Unbelievable Technology for Kids Can Improve Fitness and Education
When was the last time technology for kids really impressed you? Let's explore the best video games and gadgets improve fitness and boost kids' brains.
The One, the Only, The Wii
I am always skeptical about spending money on the latest gadget. Believe me, I struggled with this as the holiday season approached and I watched prices for the Wii soaring while there was a shortage of consoles on line and in retail stores. However, after my brother and sister-in-law brought their Wii to a post-Christmas family reunion and I tried it for myself even I was hooked and broke down and bought a Wii for a large family Valentine's Day gift.
The Wii is like no other gaming system. First of all, Wii play is not done loafing on the sofa. You control games by moving and shifting your body. Different games require different motion, so the more you play, the more parts of your body get engaged.
So if you want to get your kids off the couch (even on rainy days), and interacting with each other (even with their parents), and learning about game strategy, winning and losing gracefully, and improving their hand/body/eye coordination, here's what you'll need:
Wii console (comes with one controller and one nunchuck)
If you want to avoid Wii War 1 and 2, I recommend getting at least another controller and nunchuck. Some games accommodate four players, so you may want to build your collection to a total of four controllers and nunchucks each.
Wii controller charger - they are notorious battery hogs, so recharging them makes sense
You probably don't need the wireless sensor bar or a bag at least at first.
Don't overdo the game buying at first either - a few classics will suffice and keep you busy for a long time!
Here are some of our favorite games:
Building Miis
This is a built in feature of the console that lets you create little replicas of people. Of course, you normally build the people in your family so that you can use them to play in different games, however, the Mii building quickly turns to more fantastic creatures like aliens and weirdos, friends, teachers, and other people in the community. You can have them parade around and interact with each other in the different games. My five year old would build Miis all day.
Wii Sports
This game comes with the console and gets the whole family involved in sports that they might not normally experience at a wee age, like baseball, bowling, tennis, boxing and golf. There are a lot of clever twists and turns to each game that let each player build their skills. Let me tell you that playing four straight baseball games as batter and pitcher, you will have a sore "Wii arm" for a few days. Oh, and the thrill of beating your dad in boxing is not to be beat!
Marble Madness
This is the one that hooked me on the Wii. Someone gave me the controller as I passed through the room at our family reunion, and I couldn't put it down for an hour. It is basically an adorable 3D marble maze that you explore by shifting your controller in every imaginable direction. Some of the levels are really challenging! It is a 2 person game, so you can race against each other in each level as well as try to beat the best system time.
Cooking Mama
This is an adorable game that lets you simulate chopping and peeling vegetables, and assembling dishes like Mama's Minestrone. Even my picky eaters enjoyed doing this and became more interested in cooking with me as a result.
Transformers
Wow. I can't get dad to stop playing this one. It is amazing to simulate being one of these machines and going on exotic and dangerous Transformer missions.
Lego Star Wars and The Force Unleashed
Now, I must admit that I do not have Lego Star Wars for Wii, but that is because I own about 6 other versions for it on other systems. My children and husband can not stop playing this - it is a very interesting and entertaining combination of two childhood classics in one fabulous game. We could probably skip the rest of the games, at least until The Force Unleashed debuts!
Anything Mario is Guaranteed Fun
Need I say more?
I hope you are inspired to explore other Wii titles that might meet the interests of your family. Check them out below:
