Take a balance pad and a bunch of balloons and let the fun begin. Children love this game of balancing on the pad while batting at the balloons. See how long you can rally! They will be surprised by the improvements they make in a short period of time. It's a great way to give them a sports foundation without them even knowing it.

Manufactured by a Swiss company and heavily used in Europe, the Airex Balance Pad is a square piece of closed-cell foam about 2 1/2 inches thick and 20 by 16 1/2 inches. It's reminiscent of thick pads used on gymnastic floors, but softer. The softness of the foam forces the muscles of the foot, ankle and lower leg to work to keep you upright and challenges the reaction of nerves that trigger muscles to respond to the challenge -- all so you don't fall over, a skill applicable to the real world of athletics and daily living.

It's great for standing balance maneuvers on both one and two legs, but also to perform sitting, lying or kneeling core strengtheners. For example, placing one knee on the pad, while extending the opposite leg behind you and then extending the opposite arm on the supporting knee added an extra challenge to this basic exercise. Even crunches and V-sits gain a new dimension, as do back extensions, when your mid-section or glutes are on the soft, thick pad. Its softness also makes it more adaptable to less experienced or less balance-proficient people than some wobble boards. More advanced users could stand on it while throwing or catching balls for an extra challenge.