Video games and exercise for children

Many parents worry about the amount of time their children spend playing video games and, in particular, that their children are not getting enough exercise. Well, it could well be that your worries and concerns are over, with the growing popularity of video games and peripherals that actively encourage physical exercise.

Recently there has been an increase in the demand for dance mats by children and adolescents. These are interactive mats that have built-in sensors, the idea is that players have to move, dance, jog, jump and spin to the beat of the music, achieving as many moves as quickly as possible and following the set dances. This puts them in direct competition with their friends and of course they spend a lot of time jumping, spinning and being energetic. Some people would argue that exercising in this way is better for your health than going outside, biking on busy roads, or going to parks, where you encounter all sorts of risks and dangers.

In addition to dance mats, Nintendo recently released a new sports peripheral that acts like a kickstand, similar to a small surfboard. By balancing this, a number of activities can be done, from basic steps to surfing and snowboarding, and even yoga. The huge number of incredibly sensitive sensors built into the board means that the computer can detect a player’s balance, pressure and movement, and replicate that using a three-dimensional avatar on the screen, or provide feedback or an assessment on skill level, fitness level or skill level in a particular activity.

Once again, children have a natural competitiveness in them, and this can be against themselves as well as against their friends. Often these days, schools are unwilling to involve children in competitive sports, and many schools have actively chosen not to teach competitive activities in the curriculum. However, kids have a natural need to try to be better, whether it’s their previous performance or against someone else, and it doesn’t always matter if it’s a friend or a computer-generated avatar. Exercising in this way means that your children not only get a good dose of healthy exercise, but very often they are taught how to improve their skills and use exercises and warm-up techniques to help them.

Clearly, computers are unlikely to replace the fresh air and benefits of getting outside and running on a sports field, or biking across the countryside, but we also need to be realistic and accept that while these activities might have been possible and safe a generation or two ago, kids are at far greater risk today, so one way they can be helped is by using these games that provide them with fun and entertainment, as well as exercise.

As with all things, the key is to strike a balance between types of exercise and types of play.