Electronic Exercise?

Turns out this past Wednesday was National Start! Walking Day. Who even knew there was such an event? But I'm glad for anything that calls attention to this very basic -- and wonderful -- form of exercise.

Interestingly enough, this past week two pieces about electronic games that promote physical activity also arrived in my inbox. One told the story of a physical education teacher who uses "Dance, Dance Revolution" and Sony's "Eye Toy" (the latter of which I'm not familiar with) as part of the stations in her gym. She's having such success with them that one student wrote, "It was so fun I did not even know I was working out!"

The other was a blog by a mom who's wondering if video games may be the solution to childhood obesity. She writes:

I must confess I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, it might be effective for getting otherwise sedentary youngsters in the habit of exercising. On the other, it seems sad that society has been reduced to using bribery, trickery and high-tech toys to get kids to engage in activities that have long been considered part of a healthy childhood.

I agree! As I wrote in the comment I posted at her blog:

Two thoughts come to mind. First, I can only hope that these video games create a lifelong love of physical activity in general. Second, I’d like to think the children are only using them when the weather is absolutely, positively too terrible for them to go outdoors — where they belong!

Video games are certainly creating an enjoyment of physical activity in the above-mentioned PE class. That's obviously a good thing. But should we be depending on them in our homes? Aren't children better served by playing the old-fashioned way?

There are so many questions parents need to answer today that never had to be posed with children of earlier generations. So many challenges that are unique to our times. I can't help but wish that kids would get their exercise by going outside and running and jumping around. I can't help but wish that families would take a daily (or almost-daily) walk together -- for the sake of both their health and their happiness. (Walking is a truly satisfying activity.) I can't help but wish that we could save the "trickery and high-tech toys" for adults who need some additional motivation to move. Children, after all, are supposed to just want to move!

Comments

[Ellen]

I wholeheartedly agree!! :)

Walking as a family is very rewarding and FUN.

--Less than a month until commencement! (Too bad I still have 2 more yrs to go at UMaine! LOL)