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This article is from the WebMD Feature Archive

Healthy and safe Christmas gifts

Our quick list helps you find fun, healthy Christmas gifts for kids both big and small.

By Wendy C. Fries
WebMD Feature

Medically Reviewed by Dr Rob Hicks

Fun, safe, healthy Christmas gifts: think these three requirements are impossible to find? Think again.

With a little help from the experts, we've put together this quick list of seasonal gifts that offer healthy fun for big kids and small.

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Healthy Christmas gifts for grown-ups

Coffee grinder: have a chef in the family? This device not only grinds beans, it will also mill dried herbs and spices, nuts, seeds, grains and bread for breadcrumbs - perfect for preparing Christmas feasts.

Hot-air popcorn popper: have a friend who loves snacking during films? This gadget lets them enjoy fresh-popped popcorn without added oil or butter. There are only 31 calories and even a bit of fibre in 8 grams (about ¼ oz) of popped corn, so your friend can keep munching until the last credit rolls.

Pedometer: from sleek and simple, to packed with features, pedometers help wearers keep movement on their mind. All of them count the steps you take, while some can also estimate the calories burned, distance travelled and speed and can even take your pulse.

Healthy Christmas gifts for kids

Before you buy check these toy safety tips from the organisation Safe Kids Worldwide:

Choose toys appropriate for a child's age
Avoid toys with small removable parts, a possible choking hazard
Look for high-quality design and construction
Keep your children's hearing safe: avoid toys that produce loud noises
For children under 8 skip toys with heating elements or sharp points and edges
Avoid toys with strings and straps longer than 18 cm (7 inches) - they pose a strangulation risk.

With these tips in mind, check our toy and gift ideas for your favourite children:

Books and blocks: these toys suit the 1 to 3 age range, as do fit-together toys, push-and-pull toys and pounding toys.

Swing: for children 3 to 5, active toys like swings, slides and tricycles are popular, as are non-toxic art supplies and books.

Bounce: balls of assorted size and colour get kids of all ages playing and moving. Throw in a net, some rackets or a hoop and you've got a game!

Kitchen gadgets: for that budding chef how about a personalised apron or his or her own kitchen tools - think kid-sized spatulas, bowls and whisks.

Sports gear: Older kids, 9 and above, love team games. So go for active toys and good-quality sports equipment: skipping ropes, basketballs, footballs, bikes and skateboards. Don't forget the appropriate safety gear for each!

Healthy, safe, Christmas gifts: this year, it's in the bag!

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