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November 1, 2019
Lisa Park Elementary
November 1, 2019
Technology is all around us — how can that apply to our children and fitness? Using technology like handheld devices, computers, and video games doesn’t have to translate into a sedentary lifestyle.
Someone in our family, if not all of us, utilizes apps in our daily lives. It can be especially overwhelming for parents to keep up with the newest apps targeting kids. How can we leverage fitness apps to help our families? Our job as parents is to model behaviors of health and wellbeing with intentions that our children will adopt a healthy lifestyle. While long work hours and crazy schedules can often derail even the best of intentions, healthy activity is a must for everyone.
Alarmingly, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that almost 18.5 percent of children ages 2-19 are obese. That’s staggering and yet not altogether surprising, considering how sedentary many of our lifestyles have become. Extended screen time spent on devices is often equated with a sedentary lifestyle, but fitness apps combine the best of both worlds.
If your kids are more interested in screens than being outside, it can be hard to get them moving, but not to worry — kids will have a lot of fun using these apps that make their screen time more active! Let’s explore a few fitness apps to get kids and families moving together.
1. Kids Fitness – Yoga
This free yoga app features 10 poses and an animated character that guides kids through yoga poses. Each pose is illustrated and explained to make following along easier. Kids can reap the benefits of yoga by using this app. Kid’s Fitness – Yoga can be safely used alone, it’s best for adults to go through the app, helping guide their child through each pose; it’s also an excellent way for parents and children to practice yoga together. Ages: 4+ Price: Free
2. GoNoodle Kids
GoNoodle Kids is an app used in schools that is designed to get kids moving. Through interactive videos, kids learn how to control energy, focus, and be positive with mindfulness. GoNoodle Kids is an app meant to introduce quick bouts of movement in the classroom, so you should be aware that the modules are short.Ages: 6+ Price: Free
3. Just Dance Now
Just Dance Now players dance to music and choreography using a smartphone as a controller and an internet-connected screen, such as a computer or Smart TV. This app will get your kids dancing to over 300 songs. Coins, the in-app currency, are used to play songs and they regenerate over time. Ages: 4+ Price: Free
4. Sworkit Kids – Fitness Meets Fun
Sworkit Kids turns exercising into a game with customizable workouts that build strength, agility, and flexibility. The app guides users through exercises that combine interval training with randomized exercises to keep kids from getting bored. The app challenges kids with questions like “how long can you hop on one foot?” This app is great with parental supervision to ensure that exercises are completed properly, help correct improper form and prevent injury!Ages: 4+ Price: Free
5. NFL Play 60
NFL Play 60 is an augmented reality game in which players take real steps to explore in the game. Players can collect NFL players to build their roster, play catch, train, and prepare with them for competition against other teams. When a player moves, jumps, turns, and dances while holding their phone, their virtual player does the same. Parents must sign a release before their child begins playing NFL Play 60, which removes liability from the NFL and American Heart Association, should an injury occur while using the app. Ages: 4+ Price: Free
6. I Am Love: Kids’ Yoga Journey
This interactive yoga app is made just for kids. Kids are guided through 13 yoga poses that are demonstrated by children. Yoga can be a great way for kids to reduce stress and decompress before bed. Ages: 4+ Price: $3.99 (iOS) & $0.99 (Android)
7. Iron Kids
Iron Kids is a kids’ fitness app made by the American Academy of Pediatrics. This app is great for young athletes who want to learn about healthy strength training, balance, and fitness from sports medicine physician Jordan D. Metzl, MD, FAAP. Iron Kids features custom workouts, training tips, goal setting, and reminders.Ages: 4+ Price: $2.99
The American Heart Association released research findings that prove the link between screen use and sedentary behavior is directly linked to childhood obesity. Again, the sedentary behavior, as a result of extended screen time for kids has caused childhood obesity rates to spike to almost 20 percent of the population. Now, more than ever, parents need to ensure that their children are developing active and healthy lifestyles, and the best place to start is with family fitness.
If your kids are reluctant to get moving, these apps will certainly motivate them to be active. Fitness apps are a great way to combine screen time with physical activity.
The apparent answer to screen time for kids is for parents to help their children balance their digital and physical lives. With the use of parental screen time apps, for example, Zift, parents are easily able to monitor their child’s online activity, as well as to manage the apps they use and the websites they frequent.
For more information contact Thibodaux Regional Fitness Center at 985.493.4950.
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