From the previous blog outlining various critiques regarding active gaming, this is critique #1 our of 7 that will be discussed in the next few weeks:
“When I was your age, I used to play outside until the street lights came on.” We still say it and we still believe it. As an advocate of physical activity, there is really nothing better than seeing children outside playing, moving their bodies, and exercising. Unfortunately, in today’s society I find myself more excited to see children riding bikes or playing pickup games in backyards because there is a lack of "outdoor" play taking place. Most of us are aware that the recommendations for children to acquire a minimum of 60 moderate to vigorous physical activity minutes is not being met. For a variety of reasons, including our societal saturation in technology, children are just not being active. Many children suggest using computers, texting, and playing video games is simply more FUN!
Children suggest that the most important element in life is having fun. If this is true, then it is our job to make exercise more engaging and more fun! How do we do this? How do we make exercise more enjoyable then the gizmos and gadgets our children desire? Especially in a society where children are growing up more overweight yet less confident in moving their bodies. Are physical education teachers fighting a losing battle? One thing is apparent, technology is not going away. Video games are not going away. They are only becoming more popular and more appealing.
Active gaming is aligned with this generation’s desires by engaging the user through the use of technology. Children are able to play the games they love while being active. We all wish children would just “go outside and play”; but they are not. The truth is, they are spending over 40 hours a week in front of a screen. OVER 40 hours a week – a full time job of participation in sedentary behaviors. So, if I asked you this question “Would you rather a child be active, playing a technology driven game, or be sedentary” how would you respond? Seems like a simple answer but many battle this idea of allowing children to be active playing a video game. Until we find a solution that makes children go outside and play, I would rather accept an active game over a sedentary behavior. I would rather tell a kid to go get their Game ON and encourage the voluntary physical activity in hopes that participation in active gaming may influence traditional physical activity involvement as well. Active gaming is one solution that gets kids moving, having fun, and enjoying exercise.
1 comment:
The objection is very common, and your response is excellent. I see exergaming as a stepping stone to outdoor play, the gateway effect you talked about in your last post.
To go from PlayStation to playing field is too big a jump for technology driven kids, no matter which adults will it! Change CAN be achieved in smaller steps, and you're right - the key is to move away from a dangerous sedentary habit.
In a presentation about exergaming, I can't remember which conference or even the presenter sorry, I saw one slide that showed an exergame against traditional exercise with the caption "the heart doesn't know" - the meaning that activity is good, no matter how.
With the latest exergames that have a social interaction (playing on-line), we still have some small improvement over isolated sedentary gaming towards the outdoor play and sports. I'm not comparing exergaming and outdoor play, nor should anyone, but I feel the merits of a step in the right direction outweigh this critique.
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