Today's American children are less active and more likely to be obese than ever. As parents (or uncles, aunts, grandparents or friends), it's our responsibility to encourage kids to be more active and to teach them about eating well. Kids who learn these habits when they are young are more likely to grow up with healthy eating and exercise habits, and frankly that's a great gift.  So, instead of tucking a chocolate bar into a child's stocking, try one of these ideas instead:

-- A Children's Cookbook - Kids love to cook, and teaching them their way around the kitchen now will save them a lot of trouble later in life. Plus, when they learn to cook they can learn about nutrition at the same time. Added bonus - it's something you can do together.

-- A Jump Rope. Jumping rope is great exercise (just ask any boxer) and kids have enjoyed it throughout time. These days, you can even buy technologically advanced jump ropes that count jumps, have light up handles, or that play music!

-- An Exercise Video. When my daughter was 5 or 6, I bought her a Sesame Street "Elmocise" video. She loved it because it was Elmo, and I loved it because it enabled her to be active, even when the weather was bad, and because it was something we could do together. A good choice for an older child would be Kids Yoga or a teen workout.

-- A Baseball, Football, Soccer ball or Frisbee. These make great stocking stuffers... particularly when you are willing to take the time to play with your gift recipient.

-- Gift Certificates to the local ice skating or roller skating rink, bowling alley, or mini-golf place. Kids love these activities and it's a great way to keep them active. Plus, again, it's something you can do as a family.

Don't forget that a pedometer also makes a great stocking stuffer for kids. Schools are now using them to teach children to be more active, and to enable them to track their steps.