Watching too much television can lead to a sedentary lifestyle, which may be especially unhealthy for kids. The average child, ranging in age from 8 to 18, watches TV approximately four hours per day and statistics show that these children are more likely to be overweight, according to KidsHealth.org. By implementing exercise into your child's daily TV watching, they can watch TV, burn calories and have fun simultaneously.
Wii Sports
The Nintendo Wii is a revolutionary gaming system that can turn the sedentary video games of old into calorie-burning exercise routines for kids. Wii Sports is one such game for the Wii console, and it includes games such as boxing, baseball and bowling. By standing and using the Wii controller to perform full body movements to play the game, children are essentially getting a full body aerobic workout while playing video games. Kids can burn up to three times more calories by playing certain Wii Sports titles---such as boxing or bowling---than they would just sitting and watching TV, according to a University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center study that was published by the USA Today.
Bike Games
Younger kids may enjoy playing a biking game in front of the television, such as the Leapfrog Zippity, Smart Cycle, Fisher Price Smart Fit or the Vtech Ride and Learn Giraffe Bike. These toys are primarily designed for children aged 2 to 5 years of age, and they simply connect into your TV using RCA cords and essentially turn your TV into a virtual bike path. Instead of sitting on the couch and watching cartoons, kids can exercise in front of the TV by peddling their way through various levels and challenges. Not only will they be getting exercise, but they also may learn about shapes, colors, letters and words.
Dance Dance Revolution
This high energy dancing game is available for several gaming consoles, including the Wii, Playstation and Xbox. Much like many of the Nintendo Wii games, Dance Dance Revolution, or simply DDR, gets children off the couch and on their feet. This game can burn the same amount of calories as a brisk walk, according to researchers at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. The same study also noted that while children burn approximately one calorie per minute just sitting and watching TV, they can burn three or more calories per minute by playing DDR---not to mention have more fun doing it.
Member Comments