Child Fitness Equipment | Blog: Inclusive Fitness Initiative

As a personal trainer and group fitness instructor, I’ve managed to acquire a rather impressive collection of portable exercise equipment. Assorted dumbbells, various yoga blocks and straps, skipping ropes, stability balls, Bosu, ankle weights, elastic tubing and (my personal favorite), a TRX.

Usually these objects reside in the trunk of my car, waiting to be ferried to the home of a client. Or the aerobics studio, on days when I know I’m going to need extra equipment. Or the backyard, when I’m desperate for a workout and can’t get to the gym.

Recently, however, I emptied my overly stuffed trunk (Cub Scout camp requires an awful lot of gear). Every last piece of exercise equipment was carried into the house. Before I could lock the car, let alone decide where to store things, my children pounced.

“What’s this for?”

“Look what happens when I wrap this rubbery thing around my waist”

“Ooh, Mommy, it’s a baby trampoline”

“Watch me, watch me, watch me!”

“Those are huge balls” (7-year old boys are obsessed with balls)

I started to tell them to leave ‘mommy’s work tools’ alone, that they were expensive and could be broken, that they were for grownups only, but stopped when I saw how much fun they were having. (More fun, I might add, than any of my clients or class participants has ever demonstrated while using them…)

Jumping on the Bosu. Rolling over the ball. Swinging the skipping rope around. Pulling on the ends of the elastic tubing. Balancing on the yoga block. Balancing on the yoga block on the Bosu. Balancing on the yoga block on the stability ball on the Bosu(don’t try this one at home). Creating their own circuit of objects over which to navigate across the ‘red hot lava’ of the floor.

Before long they were giddy and out of breath. Giggling with the enjoyment of exertion. Exhilarated with the feeling of fatigued muscles. Collapsing on the floor for a moment before doing it all over again. (Note,I did not have my camera handy when the above events took place and had to persuade my son to repeat the episode so ‘Mommy can take some pictures’. My daughter, older and wiser, refused to feign spontaneity; ‘I’m not faking it’ were, I believe, the words she used.)

And then I remembered, a long time ago, when they were very small, the naked, post-bath games of Bosu-follow-the-leader they played every evening before bed. The pure joy they experienced flinging themselves off the bouncy surface and on to the bed. Jumping, spinning, kicking and falling down exhausted, ready for PJ’s and a bedtime story.

I can’t remember why we ended these evening games. Perhaps I felt that they’d gotten too old. Maybe someone fell and bumped their head. Probably they got bored with it.

But I’m resurrecting the game. Anything that motivates them to unplug and get moving is fine by me.

I’ve put the dangerous things away (dumbbells, TRX, yoga straps; anything that could be used as a weapon), but left the others in an easy-to-access cupboard in the playroom. For a rainy day. When they’re bored. For when they just need to move.

Just don’t call it exercise or a workout. Those are for grownups who’ve forgotten the most basic reason to challenge their bodies through movement; because it just feels good.

You can find Tamara’s blog at Fit Knit Chick.

Kids exercise equipment can be really useful for both parent and child and I have done lots of research on this. I want to give you the ins and outs so you can avoid most pitfalls.

Exercise equipment for kids is becoming more popular and that is only fitting because more and more people use adult versions of these at gyms, recreation centers and even at home.

When using exercise equipment, kids should be supervised, especially under the age of seven because some of the devices, even though made for children, require balance.

Kids Exercise Equipment -- Types

There are all sorts of exercise equipment for kids such as:

Eliptical trainers
Treadmills
Exercise bikes
Weight bench sets
Trampolines
Jump ropes
Balance boards

Those are just a few examples for you to ponder.

There are two really big advantages to using some of these. Most of these examples are indoor exercise equipment for kids.

Something parents struggle with is finding active things for kids to do in the house. So, advantage number one is that we can keep our kids active and moving towards a healthier lifestyle by having this type of equipment in the house.

Advantage number two is related to the parents. During my studies, I kept hearing parents say they wanted time to exercise at home too.

Parts of the day include being with and taking care of the family. This includes cooking, cleaning and other household tasks.

Now, what if you could get your fitness in with your child right next to you? Wouldn’t that be great! Many parents said they put the indoor exercise equipment for kids right next to theirs and they could exercise at the same time.

I always recommend that parents actively participate in fun exercise activities with their kids. I’m also all for both parent and child doing their fitness separate but in the same room.

You can keep an eye on your kids and get some much needed exercise in at the same time.

I did find the best kids exercise equipment on the market and I share all those reviews with you as part of my fun kids exercise bundle.

However, theirs one piece of equipment I’d like to share with you now.

Kids Exercise Equipment -- One You Should Know About

Like I said, I’ve written a complete review guide on the best fitness equipment for children but one I’d like to talk with you about right now is from the Redmon fun and fitness exercise equipment for kids series.

Their “Air Walker” is really popular and the reviews of it are great. It’s very much like an elliptical trainer where you hold on to the handles and move or glide your feet and legs back and forth.

It’s great for cardiovascular health and perfect for children ages three to eight.

Parents love it because they can exercise at the same time. You can even set up your equipment in front of the TV and exercise.

Before buying these types of gadgets, make sure you read all the safety information and demonstrate it for your kids so they know exactly what to do.

Kids exercise equipment can be very useful for both parent and child so look into it and see if it’s the right fit for your family.