Movement Gifts For The Whole Family
We’ve been asking on social media and our mailing list for the best Christmas gifts that help keep people moving — indoors or outdoors. You sent brilliant ideas. Thank you.
One thing we’ve learned over the years - If it’s right there, you’ll use it, if it’s tucked away in a cupboard, you probably won’t… and neither will the kids.
Here’s what made the list so far — from DIY creations to affordable bits of kit:
1. Olympic Rings
Fasten them to ceiling joists with eye bolts or rafters (if you have them) and suddenly you have rainy-day magic. Last winter our eldest spent hours on them, quietly giving himself permission to explore. Come spring, he flew across the monkey bars at school. Also great for impromptu indoor obstacle courses.
I’ll add indoor monkey bars here too. You don’t need much space.
You can order individual bars and fit them to whatever length you have — a hallway, a playroom, or the gap between two beams.
2. DIY Climbing Wall
We built one in the shed… and now wish we’d been brave enough to put it in the house. It gets used so much more when it’s nearby.
3. Slackline
Perfect to take with you to park as they pack down to small.
Some people have tried indoor versions fixed to wooden boards and said they were great — we haven’t yet, but we’re curious.
4. DIY Foam Swords
A long-standing WildStrong favourite. We use them with kids and with older adults, they are very joyful. Link to make your own here.
5. Build-Your-Own Adventure Sofa
Play sofas are endlessly configurable — castles, boats, gymnastics mats, pirate ships… and the occasional sibling peace treaty negotiation chamber.
6. A Big Square Floor Mat
This one came up a few times and we completely agree, a large square mat (not a narrow yoga rectangle) encourages far more crawling, rolling, tumbling, balancing, wrestling, and imaginative play.
It also doubles as a wrestling ring… if that’s your vibe.
7. A Simple Mobility Stick (thanks Jane, Canada!)
A 6' bamboo garden stake with a rubber foot. Brilliant for mobility, balance, and rambling off-trail.
8. TRX Bands, Cork Yoga Blocks & Cushions (via Mary)
Brilliant for floor sitting, mobility sessions, and general fiddling about.
9. Homemade Balance Beam (from Rachael)
“I have a homemade balance beam — a half-round fence post about 4 feet long. I cut off the sharp point and sanded it smooth. I use it for all kinds of barefoot balancing, indoors or in the garden. It’s surprisingly challenging and has improved my balance enormously.
10. Hula Hoops (from Ellie)
You can buy the normal ones, but you can also find weighted ones which are much more challenging.
11. Swedish Ladders / Stall Bars
The holy grail of indoor movement furniture. Climbing, sliding, swinging, hanging, trapeze seats, silks, dens (so many dens), and endless improvisation.
12. Hacky sack (from Steve)
We used these loads this year, the kids can play indoors at push, but mostly they play out.
13. Juggling balls (from Ghita)
We bought a bag of juggling balls last year for Christmas. both kids can now juggle but they also use them for general throwing and catching.
14. Frisbee
We love a frisbee, you can also get light-up ones for winter.
15. Throwing games
KUBB and Pétanque are firm favourites in our house.
16. Calisthenics Equipment
Great for all ages. Littles can start with gentle hangs, swings, and grip play, while teens and adults can use the same bars for strength work. You can often find the gymnastics bars on Facebook Market place.
If you’d like the pull up bars - we recommend avoiding the one that you twist into the door frame to tighten as they never seem to hold an adult confidently. If you search “no drill pull up bar” you’ll find a good range of options that allow you to quickly install them.
17. Sumo Balls (from Erin)
Great for older children - these Sumo balls turn playtime into full-body contact fun.
18. A ladder
Surprisingly useful piece of play equipment - you can prob is up and balance or crawl along it. Also works well balance on or between two trees.
19. Balance ball
Ours stayed in the cupboard for a few years but we now use it quite a lot outside for various games - dodge ball and four square being favourites.
19. Movement Games
WildStrong Family Games Guide - most of our favourite games that we use for family session.
Primal Play Animal Moves Cards
20. Bean bags
Very simple, but if you have a set of bean bags you’ll find that there are so many games you can create with them. If you add string, you can make zones - here’s an example.
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We’ve left the comments open - if you have any more ideas please add them below!
