You're noticing the kids or the grandkids are becoming video game couch potatoes. And they've packed on a few winter pounds.

A 2003-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey estimated 17 percent of children and adolescents ages 2-19 are overweight.

Wild Planet (ENLARGE)

Hopping, jumping and stretching are a few of the moves required to play the fast-paced Hyper Jump game.

Fisher-Price (ENLARGE)

Younger kids get educational video game play and exercise with the Smart Cycle.

IToy (ENLARGE)

The ME2 giveschildren points based on their physical activity.

Hasbro (ENLARGE)

Kids get wind sprints in by running to catch the long-range Nerf Peyton Manning Vortex Ultra Lite Football.

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What to do?

You can become a parental drill sergeant and force exercise on them. "Drop and give me 20!"

But according to Ray Lloyd, a health and physical education teacher in Cobb County middle schools who is now working in Orlando, this won't work.

"Through the years, I've noticed you have to make exercise fun enough so kids don't realize they're getting exercise," he said.

This can be done with simple techniques such as a game of tag. Or parents can replace inactive games and toys with something that has a stealth physical element.

The latter was the goal for IToys when the toy company began developing the ME2, a type of pedometer that gives children points based on their physical activity. These points can be used to benefit online game play.

"Kids are less and less active these days and are spending more time in front of screens," said Jessica Gavin, IToys' marketing manager and the lead game developer for ME2. "Encouraging incremental activity without shoving it down a child's throat will actually make a really big difference in their health."

Consider these active items available now and later this year at major toy retailers and online at Web sites such as Amazon.com (www.amazon.com). All prices are suggested retail.

'HANNAH MONTANA' LEARN TO BE A POP STAR DANCE MAT

& INSTRUCTIONAL DVD

Price: $29.99

Ages: 5 and older

Who makes it? CDI

Why is it fun? "Hannah Montana," the Disney Channel TV series starring Miley Cyrus, continues to captivate young girls. This toy equips them with a faux headset microphone and a blond wig so budding idols can rock in fashion. But the stars of the set are the dance mat and accompanying DVD. Kids lay the mat on the floor near a TV set, pop in the DVD and get ready to learn some fancy "Hannah Montana" footwork. The DVD features a warm-up portion. In rehearsal mode, an instructor teaches tots three dance routines and a finale medley. The numbered stars on the mat help young dancers learn foot placement. Then it's showtime, and girls slip on the wig and mike and perform the full routines. The disc includes a profile of Cyrus and three music videos ("The Best of Both Worlds," "Pumpin' Up the Party" and "Nobody's Perfect").

Availability: Now

NERF PEYTON MANNING VORTEX ULTRA LITE FOOTBALL

Price: $9.99

Ages: 5 and older

Who makes it? Hasbro

Why is it fun? Be it in the backyard or at the beach, a football is a tried-and-true active accessory. This soft football boasts an aerodynamic tail so kids can run hard for that long pass. And Hasbro claims that this version is the lightest ball in its Vortex line. So the farther the ball goes, the longer the receiver will be running. The runner will be inadvertently performing a wind sprint.

Availability: Now

ME2

Price: $34.99

Ages: 8 and older

Who makes it? IToys

Why is it fun? The story behind the ME2 goes like this: George Irwin, IToys' chairman and CEO, was getting a physical when his doctor hit him with some grim results. Irwin was out of shape, with high cholesterol and other problems to boot. The doctor asked the toy maker if he would consider making something that gets kids physically active. Irwin was inspired, and the idea of the ME2 was born. ME2, which stands for My Electronic Double, is a cellphone-size device that incorporates physical and online play. Kids use the device to create an avatar, which serves as a virtual representative of the child. They clip the ME2 to their clothes or put it in their pockets. The device has a sensor that tracks and records vertical, horizontal and diagonal movements. So if a child is riding a bike, walking, running, jumping or just doing things kids do, he or she starts racking up points for each movement. Then the child can go online to the ME2 Web site (www.me2universe.com), upload his avatar and points to enjoy the online world, connect with other online players and play games.

Availability: August. Web site launches this month.

SMART CYCLE

Price: $99.99

Ages: 3-6

Who makes it? Fisher-Price

Why is it fun? One of the hottest toys last holiday season, the Smart Cycle pairs physical activity with preschool education. It's a child-size stationary bike with a long cord that plugs into the home TV. Kids pop the game cartridge into the side of the bike. As the rider pedals and controls the action on screen, he learns a variety of things from letters and shapes to matching. The handlebars allow steering for driving and racing games, while the joystick offers arcade-style play. The seat is adjustable so the game stays in step with a child's growth. It comes with the Learning Adventure cartridge. Other games starring familiar brands and faces such as Dora and Hot Wheels are sold separately ($19.99 each).

Availability: Now

SUPER SOAKER WATER BLASTERS

Price: $7.99-$14.99

Ages: 5 and older

Who makes it? Hasbro

Why is it fun? Atlanta-based inventor Lonnie Johnson developed the Super Soaker in the 1980s. New versions typically hit shelves each spring. This year brings the Bottle Shot ($7.99, above). Just about any drink bottle can transform into the water supply container for this Super Soaker. Take a clean bottle, load it with water and screw it onto the gun. Most Super Soakers require pumping. With the Super Soaker Quick Blast ($14.99), kids bypass this by just sliding back the handle, which helps release a massive gush. It includes a 32-ounce removable water tank. The Super Soaker Sneak Attack 4 Way ($9.99) has hidden nozzles on the side of the blaster that squirt water. This gun holds a total of 47 ounces of fluid. To avoid getting soaked, kids will be running, ducking and dodging blasts of water. And when they get hot, shots of water help cool their jets.

Availability: Now

HYPER JUMP

Price: $29.99

Ages: 6 and older

Who makes it? Wild Planet

Why is it fun? When summer winds down, this game may keep activity happening indoors. Hyper Jump can be played on the floor. The circular base of the game unit has four different colored and numbered pods attached to each corner. A recorded voice gives commands, and players jump on the pods as quickly as they can. A soundtrack and automatic scorekeeping help individuals and teams with the game. The game's physical activity includes jumping, stretching and hopping.

Availability: Fall