to buy Christmas gifts that I know will get my family outdoors, being active, spending time together and creating great family memories.

Today’s kids are spending a lot more time in front of screens, phones, tablets, computers, TVs etc, meaning the holidays are a bit different than what they used to be.

Most mums today tell me that “My kids don’t watch much TV”, or “My kids don’t spend much time on their laptops/mobile/iPad”, but the truth is most kids do spend a lot of time being sedentary.

So my challenge for you this year is to buy some gifts for your kids (and other family members) that involve activity!

The best part is that active toys or games don’t have to be expensive – and some make the best stocking fillers.

Active Christmas gifts for the family

Here are some of the best gift ideas I recommend for guaranteeing your kids will get outside and away from the screens this Christmas:

  • If you are going to the beach: Frisbees, kites, boogie boards, skim boards or the old favourite – a bucket and spade. Also, a family game of cricket, volleyball or football on the beach is great fun!
  • If you’re not near the beach: A good old fashioned water fight with water pistols and water bombs is lots of fun and a good way to cool down over summer. You could also try table tennis, a totem tennis pole, skipping ropes, hula hoopes, coites, bocce or even Twister. And of course, backyard cricket and soccer are always fun and dad usually loves to be play too!
  • If you have a pool: Water volleyball, goggles, pool noodles, flippers and toys to get the kids diving and swimming under water to collect.

Some of my kids’ favourite things that kept them active and happy over the years include: a trampoline (years of fun in that one), stilts, basketball and hoop, small football (soccer) goal posts, scooters, water bombs, pool toys, roller blades, balls of all materials and sizes, tennis racquets and bikes.

There are lots of things you can buy to help your family be active this Christmas, and some that will last even longer through the year.

A great tip is don’t just look in the toy department, always try the sporting and pool areas of shops, as these have lots of fun things to play with as well.

Each year when I see my children and we talk about the Christmases they remember most, they always mention the gifts where they got to spend hours outside playing together.

“Remember the year we got roller skates!”

“Remember the year we had that massive water fight?”

“Remember those scooters we had?”

“Remember when we all played beach cricket together?”

What gifts are you going to buy this year to help get your kids outside and active over the Christmas holidays?

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  • Yes, we get the water balloons out during summer, lots of fun and giggles! (-:

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  • Our kids got stuff for swimming and a new swing they have had a great time outside this year. I always try to get something to use outside even for their birthdays

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  • My kids, husband included, absolutely adore water fights. Their nan even joins in. It’s the best fun as they get to run around and keep cool at the same time. Early Jan, when they were trapped inside as it was too hot to go out, we waited till after dinner, then its a water fight for some exercise, bath and bed, ideal.

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  • i love getting my kids outdoor things

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  • We were going to get a bunch of outdoor toys for our kids this year, but sadly failed. We did manage to get a play centre/pool thing and a small enclosed trampoline. We are hoping for next year to get a big trampoline (we have 4 kids, so we need a big one lol), swing set, see-saw, family sized pool and a sandpit, and maybe even some other outdoor toys such as soccar balls, play balls, goal nets maybe ect… so its like a huge outdoor adventure for them each time they step outside the back door =D Definitely looking forward to this Christmas =D

    • Sounds like it’s going to be a great Christmas and planning early is good start.

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  • I get my children outside toys and equipment every year.

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  • I bought my children outside toys this year as we have so many toys inside the oldest got a basketball ring and the baby got a pirate water table

    • Sounds like lots of fun at your house. Hope you had a great Christmas

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  • Also vouchers and classes for dance, gymnastics and play centres.

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  • I bought the grandkids a sandpit play box & I’m hoping they get some fresh air, sunshine & fun out of it!

    • What a great idea! I’m sure they will – my kids always spent hours outside playing in the sandpit. Have a lovely Christmas!

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  • Totally agree active play is best for their bodies and their minds

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  • Bocce is a good one, or Slip ‘n Slide for those really hot days. We have the old-style ‘Hookey’ that my son and Nan love to play. Quoits too!

    • Awesome ideas! It’s great to get some of the traditional games that grandparents & parents can enjoy too. Thanks for sharing!

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  • Kids are getting a cricket bat and tennis rackets this year

    • Great gift ideas! Sounds like a fun xmas at your house this year!

      • For safety I hope the kids are only given tennis balls, not cricket balls. I have seen the results of a child being hit in the eye with one. Within minutes you couldn’t see his eye at all. All you could see was blood. He had to have both eyes bandaged as if you move one eye the other one automatically moves too. He was not allowed out of bed at all, had to lie as still as possible and had to be fed by nursing staff. The only time his injured eye was uncovered during the week was to administer treatment in the injured one then it was re-covered. He was in hospital for a week. He was lucky to lose a small % of his sight in that eye. Fortunately his eyes had been tested only a few weeks before. About 35 years later a large blood vessel broke at the back of the same eye. It was called a stroke behind his eye and he had to have special injections next to his eye every week for 6 – 8 weeks which made his eye sore for a few days so he had to put drops in it. He lost a very small % more sight in that eye and now wears stronger glasses.

    Reply

  • Thanks for sharing this article; love a sand pit with play equipment for outside time.

    • You’re welcome :) Thanks for sharing your sand pit idea – my kids used to love playing in theirs when they were little.

      • I would suggest you have a cover to put on your sandpit when not in use. Cats have a habit of using them as a toilet and children can get nasty skin infections from contact when if they don’t physically handle the waste products.

        I also noticed that the 2 girls in the photo on the trampoline do not have hats on.

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  • I think totem tennis is a great, affordable Christmas gift. I have seen them for $12 at Kmart.

    • It’s amazing how cheap some of the outdoorsy toys can be – I find kmart’s always a good spot for them! Thanks for sharing!

      • Totem tennis is fantastic! Hours of fun!

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  • I love getting my kids outdoor presents, I’m lucky that they are naturally outdoorsy type kids though too. :)

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  • Great article. I think I should buy a bicycle for my kiddoo.

    • Thanks! Whatever you end up buying I hope you have a lovely xmas.

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  • Great article and i have some great ideas. Looks like its gonna be waterbomb fights this year at our house and we already know santa is bringing a new bike.

    • Thanks for sharing! Water bomb fights are always so much fun & new bikes are so exciting for kids. Have a great Christmas!

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  • yeah it is important to keep kids active and enjoying the outdoors especially with so many distractions that would keep them indoors. great post

    Reply

  • I got my kids bikes am scotters this year

    Reply
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