The noises coming from the basement of Honeybabes Childcare are high-pitched, whirling and constant.

Climb down the stairs to take a closer look, and you'll find what's causing the ruckus: A lineup of brightly coloured fitness equipment made of plastic and designed for children.

The red, blue and yellow machines have the seven or eight kids here buzzing with excitement.

Katelyn Gascoigne, 5, is on the "rider."

"It's easy," she says, breathing heavily and pushing the pedals as fast as she can. She's sporting her favourite exercise gear -- a headband, a lavender tank top and black shorts.

Mikila, 5, who is using the stepper, looks over at Katelyn, and speeds up her foot movements.

"It gives me energy," says Mikila, who is wearing a pink tank top and pink shorts.

Katelyn later asks her to pretend they are at the "grown-up gym" and that they don't see each other working out. Mikila obliges.

The kids here today are trying out new fitness equipment manufactured by Gymkids, a British company that has made headlines around Europe for landing its exercise gear in elementary schools and adult gyms that run fitness programs for kids.

Karen Insley designs home gyms. Insley moved to Winnipeg from England four years ago. She settled here with her husband, Richard, a heavy-duty vehicle mechanic who also works as a personal trainer and boot camp instructor.

Insley says she discovered Gymkids equipment when researching ways to help parents work out with their kids at home.

"I found these products and fell in love with them," she says, noting that she was an overweight child who "got teased and bullied."

"I can relate to overweight children these days and how intimidating team sports are."

In Canada, an estimated 18 per cent of children aged two to 17 are overweight, and an estimated 500,000 children are obese.

"Not every child wants to (do) a competitive team sport. This way they are actually competing against themselves," says Insley.

The amateur bodybuilder says her machines are battery-operated but not mechanized and offer kids cardiovascular training rather than strength training.

Insley's machines are designed for kids aged three to eight, depending on weight and height, and are "safety tested to European standards," she says.

They are relatively light -- about 18 kilograms -- and come in toddler and junior lines. Gymkids equipment includes an airwalker -- a kid-friendly version of an adult cross-trainer -- as well as toddler and junior bikes, which include readouts of time, distance travelled and amount of energy expended.

Insley's goal is to get the machines into day cares, community clubs, schools and homes throughout Canada.

Machines are available through Insley's website, gymkidscanada.ca. They sell for $150 to $200.

Victoria Gascoigne, owner of Honeybabes Childcare and mother to Katelyn and Brett, 2, says she is considering purchasing machines for her own children.

"That's one of the biggest battles of being a parent -- you can't do workouts with your kids. Everybody thinks, 'Well, just go do it.' It doesn't work that way," says Gascoigne.

"I really want to try to set up a little circuit for my kids and get them doing it while I do my thing."

But certified personal trainer Amanda Younka -- who has not worked with Gymkids equipment -- has reservations about adult-type exercise machines for kids.

"They are unnecessary if you're living in a large urban centre with parks, open areas and community centres," says the mother of three teens.

"Kids should be playing outdoors. Being in a very sterile environment means kids would not be able to be as spontaneous or creative. Skipping, hopping, jumping, landing -- those things develop their central motor skills."