One active Christmas gift can improve your childs health, say physios

Physiotherapists are recommending that people buying Christmas presents for children this year should include one gift that encourages active play, to help kids achieve the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity every day.

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) is concerned that none of the 'Dream Toys' being recommended by the Toy Retailers' Association (TRA) in its annual list of popular Christmas gifts for children encourage play that is sufficiently energetic to help keep kids healthy.

As part of the CSP's Move for Health Kids campaign, which promotes the importance of physical activity for children's health, physiotherapists are suggesting a list of alternatives to this year's big sellers. Including just one of these toys in a child's Christmas stocking will help them have some healthy fun with active play.

To help would-be Santa's complement the traditional options with a more active gift, and staying within the affordable £50 price limit set by the TRA, physiotherapists have come up with the following wish list (in no particular order):

Skipping rope

Roller skates

Football

Hula-hoop

Frisbee

Basketball hoop

Tennis racquet

Swimming goggles

Plug in and play dance mat

Pogo stick

Nintendo Wii Fit Plus game*

Trainers/plimsolls

Physiotherapist Linda Beckett, who runs healthy schools programmes to help counter childhood obesity, explains:

"Christmas is an ideal opportunity to introduce kids to fun active play. Alongside usual presents like dolls, board games or building blocks, physiotherapists are advising that just one piece of sporting equipment or an energetic toy or game in their stockings will help children to get a bit of vital exercise while they enjoy their gifts.

"The presents on our wish list are as reasonably priced as those on the list from the Toy Retailers' Association, if not more so, meaning that keeping your kids active and protecting their long-term health doesn't need to break the bank."