Buy gifts of health for the children on your Christmas list. After they open the gifts, use the gifts with the children.

That's advice from several Central Illinois health and fitness proponents, with one week of Christmas shopping remaining.

"It's a gift that shows someone how much you care about their well-being," said Eileen Kilborn, group fitness director at The Workout Company in Normal.

A gift for a child or teenager is more likely to be used if it's fun, said Bob Keller and Bree Davis of the McLean County Health

Department.

"A child doesn't think about mortality and morbidity," said Keller, the health department director. "They want to have something that's fun."

No problem, the health proponents said. All sorts of fun gifts are available that promote physical activity and healthy eating.

Parents may use many of the gifts as well. Parents and kids exercising together aren't just building their health. They're building their relationship.

"The family needs to model what they want their kids to do," said Davis, the health department's public health communications specialist. "Any gift that a family can use together is a good thing."

One reason adults exercise is to reduce stress. Children and teens who feel the stresses of peer pressure, school and homework, grades, extracurricular activities, family dynamics and shifting hormones may derive the same benefit from exercise, said Sheri Gatto of the Center for Healthy Lifestyles at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center.

"The whole family is tired and stressed," Gatto said. "Healthy gifts may offer relief by giving them energy and helping them to decrease stress."

Benefits go beyond physical, said Kelley Wickenhauser, program manager with Four Seasons Association, Bloomington.

"Everyone wants the physical benefits from exercising - losing weight and looking good. And you're warding off things you can't see, such as high blood pressure and cholesterol," Wickenhauser said.

"But exercise also comes out in your attitude toward life," she said. People who exercise generally feel better about themselves and have a better attitude toward life than people who don't.

And the gift of health doesn't have to be expensive. It can be a $3 jump rope, a $10 football, a $20 foam sled or $20 children's cookbook.

"Your muscles don't know if you're using a $2,000 piece of equipment or a $15 jump rope," Kilborn said. "So you really can get something reasonably priced."

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Healthy choices

The Pantagraph asked health proponents for ideas for gifts for children and their families. The gifts had to be available this time of year and cost less than $40. Here are their suggestions:

• Balls - Balls encourage activity and games. Footballs and soccer balls can be used outside even during winter; volleyballs and basketballs can be used inside at a gym. Balls work hand-eye coordination. A Nerf football costs about $9.97, while one that comes with a water bottle costs $12.97. Footballs ranged from $3 to about $13, basketballs cost $3 to $19, soccer balls ranged from $6 to $11, and volleyballs about $10. An electronic game called Cosmic Catch, which may be played inside or outside, was retailing for $19.82.

• Jump ropes - A jump rope is great for developing coordination, can provide a good cardiovascular workout and can be used by yourself or with other people. A lightweight jump rope at Wal-Mart costs $2.88, while a Jump Into Fitness kit that included an instructional DVD costs $14.95 at the Center for Healthy Lifestyles.

• Free weights - Free weights can build muscle. A three-pound weight costs $3.50 and a one-pound weight costs $1.61 at the Center for Healthy Lifestyles.

• Pogo sticks - Pogo sticks are excellent for kids to work on balance and coordination. A Maverick Pogo stick retailed for $29.99 at Toys-R-Us.

• Tennis, golf - While these are generally considered warm-weather sports, equipment is available now for kids. A SpongeBob Square Pants Tennis Ball set and a kid's racquet are available at Wal-Mart for less than $13. A junior size golf club driver is $12.92. Tennis has all sorts of health benefits; golf works hand-eye coordination.

• Sleds - Sledding is a great outdoor family winter activity, not only because it's fun but because of the cardiovascular benefit of all those walks back up the hill. A Racer Snow Tube for kids was retailing for $7.77, while a Free-Style Foam Sled was selling for $19.94.

• Discs - Disc golf is a fun recreation for the entire family and may be played at Normal's Maxwell Park or at Bloomington's Miller Park. Discs for $8 and up can be found at Dick's Sporting Goods and Wild Country.

• Mini trampoline - For families with enough indoor space, a mini trampoline can provide a fun workout. A mini trampoline with a DVD and fitness monitor cost $29.76 at Wal-Mart.

• Safety cones - Kids can run around or kick balls between safety cones set up in your basement during long winter days. A set of four safety cones at Wal-Mart costs $2.97.

• Bike helmet - Get the kids ready for spring biking with a bike helmet. Bicycling is great for cardiovascular endurance. A Transformers bike helmet at Wal-Mart costs $19.84.

• Pedometer - For kids and adults who are motivated by knowing how many steps they take in a day, a pedometer could be helpful. A pedometer that measures steps, distance and calories retails for $7.88 at Wal-Mart, while a Stride-Rite Walking Kit (a pedometer and body fat analyzer) costs $29 at the Center for Healthy Lifestyles.

• Cookbooks - Anything that encourages learning about healthy cooking and eating is good. In addition, kids and parents baking together can be a great opportunity for conversation and building traditions. At the Center for Healthy Lifestyles, Betty Crocker's Kids Cook! retailed for $19.95, The Healthy Start Kids' Cook Book sold for $16.95, and Betty Crocker Win at Weight Loss Cookbook costs $24.95. A holiday apron cost $17.

• Pilates ball - Pilates builds abdominal and lower back strength, which promotes good posture and helps with a variety of life activities. A 25-centimeter Pilates mini-ball, with a workout DVD, costs $6.88 at Wal-Mart.

• Exercise mats - Children and adults doing yoga or Pilates at home may benefit from an exercising mat. At the Center for Healthy Lifestyles, a yoga mat cost $22 and a Scooby-Doo! Mat Bag Carrier sold for $19.98.

• Body ball - Exercises that may be done using a body ball include pushups, crunches and leg exercises. Body balls come in different sizes. A 55-centimeter ball, for example, sold for $9.92 at Wal-Mart.

• Exercise DVDs - Exercise DVDs can provide a way to stay in condition during the winter months. Some exercise videos are geared toward children. Costs range from $15 to $35. Discover Tai Chi, for example, costs $24.95 at the Center for Healthy Lifestyles.

• Fitness attire - Anyone exercising needs comfortable clothing appropriate to the exercise. People continuing to exercise outside during winter should look for fabric made of micro-fiber and should wear a hat and gloves. Prices vary greatly.

• Ice skating gift certificate - Ice skating is fun and great exercise. A gift card to the Pepsi Ice Center in downtown Bloomington may apply to lessons or open skating. Admission plus skate rental costs $6.

• Personal training session or lesson - A child can get a personal training session, a beginning swim lesson, a karate lesson, or an Upper Limits' climbing gym class for less than $40. Then the child can decide whether to pursue the activity or do something else. A mother and child healthy cooking class costs about $20.

• Interactive video games - While most video games encourage a sedentary lifestyle, an increasing number of games - such as Dance Dance Revolution - require movement. The Web site www.fitnessandkids.com sells a variety of games, and some retail for less than $40.

• Resistance bands - Resistance bands can provide a great upper and lower body workout for adults and kids. Resistance bands take up little space, are easily transportable and may be used almost anywhere. ABC Adjustable Band Conditioning 4 Kidz costs $24 at the Center for Healthy Lifestyles, while a simple Resist-A-Band cost $4.65. A Long Resistance Tube at Wal-Mart costs $6.87.