Exercise Toys That Get Kids Moving on Great Day Connecticut

By Charlene DeLoach, Chief Play Officer, Playroom Chronicles

 TV APPEARANCE DISCLOSURE: I am not compensated for TV appearances. My time is my own, and products featured are purchased by myself or provided for demonstration and donation.

Toy and play expert Charlene DeLoach appeared on Great Day Connecticut on CBS Connecticut (WFSB – Channel 3) to share exercise toys in honor of National Physical Fitness and Sports Month (May) that help kids move their bodies, build coordination, and make physical activity feel like play.

The TV segment focused on toys that introduce movement in age-appropriate ways, from baby sensory toys that encourage grasping and shaking to sports toys, superhero training games, yoga activities, and group fitness-style games for older kids.

The core takeaway: exercise for kids does not have to look like a workout. The right toy can turn movement into play and easier for families to build into everyday routines.

What Charlene Shared on the Great Day Connecticut

On Great Day Connecticut, I talked about how exercise toys can help families make movement feel more natural at home.

For babies, that might mean practicing early motor skills by holding, shaking, and responding to sound. Alternatively, for toddlers and preschoolers, it may be tossing, catching, stretching, balancing, or following simple movement cues. For older kids and teens, exercise toys can add teamwork, friendly competition, goal setting, and endurance.

That is what makes this category useful for parents. These toys give kids a reason to move without making exercise feel forced. They can work during after-school downtime, rainy days, backyard play, family gatherings, or quick movement breaks when kids need to get energy out.