Today, around a fifth of children are obese before the age of 12. So the fact that the kid in your life is already into sports is a good thing. But how do you encourage him or her to carry on with the habit?
Try Out Golf For Size
Junior golfing equipment is a lot better than it was when you were a kid. Gone are the plastic batons that were more like hockey sticks. Today, junior golf sets are nearly as good as the real thing and a heck of a lot more expensive. You’ll still probably be set back more than $100. But at least you’ll give the kid a real feel for what playing golf is actually like.
Junior golf sets come with a driver, usually three irons, and a putter. You’ll also get a bag to carry everything in. Look out for sets that are made from graphite, as these tend to be more durable and lighter weight.
Freestyle Scooting
Scooters were all the rage around the turn of the millennium. But this year, they’ve made a return. Now sporty kids are turning to the sport in their droves. Scooting has become a bit like skateboarding of old. It’s all about hanging out with friends and trying to master fiendishly difficult tricks. Scooters are a great way to keep sporty kids entertained on long Sunday afternoons.
Last time around, the quality of scooters was questionable. But the industry has changed dramatically since that initial burst of enthusiasm. And today, scooters are made to the same standards as bicycles. (And bicycles have come a long way too).
Repair Kit
Speaking of bicycles: there’s a good chance that the sporty kid in your life owns one. And that means that, sooner or later, it’s going to wear out or get a puncture. Rather than taking it to the bike shop every month for an expensive repair, why not do it at home? Today, you can get self-contained bike repair kits that have most of the tools you need. They come with hex wrenches, tyre levers, and even chain tools.
Of course, if you’ve got a high-end bike, you’ll still need to have it sent off to get its suspension sorted out. But most other jobs, even replacing bearings, can be done at home. Sporty kids usually love working with their hands. And so mastering how to maintain a bike should be a breeze – and an essential life skill.
Power Balls
The official advice is that young kids shouldn’t be spending hours in the gym trying to build muscle. But that doesn’t mean that they can’t do any strength training at all. Here’s a cool idea: why not get a sporty kid a strength ball? Strength balls are basically gyros inside a plastic ball. Spinning up the gyro really fast requires a lot of muscle power. But it doesn’t involve any heavy, dangerous weights.
Strength balls have a readout on the top, telling how fast you managed to spin the gyro inside. The faster it spins, the stronger you are.
