In the new year, what toys can help children "befriend" physical activity?

At the end of the article, a gift～

As a coaching mom who combines parenting, reading, and sports, I have put a lot of effort into getting my child to love sports over the years. From a young age, I have personally participated in various sports, such as skateboarding, rollerblading, cycling, skateboarding, ice skating, and badminton. If I didn’t know how to do it, I would find tutorials online. Indoors, I use games and sports toys in daily life to gradually guide him to love sports and develop a habit of physical activity.

Today, I’m going to share with you how I engage my child in “sports” at home on a daily basis, as well as some inexpensive toys that we use together to cultivate his love for sports.~

1. Hanging Table Tennis

Hanging table tennis is a favorite indoor activity for our family! At the craziest times, we hang one at the doorway of each bedroom, and several people play together.

This toy is very convenient to play with, and it is made entirely of plastic. Indoors, you can stick it directly or clamp it on the door frame, and outdoors, you can hang it on a tree. The rope has its own elasticity and can be adjusted in length according to your height. No matter how hard you hit the ball, it can be pulled back. Taking it out is cool, and it will attract a group of friends who want to try it out.

The benefit of playing table tennis is that it can greatly improve a child’s hand-eye coordination and adaptability. The nature of table tennis itself indirectly requires children to learn to control the wrist and arm strength, as well as practice blocking. If you use too much force, the ball will fly several meters away; if you use too little force, the ball’s elasticity is not enough. So, having this treasure at home not only allows you to enjoy your child’s sweat and happiness but also makes it easier to learn table tennis.

2. Desktop Boxing Ball

Desktop boxing ball is especially suitable for energetic boys (3+ years old) to release their energy. I remember when I first brought it home, my child would break into a sweat playing with it every day. The ball is inflatable inside and covered with thick PU leather on the outside, making it smooth to hit. It’s easy to play with, just find a relatively smooth surface (like a tabletop) and press the base firmly against it. You can play with bare hands or wear professional boxing gloves. It’s great for releasing stress and tension when children are full of energy. What made me even happier was that my son often threw more punches than me when we competed, and after playing, he could finish a big bowl of rice! Watching his increasingly strong little arms and his appetite similar to mine, I couldn’t be happier!

3. Inflatable Hovering Ball

I remember playing this inflatable hovering ball game often when I was a child, especially during school events when children would form teams and walk while blowing the ball, making sure to maintain speed without letting the ball fall. Finally, the team that made it to the end would win. However, the ones we played with back then were all simplified versions, and these toys are now made more refined and interesting.

Most children play this game by taking a deep breath first and then laughing while playing. When we played as children, we used it not only for entertainment but also to exercise our child’s lip muscles. Due to nasal congestion and adenoid hypertrophy, our little one has always had a habit of mouth breathing. This exercise not only strengthens his upper lip muscles but also increases lung capacity. After my child entered primary school, he had a physical fitness test every semester. There were always a few children in the class who didn’t pass the lung capacity test. In such cases, you can use the ball-blowing game to help children adjust their breathing and improve their lung capacity. It’s not expensive and it’s fun!

4. Toy Darts

As someone who has always had a dream of being a hero since childhood, I really enjoy playing with toy darts! Unfortunately, I’m not very skilled, and every throw ends up all over the place. Although it required a lot of picking up darts every time, the joy of swinging my arm remained undiminished. This kind of joy also infected my child, and under my influence, my son threw darts with a “swoosh.” Although we used to play with needle-tip darts, I recommend using magnetic-tip darts for safety reasons.

No matter what type of dart tip you use, to hit the bullseye, you must be fast, accurate, steady, and fierce, and your wrist must be able to exert force; otherwise, you’ll just be floundering on the edge. Playing darts is quite exciting and can enhance a child’s concentration and hand-eye coordination. If they play well, it’s easy to give them a sense of accomplishment. For beginners, parents should definitely play with them, otherwise, children are prone to lose patience due to frequent dart retrieval.

5. Children’s Frisbee

Frisbee is truly a great social toy. However, playing alone and picking up the Frisbee by oneself can be a bit lonely; it’s much more fun to shout and play with friends.

Children’s Frisbees are made of PU material, can be folded and squeezed at will, and bounce back quickly. Even if you accidentally hit yourself in the face, it won’t hurt too much. At first, I didn’t understand, and my child and I were excited to throw it around, but we both got tired from just picking up the Frisbee. Later, I went online and found some tutorials. It turns out that playing Frisbee well also requires some skills. There are two ways to hold the Frisbee: forehand grip and backhand grip, and the positioning of the fingers is different, so the throwing methods are also different. Children can choose according to their own preferences. There are also high catch, two-handed catch, and low catch when catching the Frisbee. If novice parents want to enjoy playing Frisbee with their children, I suggest looking for some video tutorials online for reference before practice.

For children, “play” is always fun. Guiding children to enjoy sports through play, grow through sports, and exercise their bodies while experiencing the joy brought by dopamine is much more effective than simply treating sports as a task. These small toys mentioned above are not expensive and offer great value for money. Friends who want to get active with their children in the new year can refer to them freely, whether for personal use, gifting, or gathering three to five children to play together!

PS: Breaking news!! Welcome everyone to check out the “New Year’s Lucky Market” event on Zhihu. As a stall owner at this New Year’s market, I’ve set up a “New Year Sports Toy Stall” in this answer!

As a coaching mom who combines parenting, reading, and sports, I’ve shared in this answer how we’ve practiced together over the years and provided some inexpensive toys for your reference~ Please feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section, and let me see what “sports helpers” everyone has!

In addition, I’ve set up an interactive lottery event for this “stall,” with a prize of a set of Spark Thinking Parent-Child Edition (Advanced), worth 195 yuan

To make children “befriend” with sports, it’s essential to “have fun.”

Preschool children should have more than 180 minutes (accumulated) of physical activity each day, with at least 60 minutes being of moderate to vigorous intensity.

Is your child getting enough physical activity?

Ordinary activities like drawing or playing with toys indoors are considered low-intensity, and this becomes a concern as winter approaches or when the weather is unfavorable, leading to increased indoor time for children.

During the day, children go to kindergarten and spend the day in the classroom. After school, it gets dark early, and it’s cold, windy, or rainy outside. Staying indoors means less physical activity, and the intensity and duration of activity are clearly insufficient.

Insufficient physical activity can lead to a series of problems: children don’t burn energy, have poor appetites, may develop constipation, struggle with sleep, cough, or have a runny nose due to unspent energy, and their physical fitness and immunity may decline.

So, how can you ensure your child gets enough physical activity and has fun while being active in limited indoor spaces? This is a question many parents are pondering.

Preschool children have limitations due to their physical development and gross motor skills, and not all types of activities or sports are suitable. The table below provides some reference:

Inspired by this, I have prepared several “indoor sports toys” suitable for playing at home to keep children active:

(1) Indoor Quiet Ball

Lately, my child has taken a liking to this quiet ball, tossing it, kicking it, patting it, and throwing it around at home. Parents don’t need to worry about noisy neighbors downstairs because it is truly noiseless!

If you don’t have a quiet ball, you can use balloons as a substitute, but balloons are only suitable for tossing and catching games, not as versatile.

• Type of Exercise: Throwing and catching the ball.
• Intensity: Moderate intensity.
• Gameplay: Toss the ball into a basket (baby basketball hoop or any makeshift container), toss and catch games (taking turns tossing and catching).
• Recommendation: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Advantages: High entertainment value, diverse gameplay, budget-friendly (around $20).
• Disadvantages: Less bounce compared to a regular ball, may wear out over time, may not be suitable for small indoor spaces.

(2) Indoor Tail Grabbing Game

This has also become an indoor activity that my child can get excited about recently. Normally, she just sits and plays with toys, but at home, she can run around for half an hour just to grab her dad’s “peacock tail.”

• Type of Exercise: Running and chasing.
• Intensity: Moderate intensity.
• Gameplay: Each person wears a belt around their waist with a small tail attached. They try to grab each other’s tails while protecting their own.
• Recommendation: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Advantages: High entertainment value, kids are willing to move, budget-friendly (around $10), suitable for indoor and outdoor use.
• Disadvantages: Requires supervision by parents, not suitable for small indoor spaces or if downstairs neighbors are sensitive to running noises.

(3) Indoor Table Tennis Height Adjuster

This is suitable for children who prefer to sit still, focus on close-up activities, and need to relax and move their eyes. It serves a dual purpose, as it can be used for table tennis and high jumping.

• Type of Exercise: High jump and table tennis.
• Intensity: Moderate intensity.
• Gameplay: Adjust the height of the height adjuster, and the child jumps up to touch it; take down the table tennis ball (which can bounce), use a paddle to hit it or take turns hitting it (with some difficulty).
• Recommendation: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Advantages: Space-saving, suitable for small homes, good entertainment value, affordable (around $20).
• Disadvantages: A bit challenging for beginners, requires skill to control the ball when playing table tennis.

(4) Indoor Ring Toss, Foam Planes, Dart Balls, and Bouncy Board

Whether it’s ring tossing, foam plane flying, dart ball throwing, or playing on a bouncy board at home, they are all very suitable indoor activity options. They don’t take up much space, allow children to be active, and provide entertainment.

• Type of Exercise: High jump, dart throwing, foam plane flying, ring tossing.
• Intensity: Moderate to low intensity.
• Gameplay: Rings can be used for ring toss games or placing small toys on the floor for ring toss; foam planes involve parents flying them for kids to catch; dart balls can be thrown to see who gets closer to the center; the bouncy board provides a good workout for a short period of time.
• Recommendation: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Advantages: Space-saving, reasonably entertaining, affordable (between $10 and $20).
• Disadvantages: Fairly simple, may not hold a child’s interest for too long, may need to switch activities to prevent boredom.

To get children to exercise more, it’s essential to cultivate their interest. You shouldn’t turn it into a daily “training” routine. Instead, use fun and interesting toys to help children befriend physical activity! @Zhihu Parenting

Link to the original post:

Published on November 10, 2023, at 13:15 • IP Location: Hunan

In the new year, children must get active, love sports, love life, and become energetic youngsters. Here are some indoor and outdoor toys that can help children “befriend” with sports.

Indoor

1. Multifunctional Basketball Hoop

This multifunctional basketball hoop allows children to play from a young age, combining basketball, ring tossing, and darts in one basketball hoop. It can turn children into versatile little athletes.

Children can become slam dunk masters, ring tossing experts, and dart enthusiasts. My son was addicted to ring tossing for a while, and every time we went to the square, he wanted to give it a try. However, even if he managed to ring a toy, the quality of the toys was not great. So, I placed his toys on the floor at home and used this hoop to toss, saving the cost of ring tossing.

As long as you nurture your child’s interest, and they find sports enjoyable, they will actively participate. This basketball hoop can also adjust its height, with the hoop height freely adjustable between 75-115cm, suitable for babies of different ages to play.

2. Trampoline

My son has always been full of energy since he was young. After playing outdoors for a long time during the day, he would return home very late. I felt that he always had an endless supply of energy, and I, as his mother, could hardly keep up with his physical stamina. So, I bought him a trampoline to have at home. Whenever he has some free time, he bounces on it, and he gets so excited inside it, giving me a chance to rest.

On rainy days or when the weather is too cold for outdoor activities, children can get active at home. Jumping around on a trampoline can also help kids grow taller. You can also attach a single bar to the trampoline to exercise your child’s arm strength. When you go to the park, your child can compete with others and see who’s more skilled.

Outdoor

1. Frisbee

Every weekend is our family’s regular parent-child activity time. We bring a tent for camping and go for picnics, so a frisbee is a must-have toy. Frisbee can be enjoyed by both kids and adults, promoting family activity and strengthening parent-child relationships.

You throw, and I catch it. Children can run back and forth on the grass, and each exercise session leaves them sweating. After exercise, they have a better appetite, and the food tastes amazing, making them feel physically robust.

2. Hand-Thrown Parachute

Hand-thrown parachute is an inexpensive and fun toy that children can play with for a long time outdoors. When children throw it with force, the parachute slowly descends from the sky, creating a delightful parabolic trajectory. It’s especially interesting.

You can take your child to the park or an open area to play, running and jumping, getting their whole body in motion.

If you like my answer, please give it a thumbs up or follow me. I am @妍之有李, walking shoulder to shoulder with children, never stopping our growth. I will continue to share parenting experiences and parent-child reading. Looking forward to your recognition on Zhihu!

@Zhihu Parenting

As a fitness enthusiast with many years of experience in sports, from my perspective as someone who loves sports and fitness, it brings me immense joy to see children also develop a love for physical activity.

Children naturally have a penchant for movement, and if parents engage in physical activities with them, children will gradually develop an affection for sports.

To get children engaged in physical activities, it’s essential to provide them with toys that encourage play and movement. So, what are some fun toys that can become children’s companions in sports?

Fostering a Friendship Between Children and Physical Activity - The Magic of Sports Toys

In the new year, parents should help children cultivate the habit of physical activity, making it an integral part of their lives. The best way to achieve this is by offering children sports toys that are both enjoyable and playful.

Sports toys not only allow children to have fun while playing but also help them develop coordination, balance, and teamwork skills. These toys offer multiple benefits, making them essential tools for active play.

Below are some specific sports toys, along with their play methods and benefits:

1. Scooter

Scooters are excellent outdoor toys for children. They help exercise leg muscles, balance, and coordination.

Children can ride scooters freely, experiencing the thrill of speed. It’s important for parents to accompany them to ensure they control their speed and avoid accidents. Parents should choose scooters that are suitable for their children, as this can extend outdoor playtime and contribute to their physical well-being.

How to Play:

Have the child stand on the scooter, hold the handlebars with both hands, and push forward with their feet to make the scooter move.

For beginners, parental supervision and demonstrations are essential. Initially, children should practice on flat surfaces and gradually progress to slopes or skate parks.

2. Jump Rope

Jumping rope is a simple yet effective exercise that improves a child’s coordination, agility, and endurance.

Jumping rope can be done both outdoors and indoors, regardless of the weather.

How to Play:

Parents should teach children to hold the jump rope by its ends, loop it under their feet, and start jumping.

For beginners, start at a slow pace and gradually increase speed and difficulty. It’s advisable to play in spacious areas to avoid collisions with other children or objects.

As children become more skilled, parents can introduce various jump rope tricks, such as single-leg jumps, double unders, and cross-overs.

3. Soccer

Soccer is a team sport that enhances a child’s running ability, shooting skills, and teamwork.

How to Play:

Divide the children into two teams, each with a goalkeeper and multiple forwards. Distribute the players evenly among the teams.

Important Note: Before playing, teach the children the importance of warming up, as soccer involves significant physical activity, and not warming up can lead to injuries.

Children can compete by passing and shooting the ball to win the game. Organizing small-scale soccer matches can also add to the children’s enjoyment of physical activity.

4. Basketball

Basketball involves jumping and shooting skills, helping children develop arm strength, wrist flexibility, and endurance.

How to Play:

Divide the children into two teams, aiming for balanced numbers. Separate the teams based on shooting skills to ensure a fair game that brings joy to all players.

Children compete by passing, dribbling, and shooting to win the game. You should also ensure children warm up before playing basketball, as it involves significant jumping and can lead to injuries if not properly prepared.

5. Roller Skating

Roller skating is a popular sport suitable for children of various ages.

Next to our house, there is a roller skating training center where children aged six to high school students practice their agile steps and impressive moves. Observing their graceful and confident skating, I couldn’t help but admire the sport of roller skating.

Roller skating helps children develop their balance, coordination, and muscle strength.

How to Play:

Have children wear roller skates, stand on flat ground, and get their balance before starting to skate.

For beginners, parents can let children practice basic skating skills on flat ground, such as straight-line skating, turning, and braking.

As children gain confidence and skill, they can try skating on slopes or in skate parks. For younger children, it’s essential for parents to accompany them during practice.

Apart from these sports toys, there are many other enjoyable sports toys that can help children exercise their bodies and cultivate interests.

Examples include badminton, table tennis, swimming rings, exercise balls, and more. These toys not only provide physical exercise but also foster hobbies and teamwork among children.

In conclusion, making physical activity and toys a part of children’s lives is crucial.

By selecting suitable sports toys for children and assisting them in creating fun activity plans, parents can help their children exercise, develop interests, and enhance their teamwork skills.

I hope these suggestions are helpful to you. @Zhihu Parenting #NewYearFitness #NewYearParentingParty

To encourage children to become friends with sports, take them outdoors more often. Children have a natural love for movement and enjoy running and jumping.

What can make them more willing to be active? You can try these toys!

First, the Outdoor Rocket Launcher. This toy, once installed, allows you to stomp on it and then chase after the “rocket.” The advantage of this toy is that multiple people can play, or you can play alone. By setting it up yourself and chasing after it, you’ll likely attract many friends to join in. Children have so much fun with it that they often complain that their playtime is too short. “Let me play a bit longer.”

Second, you can play soccer. It allows for parent-child interaction – I kick the ball to you, and you kick it back to me. You can also play with friends, chasing and kicking the ball. Playing soccer provides a good amount of physical activity.

Third, you can try toy planes. Similar to the rocket launcher, this toy is easy to operate but can enhance a child’s physical abilities. You throw the “plane” and then retrieve it or toss it to another person, who tosses it back to you.

Fourth, there are toys for practicing high jumps. Children can practice jumping on their own, with adults nearby for safety.

While outdoor activities are excellent, the weather is getting colder, and windy days may not be suitable for going outside. In that case, these toys can be played indoors.

Fifth, now the country places greater emphasis on students' physical health development, with jump rope competitions in various grades. If you want to jump rope at home, a shock-absorbing mat is essential.

Sixth, you can have an automatic jump rope machine for practicing on the shock-absorbing mat.

Seventh, I recommend a parent-child balance-adjusting balance board. Of course, safety should be a priority.

Eighth, it’s essential to exercise a child’s wrist coordination. You can play a parent-child ball-catching game. Depending on your child’s level, you can use tongs, spoons, or chopsticks for catching. My son enjoyed playing this game when he was in kindergarten.

Ninth, you can also use a small hammer to tap on cards. This can help children tap on numbers, pinyin, or pictures of English words. It’s an enjoyable way to learn!

Tenth, on the shock-absorbing mat, you can play the game of rolling the iron ring. Children aged 5 and above can try to learn it. Two people can compete, preventing the bell from ringing on the opposite side. Children are competitive and enjoy playing this game while exercising.

Eleventh, as mentioned by the original author: the hanging ping pong ball is also excellent. It improves reaction speed and helps prevent myopia. When my son thinks of it, he asks me to bring it down to play. It can be played by two people or individually. It’s a great toy for physical exercise.

I am @DandelionSuperMom, with 13 years of experience in teaching English to young children. I have gone through many challenges and am an optimistic and strong working mom in Beijing! Feel free to follow me and grow together!

Sports can help children exercise their bodies and enhance their physical fitness. However, some children may not be interested in sports. What can we do? We can use some sports equipment to attract children to participate actively.

Here are some common sports items: jump ropes, balance bikes, twist cars, hula hoops, various balls, and more. I won’t introduce them here. I will focus on recommending some niche sports items for children.

Here, I recommend some niche sports items that I think are quite good:

① Home Trampoline

Playing on a trampoline consumes a lot of physical energy. Playing on a trampoline for ten minutes is equivalent to half an hour of jogging.

Children playing on a trampoline can promote blood circulation throughout the body, develop their balance, and exercise their muscles, especially those in the back and abdomen.

When children play on a trampoline, their legs move rhythmically, which is beneficial for their growth. Moreover, trampoline play can enhance their sense of joy during physical activity.

While playing on a trampoline, children establish connections between their sensory systems and the central nervous system through the stimulation of the soles of their feet, improving their motor skills.

Of course, trampoline sports have certain risks, so children must be reminded: do not play on the trampoline alone; adult supervision is required.

② Agility Ladder

The agility ladder is mainly used to exercise leg muscles and the flexibility of legs and feet, making it especially practical for growing children.

Children can use the agility ladder to practice jumping, improving their agility and flexibility in body movement, and strengthening leg muscle strength.

Agility ladder exercises can enhance the muscles of the soles of the feet, the ankle joint, and the small muscles of the knee joint, reducing the probability of lower limb injuries and improving the rhythmic nature of physical movement.

Its most significant feature is that it takes up little space and is easy to carry.

③ Badminton, Table Tennis, Tennis Rebound Practice Equipment, Various Balls

Various types of balls are especially suitable for children.

Various balls can promote hand-eye coordination in children. When the ball is thrown, children need to track it with their eyes and move their bodies appropriately according to the direction of the ball’s movement. This is highly beneficial for children’s health.

To catch the ball, children need to see where the ball is flying and then move their bodies to hit it with a racket. After repeated practice, children’s hand-eye coordination improves, enhancing their judgment.

The tennis rebound practice equipment can also transform into a parent-child sports device. Parents and children take turns hitting the rebounded tennis, engaging in parent-child interactive games.

Basketball, volleyball, and soccer involve both hand and foot movements and coordination with others or individual practice, which drive the movement of the ball.

During sports, every part of the body and every muscle are exercised. These large ball sports can promote children’s tactile development and bone growth, helping children grow taller.

④ Silicone Frisbee

In recent years, Frisbee sports have been popular among families because Frisbees are easy to carry and have minimal space requirements.

The most significant feature of Frisbee sports is the need for cooperation and close coordination among all participants. Only through good cooperation can the game be enjoyable, which is precisely what modern children lack.

Playing Frisbee can also improve children’s judgment, allowing them to learn interpersonal skills while having fun.

⑤ Balance Board and Seesaw Combination

This toy has different ways of playing for children of different age groups.

For younger children, it can be used as a rocking chair or turned over to become a small hill for walking training.

For older children, there are various ways to play, such as standing or sitting, to exercise balance.

This sports item can effectively exercise the strength of the inner thigh muscles and cultivate children’s concentration during physical activity.

⑥ Disc-catching Joy

This toy uses a foot-operated machine to launch discs into the sky, and children catch the flying discs with a net bag.

During play, children need to wear protective masks to prevent facial injuries.

Because catching flying discs requires running, it is particularly effective for children who are not very active.

Children, while running and catching discs, not only exercise their bodies but also improve their hand-eye coordination. It is a good sports item for children.

@Zhihu Parenting

We are a sports-loving family, including a child who loves sports and has been consistently active.

The benefits of sports for us are a healthy body and a happy mind.

This winter, our family has avoided mycoplasma infections, staying away from influenza, COVID-19, and various flu strains. Our child has been consistently healthy, which has given us peace of mind!

There are many sports equipment options, and here are a few entertaining and educational ones.

1. Mini Bow and Arrow

A very safe mini bow and arrow that can be played indoors. You can shoot it at the wall or the cabinet, and the small suction cups on the arrowheads can stick to the wall or the cabinet. It can also be played outdoors, shooting into the air or at trees, without harming the trees. It’s a great way to practice focus!

2. Ribbon Dance

I bought this for my child, and I absolutely love playing with it too. Swinging it gracefully is quite challenging, and it gets you sweating in no time, especially during winter. My child is very skilled at it. Not only can she dance with the ribbon, but she can also perform various movements. Compared to her, I fall short by a lot!

3. Frisbee

This thing is really cost-effective, and it’s quite a workout for two or three people playing catch outdoors. To catch it well, you have to move!

4. Various Ball Sports

Basketball, mini soccer, mini volleyball, tennis, badminton, ping pong… We have all sorts of balls. Our child can play with any type of ball. She’s best at badminton, followed by basketball. In basketball, her shooting accuracy is over 70%! Her dad loves ball sports, and that has had a profound influence on our child.

5. Bicycles, Scooters, Roller Skates

She started riding a bicycle with training wheels when she was young and moved on to ride with us once the training wheels were removed. We would cover distances of over 10 kilometers in one go. Now she has a full-sized bicycle, and whenever there’s time, we go cycling together, exercising and enjoying the scenery along the way.

Roller skating is our child’s little hobby. She learned it on her own without taking any classes. I don’t have any pictures on my phone, so I won’t share any for now.

6. Children’s Camera

I gave her a children’s camera as a birthday gift, which might not have a direct connection to sports, but it’s significant for us. When she was around 6 years old, we started hiking together, not at a professional level, just the three of us using our free time for outdoor activities, choosing routes where we could walk and have fun.

It’s a way to exercise, enjoy quality family time, and, over time, our child developed a love for capturing the flowers, plants, and landscapes during these hikes. She enjoys using the camera to document lovely moments.

So, her children’s camera has become a must when we go out. During road trips, she brings her camera and takes pictures throughout the journey. Her photography skills are quite good now!

Our child has always been friends with sports. Moderate physical activity is not only about strengthening the body but also about bringing joy to the mind. This is a belief deeply ingrained in our family, and we will continue to uphold it with our child!

@Zhihu Parenting

Children generally have unlimited curiosity, abundant energy, and they keep moving, never stopping.

If you want to purposefully guide children towards certain sports, it’s worth considering getting some appropriate toys to help achieve that goal.

In our family, we have a 2-year-old baby who absolutely loves snow. Every time it snows, we take him outside. When he sees others building snowmen, he can’t wait to join in. So, we got him some children’s shovels. Now, these past few days with a bit of snow, this little one is either busy building snowmen or playing with snowballs. He often gets so engrossed in playing that he doesn’t want to come home. With some assistance from the family, he’s even able to build decent little snowmen. As he grows older, he can try skiing and ice skating.

What’s interesting is that this little one gets really focused when playing. If you ask him to come home, no matter how you call him, he just won’t budge. Well, it’s not like someone said before that young kids have very short attention spans. It seems to vary from person to person or from activity to activity.

In fact, there are many child-friendly tools now to help children create beautiful snowmen. The inventors of these tools are quite considerate.

The child in our family is mischievous, but there are certain things he can focus on. When we took him to the beach in the summer, we got him a set of beach tools. He was so engrossed at that time, completely independent, and didn’t need anyone to entertain him.

From this, it’s clear that whether a child can focus on something is crucial, and of course, guidance is key. So, when you want your child to engage in sports and have a certain direction, it’s important to provide appropriate guidance. This way, children can play happily, grow up healthily, and develop well.

New Year brings a joyful parent-child gathering in Jishi.

@Zhihu Parenting

Oh dear, it’s winter, and I’m getting lazier by the day! I just want to stay in the warm, cozy room and not go downstairs at all!

Of course, it’s just me being lazy. Our children are unstoppable when it comes to going outside to play, rain or shine. Once they decide to go downstairs and play, nothing can stop them!

We have two children at home, a 9-year-old boy and a 7-year-old girl. At their age, they don’t need adults to accompany them when they go downstairs to play, so while they’re having fun downstairs, I can continue my own leisure time.

Our boy usually brings two toys when he goes downstairs: a soccer ball and a jump rope. The soccer ball allows him to play with friends in the neighborhood, fostering teamwork. When there are no playmates around, he can jump rope by himself, doing hundreds of jumps in one go, and warming up his body!

Our girl, being slightly younger, isn’t into soccer, but whenever she goes downstairs, she always brings two favorite toys: a scooter and a basketball. I remember when I first bought her the scooter; she couldn’t ride it and was too afraid to try!

With my encouragement, she gradually gained confidence and now rides it like a pro, leaving everyone else in the dust.

Besides scooter riding, her favorite activity is shooting hoops because her school requires her to practice daily. Over time, she fell in love with basketball and can now shoot hundreds of baskets in one go!

Of course, there are games that don’t require any toys, like a group of kids playing tag, hide-and-seek, or chase games.

Recently, I’ve been eyeing a few outdoor sports toys suitable for kids. I plan to buy one for them to try out. These toys are best suited for playing in squares or parks, where there’s plenty of space for exciting games. Here are some recommendations:

1. Frisbee:

It’s made of soft material, so it won’t hurt the kids if it hits them. It’s also a great activity for parents and children to enjoy together, promoting bonding. Easy to pick up and lots of fun, it makes outdoor exercise enjoyable and keeps everyone fit.

2. Badminton Racket:

This helps develop the child’s reaction time, hand-eye coordination, and grip strength. If your living room is spacious enough, you can even play it at home! One racket can unlock two sports: badminton and tennis, so you can switch between them and have alternating fun.

In the cold winter, these sports are perfect for warming up and boosting your child’s immune system!

@Zhihu Parenting

1. Parents exercising with their children.

2. Organizing a group of children to exercise together.

3. There’s nothing more interesting for children than interacting with others. How can cold, lifeless toys compare to human interaction?

Speaker: Liu Hongyan Studio, one-on-one WeChat consultations are ongoing. If you have any concerns about child education, family relationships, or personal growth, please message us.

There is a study that categorizes children into five types based on their social status: popular children, rejected children, conflicted children, neglected children, and typical children. “Rejected children” and “neglected children” are collectively referred to as “unpopular children.”

Compared to other babies, these “unpopular children” tend to exhibit more deviant behaviors as adults. “Rejected” babies are more likely to develop antisocial personality traits, while “neglected” babies are more prone to develop neurotic personality traits.

This study provides us with an insight: when it comes to children’s social interactions, parents should not overlook them and must intervene early. Parents should adopt appropriate and effective educational strategies for different social interaction problems in children, helping them overcome these obstacles and become well-liked individuals.

Now, let’s compare and hope that your child doesn’t belong to any of these five categories.

Types of Unpopular Children in Kindergarten

Sometimes, teachers report that while other children are playing games together joyfully, your child prefers to be alone, playing with building blocks by the wall. Children who don’t fit in often get overlooked by their peers, but they don’t necessarily have personality defects. These children may simply not find like-minded individuals in this small circle or may not enjoy their style of play.

After the sports meet, there haven’t been any new tasks for the past two days. It looks like we’re getting a brief rest before new missions kick off next week. So, after school these two days, I leave school and go straight home.

Solving things one by one really gives me a sense of accomplishment. Planning for a trip, organizing Christmas activities, buying gifts for myself, and indulging in takeout with my friend Song at night. It’s the first time we’ve had a successful joint mission, smoothly passing the levels.

I also found joy in a new game. Going downstairs to throw out the trash and collect packages. Everything I bought is perfect, especially those shoes I instantly fell in love with. I feel so happy. Thank you, life. 🤗

I scrolled through my college teacher’s social media posts and found it quite interesting.

My ex-husband and I come from a musical family, yet our son chose to pursue sports. Even my daughter-in-law is involved in the same field.

My friends' social media feeds are filled with students' holiday wishes and gifts that go viral every year, photos of my son and daughter-in-law winning competitions, interesting and meaningful achievements of various students, students going to teach and promote their ideas and methods to children, students getting certificates, students' families having sons and daughters, and even organizing third-generation teaching performances. Or, it’s about my parents, in their 90s, enjoying some delicious food or traveling somewhere.

My daughter-in-law is like a treasure to us. She promotes her daughter-in-law’s competition live streams in our group. 😅

My son’s international competition ended, and she’s been proud for many years. She went out of her way to switch shifts with her colleague to fly to pick up her son, and she shared a photo of the captain and her son, calling it a historic moment. When the driver picked them up, he had to shoot an interview video with her son. So, her tall son said, “Baby’s back!” and she replied, “Mom.”

Back when we were in school, she used to scold us sternly, and sometimes we didn’t like her much. But as we grew older, we realized she’s a sharp-tongued but kind-hearted little old lady with a lot of vitality. Thinking about it now, she probably was a cute troublemaker when she secretly told us about her love story with her ex-husband. 😄 #BackToSchoolSeason

The “Guidelines for Learning and Development of Children Aged 3-6” clearly outlines the general developmental goals and levels for children of different age groups in terms of motor development.

It can be divided into three main parts: balance, agility, and coordination; strength and endurance; and fine motor skills.

My child is currently in the middle class stage, and their motor development seems to be in line with the age-appropriate level. They often move around at home, demonstrating excellent balance and body coordination. Rather than increasing physical activity, it seems to be a way to reduce screen time.

Today, at lunchtime, I just purchased a parent-child sports game material online: ring toss.

This game has three main benefits:

First, it can improve hand-eye coordination, and the difficulty can be adjusted from easy to challenging based on the child’s abilities and interests.

Second, it’s relatively quiet to play, without creating a lot of noise, making it suitable for indoor play without disturbing the neighbors downstairs.

Third, compared to running and jumping games, it involves relatively less physical exertion, avoiding excessive sweating and the risk of catching a cold.

So, even though the toy is small, it holds great significance.

Friends, let’s play!

@Zhihu Parenting

Childhood is the most beautiful time spent with toys. A child’s health is a parent’s wish, and toys are a source of joy for children. Therefore, sports toys are the most popular.

Toys are not limited by their price; as long as the child likes them, they should be provided.

In the new year, to ensure that children don’t become like hothouse flowers, it’s essential to get them outdoors to enjoy the sunshine and rain. Glass balls and sandbags are ready. Let children find happiness in playing with their peers through outdoor activities. Throwing sandbags and dodging can enhance a child’s stress response, catching them can improve their eye-hand coordination and predictive abilities. Running, jumping, and playing games allow them to relish the joys of childhood.

In the new year, a jump rope costing just a few dollars can exercise not only arm muscles, leg jumping, and eye coordination but also enhance overall coordination. It’s convenient to carry and can be practiced anytime, anywhere.

Having table tennis balls prepared is also excellent sports equipment. Every shot of the ball brings a sense of victory, and every change in the way of hitting the ball is an innovation. Each catch is a source of pride; this builds confidence. With the ball flying back and forth, it instills perseverance and the spirit of ping pong challenge in children. Serving relies on wrist strength, receiving on eye coordination, and not to mention the development of coordination.

Children love challenging sports, and we have basketball ready at home. Playing basketball promotes bone growth, exercises a child’s reflexes, and can be a hobby. More importantly, it fosters teamwork, giving children a sense of collective consciousness, which is beneficial for their future in society.

Of course, besides exercising the body, children should also exercise their minds. We’re preparing building blocks, LEGO assembly toys, Rubik’s Cubes of different levels, and the versatile magic ruler for our children. When they’re tired of studying, they can use their hands to relax and take a break. After physical activity, they can assemble toys, which helps them calm down and rest for a while and also enhances their intelligence.

In the realm of play, both the brain and body are sharpened. This is the new year’s sports plan for children.

Walk by and don’t miss out! Take a look and don’t be fooled! For all the moms and dads with little ones around 2 to 3 years old, come in and have a look!

(Before reading, I’d like to clarify that this is just a personal opinion. If you disagree, it’s fine, but please don’t criticize. Also, these insights apply to kids around 3 years old.)

Let me start by stating my views on toys: Children don’t need toys; it’s adults who do! For children, toys are just a pastime to pass the time, much like us adults. If there’s something more important to do, they will unquestionably put down their toys and focus on their important tasks.

We must acknowledge that adults can never truly understand children, even if they are the most professional educators or preschool teachers. So, is what we “assume” really the absolute truth? Do they truly like toys? Isn’t it the case that we, as adults, forcefully impose the importance of toys on children for our own convenience? Isn’t it all just a game within the economic and social context? Isn’t it, in fact, driven by adults' desires and preferences?

Why do adults do this? The reason is simple: children should obey the rules set by adults, whether they are good or bad.

My son, Chen Bao, is nearly 2 years and 4 months old, and we have many toys at home, most of which we purchased ourselves rather than receiving them as gifts from friends and family. We believed that our son would like them, and we were enthusiastic about following the advice of a parenting expert: “Buy toys that parents like! This way, children can play with adults.” Furthermore, as adults, we also have our own childhood regrets to compensate for and desires to fulfill!

In reality, Chen Bao does enjoy these toys. They are colorful, safe, novel, and entertaining. They can be explored with the mouth, hands, and feet. Moreover, these toys often come with sounds and lights that stimulate a child’s sensory system. In our home, we try to avoid buying flashy electronic toys. However, he quickly loses interest, while our enthusiasm for buying toys remains high.

So, what does my Chen Bao really enjoy? Since I’m a full-time parent, I’ve had the privilege of peeking into his world. Toys are merely his pastime when he’s bored. He enjoys pots and pans in the kitchen, flowers, plants, insects, and birds in the garden, switches, buttons, doors, mattresses, sofas, chairs, tables, wood, water bottles, daddy’s toolbox, mommy’s wardrobe, grandma’s stairs, grandpa’s workshop, and even a hole, a tube, or a piece of rope.

He’s figuring out how to fit the electric toothbrush head into the railing screw hole.

I believe that many families have similar situations: kids crawling and flipping, creating chaos. The kitchen has knives, which are dangerous! The bathroom floor is slippery, which is risky! The living room has electricity, which is hazardous! What about the bedroom? If it gets messy, who will clean it up? Kids running around, jumping, on tables, sofas, and beds. What if they fall? What if it gets too noisy? They throw everything they can get their hands on, including clothes, tissues, and cutlery. Even though they are perceiving the world and exploring space, what will we do if they break something? What if they smash beloved or precious items?

This is the fundamental reason why adults buy toys: to keep children from disturbing our world!

However, children are naturally enthusiastic, curious, and energetic. Their mental, intellectual, and physical development requires exploration of the surrounding world. The larger their environment, the greater their potential for development. And sports are the most crucial way to help their bodies quickly adapt to this world and regulate their inner rhythms!

Get moving! They are moving, but adults are reluctant to let them move independently. Instead, we provide them with toys, limiting the range and rules of their movement, under the pretext of early education. Why can’t we just admit that we find it troublesome to clean up the house and watch our children play, preferring to do our own things?

Well, since you’ve all admitted it, but we still want to buy toys, how can we resolve this? I’m sorry, there’s no solution because I’ve also bought a lot of toys to satisfy my desires and cravings. Here are some of the toys I’ve bought, as shown below:

Inflatable Castle

We’ve had this inflatable castle for over a year, and it’s perfect for hosting summer birthday parties for kids outdoors! But in the winter, Chen Bao’s favorite is this:

Yes, it’s a mattress!!!

Before bouncing on the mattress, he helps me remove all the bedding and directs me to move a mattress outside. Then he can play! He holds onto the mattress’s headboard and starts jumping with both feet, carefully practicing balance by walking on a wooden board. He even picks up pillows and throws them at me one by one. He has quite a bit of energy.

If you don’t want to tidy up the mattress and bedding every night or don’t mind the sofa, you can let your child bounce on the sofa. Place a thick blanket underneath, just in case. Even so, adults should always pay attention to the child and preferably watch nearby.

If you want something convenient, space-saving, non-disruptive, with proper safety measures, sturdy materials, highly praised, and economically affordable for indoor jumping, consider a small, compact, non-invasive trampoline!

If you have a spacious yard or a community playground, I highly recommend buying a large trampoline for your kids. My husband and I plan to buy a large one next Easter because we also want to use it, so we’ll get a very big one. Almost every family in our village with kids has one in their yard. (When it arrives next Easter, I’ll definitely post some thoughts or ideas on Zhihu, so you can follow me!)

Of course, if you’re like me, willing to patiently clean up after your child’s play and don’t mind the sofa and mattress, there’s no need to buy one. Just make sure to engage your child in physical activities to burn off their energy during rainy or snowy days.

So, in conclusion, there’s no need to buy many toys. A ball, for example, can offer more than ten different ways to get your child moving. Physical activity is everywhere; it’s just that our time, energy, and patience are often consumed by daily work and trivial life, so we need toys to assist us in encouraging our children to exercise. However, buying toys doesn’t mean we can rely entirely on them. As parents, we need to get involved!

Parenting is not easy, but let’s do our best! @Zhihu Parenting @Zhihu Life @Zhihu Sports

Every day is a battle against laziness, raising a child while being a full-time chicken mom. @I Am a Chicken Mom in Germany Making up for my lack of knowledge with practical experience. Follow me for more parenting tips.

My child is about to turn 10 years old, and ordinary “toys” don’t seem to excite her anymore.

When you think girls like “fun,” my child likes to be “cool”….

Let’s start with a picture to see her “cool” appearance.

My child thinks she’s really cool.

Whether it’s evening or not, riding a bicycle around our neighborhood has become one of my child’s favorite things to do. After biking, she always asks me to take a photo of her for a “check-in.”

The black one is mine, and the white one is my child’s. Riding bikes and discovering the beauty of the city outdoors always relaxes the mood.

I Got into Cycling, and I Regret It!

All of this should start from June this year.

Maybe it’s because when I was in junior high school, I used to ride my bicycle to school every day, rain or shine, and I didn’t like riding a bicycle before (or maybe I didn’t like going to school…). So after graduating from junior high school, I didn’t ride much.

In June of this year, when I was on a business trip to Finland, my colleague took me for a ride in the forest mountains. Because it had been so long since I last rode a bike, my butt was sore for three days after riding more than 10 kilometers in the forest that day….

This giant thing… Hello my friend, wait… for… me….

But I found out that riding a bike is actually quite fun, for three reasons:

1. The range of activities is quite wide, and you can go far and see different scenery.
2. Feeling the wind blowing past your face is very relaxing for office workers.
3. Exercise is good for physical and mental health, and it’s not too tiring.

So, I started to learn about bicycles, observed for about a month, and tried my friend’s bike myself. I decided to buy a Dahon folding bike from the United States (Dahon SP18), which has been extensively modified, as shown in the picture below.

Cool, right?

Maybe it’s because my daughter saw me being “cool” every day, she suddenly wanted to ride a bike too.

So, she brought out her “BMW”…

My daughter, like the wind, has gone 11 kilometers. Is she tired?

My daughter says, “My bike doesn’t have gears, and it’s too small! I can’t keep up with you!"

Yes, her “BMW” is a children’s bike that can ride more than 10 kilometers with me, which is quite a miracle…. But her “BMW” is an all-aluminum alloy “BMW,” which is super lightweight and easy to ride, even if it’s not very fast.

Well, seriously, this “BMW” is actually a Decathlon BTWIN Mars Rover. This series of bikes is generally not bought by people who don’t understand bikes because they are quite expensive…. But honestly, this bike is really good:

1. The whole bike weighs 8 kg, with an aluminum frame.
2. Belt wheels instead of chains for less friction.
3. When children ride bikes, it’s safe to choose a good one to protect their knees.

The price is a bit expensive. When I bought it two years ago, the original price was 1699, and the price seems to be about the same.

It’s just that my daughter, who has been seeing me being “cool” every day, suddenly wanted to ride a bike.

So, she brought out her “BMW”…

The Selection Process Wasn’t That Smooth

This white little warrior took me more than a month to select and get it done…. When I bought it, my daughter was so excited (although she’s usually a wild child).

Originally, I was planning to buy a folding bike because a folding bike is more convenient. It can be folded into the trunk of the car, so we can go further and satisfy my daughter’s desire to explore new places (like me).

So, I initially locked onto a folding bike from Dahon.

However, it’s a bit difficult to meet the demands of “gears," “folding," and “height” at the same time.

Because my daughter is not tall, she is about 135 cm tall, and there are not many bike models to choose from. In the end, I locked onto the Dahon K3.

The reason for choosing this one is very simple:

1. Dahon’s folding bikes are very reliable; you have to try them to know. They are a well-known brand.
2. The wheels of the K3 are 14 inches, which is the closest to what children need.
3. Three-speed gears also satisfy my daughter’s desires.

But… (yes, here comes the “but” again), the K3 is actually an adult folding bike. Although the bike looks small, its wheelbase is not small.

I let my daughter try it, and with her height of 135 cm, she can barely manage it, and it’s not comfortable to ride.

If she could grow to about 140 cm in height, the K3 would be the best choice…

But I can’t just wait for her to grow those 5 cm taller before buying it, or she’ll go crazy.

So, let’s push it to those lucky tall people.

My daughter went home disappointed….

Finally, I Found My Dream “Warrior”

As my daughter’s super-dad, how could I give up so easily?

When my daughter adopted a cat, she cried all night because of disappointment, but I, her super-dad, found a way to solve it….

Why did you start raising cats, and what changes did you have after raising them?

This simple bicycle can certainly be sorted out for her.

I started looking for children’s gear bikes, and eventually my gaze fell on the “stylish” Decathlon BTWIN series.

The advantages are very obvious:

1. Below a thousand yuan, the price is affordable.
2. Stylish appearance.
3. 6-speed gears, satisfying the desire for “mountain bikes.”
4. A well-known sports brand. 5

I remember when my child, Dun Dun, was under pediatric care, the doctor often advised me to encourage her to exercise more, as it would be beneficial for her healthy growth. Since Dun Dun started walking, she has shown a keen interest in outdoor activities, even more punctually than her three meals a day. After finishing her meal, she would climb onto her little toy car by herself and ask us to take her out to play. I remember when she wasn’t walking very steadily yet, she would laugh gleefully when she saw the kids downstairs playing “eagle catching chicks.” Without our encouragement or invitations from other kids, she quickly integrated into this group, running along with them, laughing happily as she ran. Since these kids were all over 3 years old and there were many of them, while Dun Dun was not even two years old yet, we worried that she might easily get knocked over. So we carried her out. But she wasn’t very happy about it, so we took her to a relatively open place and continued to play the “eagle catching chicks” game with her.

Although the child has an innate love for sports, she tends to seek attention from others by asking to be carried or held when there’s nothing fun or interesting around. Therefore, I believe that finding the child’s point of interest is the source of her activity and independence. But how to find the child’s hobbies is also a dilemma for us parents. So I started from these aspects:

1. Pay Attention to the Child’s Behavior:

Before the child was born, we had already started buying a lot of toys for her, such as scooters, bicycles, building blocks, small windmills, tricycles, children’s drawing boards, toy cars, and so on. Among them, there were ones she liked and ones she didn’t. The toys she didn’t like just piled up at home, taking up space and wasting money, which was quite a pity. So later, when we took our child out to play, while ensuring her safety, we also paid attention to her behavior. For example, we observed which type of kids she liked to play with, what type of games she enjoyed, what type of environments she preferred for playing, and what type of people she liked. Based on these behavioral characteristics, we bought toys that matched her interests. According to our observations, she liked toys such as round balls, cars, music, soft dolls, and drawing.

2. Let the Child Try Various Activities:

Because the child is still young and doesn’t know which type of activity she likes, we have to try different activities with her. After taking safety precautions, we take her to walk on greenways, participate in activities or competitions organized by mother-and-baby stores, go on nearby trips, engage in parent-child early education, watch sports competitions, attend music festivals, and visit theme cultural festivals, etc. I found that the child, just like us, enjoys crowded and lively places with interesting things to see. Therefore, we often take her to participate in activities that are well-organized, themed, and immersive. She enjoys playing happily and getting deeply involved, and we can also relax and enjoy ourselves while taking care of her.

3. Encourage and Support the Child to Try New Things:

Since the child is young and has limited exposure to things, we often encourage her to try new things and meet different people while accompanying her. This also helps her socialize and expand her interests and hobbies. For example, when we take her out to play, we often introduce her to some older sisters who are two or three years older than her. They can play together on slides, ride scooters, play with balls (although not very skillfully, mainly responsible for picking up the ball), and play tag, among other activities. This not only makes the child happy and physically active but also enhances teamwork and social skills.

In conclusion, based on the child’s interests, I have summarized several types of toys that are suitable for her age, easy to carry, and conducive to her physical activity:

1. Ball Toys: Dun Dun likes all kinds of balls in different sizes and materials, such as small rubber balls, basketballs, volleyballs, etc. Although she sometimes looks interested in us playing with balls or older kids playing with balls, she doesn’t know how to play yet. However, she is an excellent assistant, especially good at picking up the balls, which promotes her physical endurance as well as teamwork and social skills.

2. Scooters: I bought Dun Dun a little yellow duck scooter. She likes to compete in speed with her friends in the yard. Occasionally, with our praise and encouragement, she becomes even more cocky when scooting. This scooter not only has bright colors that visually appeal to kids but also helps her develop balance and leg strength during play. It’s a fun outdoor activity.

3. Children’s Tricycles: I want to clarify that Dun Dun’s tricycle is a small one with three wheels. Since she can’t control two-wheeled bicycles well at this stage, the tricycle offers more balance. After playing sports and getting tired, this tricycle has a one-key installed handlebar, which makes it easy to push, suitable for taking the child out for a walk. Riding a tricycle is also a good aerobic exercise that can strengthen her leg muscles and balance.

4. Flying Disc: The flying disc is a very portable toy, small and lightweight, a must-have when taking Dun Dun out to play. The flying disc is also a simple and fun outdoor activity. Playing with the child not only improves her hand-eye coordination and reaction speed but also promotes the development of our parent-child relationship.

In summary, promoting the child’s enthusiasm for sports through her interests not only makes her actively engaged in physical activities but also allows her to have a happy childhood. As a mother, we are more concerned about the child’s healthy growth. Therefore, in the new year, let’s cheer for the child’s health and happiness together!

Children’s physical activity is a crucial aspect of their development. Exercise enhances their immunity, reduces the risk of illness, and promotes brain development. I have always paid close attention to my children’s physical activity since they were young.

My children have always been enthusiastic about physical activity, even when they were very young and could only lie down or move their legs and arms. The maternity nurse remarked that these children were naturally inclined towards physical activity, even during the postpartum recovery period.

As they started crawling, I introduced simple toys such as balls and toy cars, and they would crawl after these toys, improving their motor skills.

Now that my children are growing, I want to give them a sense of ceremony during the Chinese New Year, hoping to fill their childhood memories with love and happiness. During the New Year, I have chosen sports-related gifts for them. After careful comparison, I decided to get them bicycles.

In the spring, the whole family can go cycling together, which not only provides physical exercise but also prevents obesity, improves cardiovascular health, and allows us to enjoy the sights and sounds of spring. Cycling as a family activity also strengthens our parent-child relationships.

The “Good Baby” brand has been a trusted name for decades, with our baby’s crib, stroller, and bedding all being Good Baby brand products. This time, I purchased children’s bicycles from Good Baby, which come with training wheels and are easy to assemble, taking only half an hour to set up.

Although it’s currently quite cold, with temperatures below freezing, we’ll have to wait for warmer weather to enjoy the bicycles. I can’t help but look forward to it!

To make your child become friends with physical activity, you must first develop a love for exercise yourself and have a willingness to accompany your child.

I often watch videos related to playing with children and then engage in physical activities with my child, coming up with new games to keep things interesting.

One of my child’s favorite games is rescuing small animals. We take some of our small toys, tape them to the floor, and set up obstacles like tunnels and jumps as challenges. After completing these challenges, we “rescue” the small animals.

1. Scooter

Scooters are quite stable and are less likely to tip over. Even in limited play spaces, they can move freely, albeit at a relatively slow speed compared to other types of vehicles. They help children develop hand-foot coordination, balance, body coordination, as well as strength in their limbs, waist, and buttocks. Scooters also enhance a child’s reflexes. Parents should ensure a safe environment for their child to play with a scooter on flat ground.

2. Hanging Ping Pong Ball Trainer

This is perfect for parent-child interactive games that can be played at home. It’s easy to operate, and even a 2-year-old can play with it. It can improve a child’s reaction time, hand-eye coordination, and focusing ability. It’s truly a home exercise tool.

3. Building Blocks

Building blocks come in various shapes and sizes, making them highly appealing to children. They can be easily transformed into different forms, making them one of the most common toys in every household. Building blocks help cultivate a child’s focus, boost their imagination, and stimulate creativity. These educational toys are essential for child development.