Wii Fit

I guess I am in the movement mode as I investigate more opportunities for physical movement with students. After years of being negative toward the game industry and it’s affect on kids, we finally purchased a Wii for our household. It’s an amazing piece of equipment – Caveat: IF it is used as it was intended. It’s intended use was to have a gaming device that would promote activity and get families together to share time with each other. After much research and reading about the Wii, I am glad we purchased it. It does live up to it’s standards and is a fun way to gather and spend time as a family. (Read an interview with the developers; the Wikipedia entry for the Wii Fit also has good information.)

The newest device Nintendo has been working on for the Wii is a balance board. This balance board in combination with the gaming software it comes with is called Wii Fit. I am really excited about it. So excited I pre-ordered it from the GameStop. (To arrive in stores U.S. May 19th.) The basic premise is that you have a device to track and chart your fitness based on your BMI. The balance board is a high tech scale that keeps track of your family’s BMI records in these charts. So that is well and good as you probably already have a scale. Well, this gets the whole family involved and it is also a record for you to track over time.

Well, you may not be interested in this part of it but it also has several other “games” that come with the balance board. The games are broken into 4 categories: (the following information is from the Wii Fit website.)

• Strength Training: Put your strength to the test with muscle-toning exercises like Single Leg Extension, Sideways Leg Lift, Arm and Leg Lift, Single-Arm Stand, Torso Twists, Rowing Squat, Single Leg Twist, Lunge, Push-Up and Side Plank, Jackknife, Plank and Tricep Extension. Challenges include Push-Up Challenge, Plank Challenge and Jackknife Challenge.
• Aerobics: Get your heart pumping with fun, interactive Aerobic exercises like Hula Hoop®, Basic Step, Basic Run, Super Hula Hoop, Advanced Step, 2-P Run, Rhythm Boxing, Free Step and Free Run.
• Yoga: Work on your balance and flexibility with Yoga poses and activities like Deep Breathing, Half-Moon, Dance, Cobra, Bridge, Spinal Twist, Shoulder Stand, Warrior, Tree, Sun Salutation, Standing Knee, Palm Tree, Chair, Triangle and Downward-Facing Dog.
• Balance Games: Get into the action with fun, balanced-based games like Soccer Heading, Ski Slalom, Ski Jump, Table Tilt, Tightrope Walk, Balance Bubble, Penguin Slide, Snowboard Slalom and Lotus Focus.

I think this game could not only be beneficial for family use and fun but for school use too. The obvious use is Physical Education but I believe it could be used for a myriad of lesson enhancements. Take a look at the Wii Fit website and watch the video too. Tell me what you think!