Comments on Cranky Fitness: Wii Don't Want to Go Outside

Wow, I'm REALLY going to have check out this DDR t...

2008-03-12T10:53:00.000-04:00

Wow, I'm REALLY going to have check out this DDR thang.

Holly, great link!

MaryAnne, that's too funny.

And Cara, that's too sad!

And thanks everyone for your awesome comments, you guys totally crack me up.

["do not let toddler host sex toy soiree."This bri...

2008-03-12T09:39:00.000-04:00

["do not let toddler host sex toy soiree."
This brings back second-hand memories (I wasn't there) of long long ago, when one of my friends was hosting a party for her husband's business colleagues, and her then-toddler brought her vibrator out and put it on the coffee table. ]

My recent experience of trying to exercise by walking back and forth in the house, so that I'm still in earshot of my 95 yo father, strongly reinforces my instinct that Real Exercise takes place outdoors. This in spite of how much I miss the gym.

Mary Anne in Kentucky

outside, outside!! Make them play outside. Yeste...

2008-03-11T22:54:00.000-04:00

outside, outside!! Make them play outside. Yesterday, it was 60 degrees in Denver, and it was the first real day of Daylight Savings time. I rushed home, excited to walk my dog when it was still light out. On my entire 45 minute walk, I saw ONE kid outside. He was sitting on his front steps playing with some sort of Gameboy. ARRRGGH! Seriously.

I must agree that I can't imagine video games repl...

2008-03-11T22:20:00.000-04:00

I must agree that I can't imagine video games replacing proper exercise. I have seen DDR on TV and can imagine it works up quite a sweat, but I still think kids need fresh air and play time.

I have to agree with you. My time on 'Super Mario...

2008-03-11T19:57:00.000-04:00

I have to agree with you. My time on 'Super Mario Brothers' was definitely limited by the video game police (Mom and Dad) and I don't see why this generation should have their own video game police. =)

Have you seen the exercycle they have for TODDLERS now? Way to go Fisher Price! Holy crap.....

Wii as exercise for kids--downright silly. They ar...

2008-03-11T19:48:00.000-04:00

Wii as exercise for kids--downright silly. They are supposed to run and play.

Holly, thanks for the great link. Wii as an exercise for stroke victims and other seniors makes a great deal more sense.

Terrie

I'm only 24 yet I was only allowed an hour of Nint...

2008-03-11T19:44:00.000-04:00

I'm only 24 yet I was only allowed an hour of Nintendo OR t.v. a day. And it really wasn't a problem...all summers long I spent rollerblading, bike riding, swimming, jumping on the tramp, walking around the neighborhood...

I was still fat because my family ate really unhealthy food, but I learned to love exercise and appreciate being outdoors. I wish kids in the next generation will be able to do the same. I have a feeling I'll be a pretty strict parent when it comes to that sort of thing.

THIS was in my local paper today. I have seen thi...

2008-03-11T19:29:00.000-04:00

THIS was in my local paper today. I have seen this use for the Wii before.

I know you can work up a sweat playing dance dance...

2008-03-11T15:50:00.000-04:00

I know you can work up a sweat playing dance dance revolution (or maybe it's just me *ahem*), but it's still no substitute for getting outside and playing. Thw Wii can give you a bit of a muscle workout, but nothig to get excited about compared to good old fashioned running around.
My Mum used to kick us outside and I'm glad she did.

We are Wii-less here, but we do have a very retro ...

2008-03-11T15:40:00.000-04:00

We are Wii-less here, but we do have a very retro PlayStation2. A couple of years ago, my husband bought me a video game for the PlayStation called "Yourself Fitness." It was basically an animated instructor leading you through an exercise routine -- you could choose your music style, your location and your level. I thought I'd like it, but it was downright creepy ("You're doing great," the little computer instructor would tell me. How the hell did she know?). My daughter likes to play it from time to time.

I'm not a huge fan of video games and I don't think they replace exercise, but I will say this: when my son plays, he gets so into it that he jumps up and down (literally) and he's one of the skinniest kids I've ever seen. He does play sports, too (basketball, football and baseball and he swims, too). My cardinal rule for video game playing is this: if your friends come to the door and ask you to come outside to play and you say no because you'd rather sit inside alone and play video games, you're done.

We don't have DDR, but I've seen it played and I have to agree with the crowd here: I think that counts as exercise.

Well, apparently it's already been said ... but ot...

2008-03-11T15:37:00.000-04:00

Well, apparently it's already been said ... but other than dancing, I have to agree with you Cranky. I don't even have a Wii; I have a PS2, and my son tends to hang on it as much as I do (and neither one of us should). I can be thankful for one thing, at least: during the summer, as long as there are other kids outside, going outside becaomes much more important than playing video!

First off, kids should definitely be playing for e...

2008-03-11T14:34:00.000-04:00

First off, kids should definitely be playing for exercise.

But... I do get surprisingly active when I play with the Wii. Of course, I have also nearly dislocated my shoulder several times trying to beat my husband at Wii tennis. :)

Yeah, the study I read said "wii-ing" (how naughty...

2008-03-11T14:23:00.000-04:00

Yeah, the study I read said "wii-ing" (how naughty does that sound?!) only burns about 70 calories an hour. That's not even 1 girl scout cookie. I'm assuming they didn't count DDR in there though. Despite not having any gaming system at all, I'm a total DDR addict:)

My own kids strongly preferred to be playing outsi...

2008-03-11T13:41:00.000-04:00

My own kids strongly preferred to be playing outside when they were little, but video games were nothing compared to what they are these days. As teenagers, you can be sure their preference is/was to play computer games. As a parent, it's no longer a matter of MY choice what they do with their time as long as they're staying out of trouble. So far, so good.

Shouldn't we call it exercise based on the amount ...

2008-03-11T13:37:00.000-04:00

Shouldn't we call it exercise based on the amount of physical exertion and not where it takes place?

For example, Nintendo has come up with a Wii Fit exercise "game". How does that differ from their parents watching exercise tapes.

Whether you have a controller in your hand or not, if you're breaking a sweat it IS the "real thing".

I second the DDR motions! For a couple years, I'd...

2008-03-11T13:24:00.000-04:00

I second the DDR motions! For a couple years, I'd got to arcades for my birthday just so I could play DDR. It's fun and definitely exercise. Occasionally I think about getting a set for home, but honestly I don't know how often I'd use it given how much I exercise already.

It's funny the discussion about the Wii. I totally agree that it doesn't replace exercise. It can have some benefits for people who are completely sedentary, I suppose. But what I find funny is that I went to a friend's house once and played her Wii, then I took one of the games (milking the cow) and taught it in my muscle sculpting class to work on biceps and cardio.

"Like smoking marijuana, or sex parties, or day tr...

2008-03-11T13:16:00.000-04:00

"Like smoking marijuana, or sex parties, or day trading"

Oh, I can't wait to grow up!

I agree that Wii games are not really exercise, bu...

2008-03-11T12:57:00.000-04:00

I agree that Wii games are not really exercise, but they are fun! They are better, I would say, than sitting on the couch playing Dr. Mario for hours on end, but not as good as going outside to play. Dance Dance Revolution, though, as people have said, is a work-out! I have only played it a few times- I don't spend a whole lot of time in arcades- and I am TERRIBLE at it. And I still work up a sweat pretty efficiently. The little teenage boys who hang out in arcades? They kick some serious ass at that game, with whole routines and stuff, and I would bet they get TONS of exercise. You can get DDR at home, too, I hear, you just need to buy the game and the mat, but I don't have a system to play it on. If you have the right game system, Crabby, you should maybe try and rent the game, you'd be surprised how much fun it is- and what good exercise.

You guys are getting me awfully tempted...Where's ...

2008-03-11T12:21:00.000-04:00

You guys are getting me awfully tempted...Where's a Wii or a Dance Dance Revolution sponsorship when you need one?

I have seen my kids and their nephew (who is an ac...

2008-03-11T12:08:00.000-04:00

I have seen my kids and their nephew (who is an accomplished athlete) work up a massive sweat while playing the Wii. I don't think it should necessarily replace exercising as much as replace video games where you sit on your butt and move only your thumbs.

Crabby, you MUST make an opportunity to play this system somewhere. You will be amazed. I am certain that somehow you would be able to write it off as research.

I agree with Katieo, it does tend to level the playing field between the players which is an advantage for the kids that don't want to play team sports because of the "last player picked" syndrome.

Hi folks--Great comments, and I totally appreciate...

2008-03-11T12:03:00.000-04:00

Hi folks--
Great comments, and I totally appreciate those of you who have actual experience with these games weighing in.

So I definitely have to try Dance Dance Revolution, though I'm a big klutz and would likely be amusingly awful at it. And I also think the Wii games sound like a lot of fun, especially now that they're incorporating foot thingies as well as hand controllers.

Sounds like most of you are in the same camp--nothing wrong with a bit of gaming, but kids should also get outside and run around too!

Nice message!! Of course I agree. When I got home ...

2008-03-11T11:58:00.000-04:00

Nice message!! Of course I agree. When I got home from school as a kid, I couldn't wait to go out and play! Probably my mom was glad I felt that way! Now the neighborhood parks, for the most part, are empty, and I know kids are missing out on so much. Anyway. I want to put this link to a Calorielab. story that, even though, should be expected, still is shocking to me :-(
Dr. J

http://calorielab.com/news/2008/03/10/competitive-eating-to-hit-the-digital-world/

There are a few video games that can really get ki...

2008-03-11T11:46:00.000-04:00

There are a few video games that can really get kids (and adults0 moving. Dance Dance Revolution - it's like cardio dance!

With anything though, parents need to model good exercise habits outside of video game playing.

As much fun as Wii-ing is (and giving every Wii sp...

2008-03-11T11:44:00.000-04:00

As much fun as Wii-ing is (and giving every Wii sport into it's own name...Wii-bling, W-olf, W-eenis, etc), it's not exercise. It's swinging your arm around. Is it better than sitting there on your butt, staring at a screen? I guess. But in end, I still think you're better off not burning the calories and sitting down reading a book.

With, as Towr said, the exception of Dance Dance Revolution. I think some versions of it actually have calorie count and speed calculations, and it's super good for your brain-body coordination.

There's a fitness center here in Calgary for kids called Bulldog Fitness where they have DDR units and stuff like to get kids moving. You know, sneaky exercise. Whatever works, I guess.

I'm not a video game person, but we have a Wii and...

2008-03-11T11:28:00.000-04:00

I'm not a video game person, but we have a Wii and I like it. I like that you actually get up and move around, you can even work up a sweat. I was searching around on the internet when we first got ours, and there are people out there who have used the wii to add exercise into their lives and lose weight. Good for them!

However, I do agree - it should not be the only form of activity that a kid (or adult for that matter) participates in. People need to get out in the fresh air, focus on something other than a TV or monitor, maybe even interact with real live people (though, I have to admit, I'm not much of a people person, so I probably don't take my own advice when it comes to that).

Bookworm that I was, I survived my Mom shooing me outside to play when I was a kid, and looking back I think it was a good thing.