Fitness, Yoga and a Healthy Lifestyle

Wee Exercise
Ages: Infant - 1 yrs.
Wee Exercise, $30.00 (DVD)   

In baby's first year of life, it's all about being "Fit from the Start to be Smart." Research shows that early exercise stimulates important connections in the brain that are the foundation for fine and gross motor skills. The Wee Exercise program is designed by a Pediatric Occupational Therapist to boost baby's coordination, strength, and brainpower helping baby reach those important development milestones. Product Description

Yoga Ma Baby Ga
Ages: Infant - 2 yrs.
Down Dog Productions, LLC, $24.95 (DVD)   

“Yoga Ma Baby Ga” is an easy-to-follow yoga exercise program designed to give the new mother an opportunity to work out while bonding with her infant. The 55-minute routine shown in the lower screen corner concentrates on her postnatal recovery, offering a variety of pose level suggestions and specifically targeting those after-baby abs. The rest of the screen is filled with stunning images accompanied by delightful, original music to engage and stimulate her baby. Product Description  

Dance Praise
Ages: All Ages
Digital Praise, Inc., $49.95

Turn your computer into a dance arcade with top christian hits! Get ready for hours of family fun with music worth listening to! Simply plug in the interactive dance pad into the USB port of your computer and start movin' and groovin' to over 50 Christian songs from your favorite artists. Also look for:

Dance Praise Expansion Pack Volume 1: Modern Worship. Infantastic! Workout - Bonding with Baby through Excercise
Ages: 2 months - 10 months
Van Castle Entertainment, Inc., $14.99 (VHS)

This exercise program helps new moms bounce back from childbirth and regain energy and strength by working out with your pint-sized training partner. Divided into three mini-workouts, the program places special emphasis on the areas which new moms are most concerned - abdominals, thighs, buttocks and the pelvic floor muscles. Product Description
Dance-Baby-Dance!
Ages: 3 months - 15 months
Infantastic!, $17.95 (DVD)   

Burn fat and regain your pre-pregnancy shape through the joy of dance, while spending quality time with your baby. Inspiring, authentic music motivates you to move - and your baby loves being a part of the action. Product Description

Baby-Reps!
Ages: 3 months - 15 months
Infantastic!, $17.95 (DVD)   

Lean up and regain your shape and energy, while spending quality bonding time with your baby! Inspired by natural everyday movements that moms perform with their babies, the exercises target the belly, thighs, buttocks & upper body -- toning muscles, increasing strength and burning fat. Product Description
 

  Waterproof Kids
Ages: 6 months & Up
Waterproof Kids, $19.95 (DVD)   

A fun guide for teaching children to swim From babies to teens, Waterproof Kids will help parents teach children of all ages how to swim in a fun and positive way. Now you can teach your kids to be water safe as they discover the fun of swimming. Disc includes segments on Babies 6 months to 2 years; Toddlers 2 to 4 years old; Children 5 to 12 years old; Teens and Adults; Working in Open Water. Product Description  

 Elmo's World: Food, Water & Exercise
Ages: 2 - 4 yrs.
Sony Wonder, $12.99 (DVD)   

Join Elmo as he explores why food, water and exercise are essential parts of our life. An apple talks about his family tree, Elmo scuba dives to depths unknown, and children can join in the exercise by grooving to the Bunny Hop. With Elmo, children can learn about foods from around the world, dip into deep water and stay healthy and strong with exercise. 

Sesame Street Happy Healthy Monsters
Ages: 2 - 4 yrs.
Sony Wonder, $12.99 (DVD)   

In this Sesame Street DVD, preschool aged children are challenged to use their motor skills (exercising/jumping) and cognitive skills (understanding healthy eating, how to take your pulse) to learn about healthy habits. The DVD uses a variety of teaching methods, including songs, skits, and modeling behavior with real children to teach about exercise and healthy food. 

The MonkeyDoos: Gallop, Hop and Stomp
Ages: 2 - 6 yrs.
Thinkeroo, Inc, $14.95 (VHS)

Get ready to GALLOP, HOP AND STOMP in this jungle adventure featuring the toe-tapping, energetic music of the Monkeydoos. join the safari with Flip, Tumble, Twist and host Maureen as they explore the movements, sounds and actions of tigers, elephants, hummingbirds, flamingoes and more. It's a surprise-filled expedition where kids learn about a variety of wild jungle animals. 

YogaKids- A, B, C's
Ages: 3 - 6 yrs.
Gaiam, Inc., $19.98 (DVD)   

This easy-to-follow program presents children ages 3-6 with the experience of a playful approach to yoga. Children are provided with several simple techniques that they will enjoy, remember and use repeatedly. YogaKids 2 provides a creative association between the alphabet, animals and yoga poses. A great way for children to improve physical fitness, learn to focus, relax and have fun at the same time! Product Description
 

YogaKids- Silly to Calm
Ages: 3 - 6 yrs.
Gaiam, Inc., $19.98 (DVD)   

This program presents several easy-to-follow programs for children to learn to channel their energy into flexibility, fitness and fun! Kids learn to move their bodies in ways that mimic the world around them, and as a result go from a high energy level to a relaxing calm level. Product Description

Wai Lana's Little Yogis
Ages: 3 - 8 yrs.
Wai Lana Productions, $19.95

Fun, safe, easy, and convenient, this complete yoga kit provides everything a little yogi will need to get started on the path to a long, healthy life. The kit includes Little Yogis video; kid’s Yogi Mat styled with little cartoon yogis in action, in kid-friendly colors and size; kid’s Asana poster with 21 yoga exercises in cartoon style, and a colorful tote. 

Kick to Get Fit Jr. - For Kids
Ages: 3 - 12 yrs.
Grogan's Martial Arts & Fitness, Inc., $18.95 (DVD)   

Kick to Get Fit Jr. is a fun and easy-to-follow DVD workout by Rich Grogan, fitness expert. He takes it the exercise seriously, but he has made a DVD that's amusing and effective, with basic moves and good pacing. Although the workout is designed essentially as a martial arts video, Rich substitutes other activities for the usually violent kicking and punching that goes into a kick boxing video. His direct and friendly approach is appealing, and it's fun to watch some of the little kids in his group ham it up for the cameras. Any kid will benefit from following Rich through his moves. 

Yogateers Yoga Kit
Ages: 4 & Up
YogaYears, LLC, $39.95

The Yogateers™ kit provides children of all ages with a great introduction to yoga. Includes a yoga mat, playing cards, spinner, carrying case, and instructions. 

Toucanz Trail Obstacle Adventure
Ages: 5 - 10 yrs.
Avid Ideas, $14.95 (DVD)   

If you're looking for an exercise DVD that will get your child up off the couch, or looking for a video that might give you some active birthday party ideas, this is it. How can it do both? It's because there are two distinct parts. The first is a complete workout, from warm up to cool down, leading a group of elementary school kids through a variety of moves from sit-ups to push-ups and more. The second part of the video offers suggestions for creating your own obstacle course.

 Kideosyncrasy Volume 1
Ages: 6 - 12 yrs.
Warnick and Company, Inc, $19.99 (DVD)   

Claiming to get "the world into shape one kid at a time"™ the Kideosyncrasy DVD introduces dance as exercise, teaching seven fun dances along with standard good exercise habits. The dances are all taught and led by kids, who first demonstrate the dance and then follow with instructions. The instructions aren't always clear, but kids will have fun learning nonetheless. 

Denise Austin's Fit Kids
Ages: 7 - 14 yrs.
Lions Gate Home Entertainment, $14.98 (DVD)   

Denise Austin is so energetic that our testers couldn't help but have fun with this DVD. The workout itself is very good and appropriate for a rather wide age range (7-14 or so). It offers something slightly different from other exercise videos available for children. It incorporates fun moves from sports drills (basketball, skiing), hip-hop, yoga, and dance to make it a really diverse workout that is well suited to both boys and girls. Overall, it is a good tool for encouraging young people to get active and to stay healthy.

Yoga
Ages: 9 - 13 yrs.Bee Smart Media, $19.95 (DVD)   

This introductory yoga DVD includes two workouts (15 minute seated postures and 30 minute standing postures), a "yoga dictionary" that explains the different poses and purpose of each one, interviews with the teenage girls in the video, and exercise and nutrition facts to teach teenagers about a healthy lifestyle. The poses/exercises in the workouts appear to be the right level of exertion for the intended age group (approximately 9-15 years), however, some children may find that some of the movements are a little too advanced. The DVD keeps the routine interesting for young girls by putting humorous little sayings at the bottom of the screen throughout the workout ("OK, I'm comfy" or "Ugh, this mat smells funny!").

Promoting a Healthy Family Lifestyle: Be Active
Just as parents guide and monitor their children’s academic health, parents need to take responsibility to initiate healthy habits for their children’s physical health and well-being. Don't miss these 30 tips for families to exercise together to promote a healthy lifestyle.

Introducing Fitness Through Playful Activities
Establishing a fit and healthy lifestyle is vital - for parents and kids. Parents' Choice offers the following suggestions for products designed to introduce and encourage physical fitness in young children from infants to age 6.