Exergaming is an essential component to an active and healthy lifestyle. It is designed to engage kids and adults from the very beginning while keeping them mentally and physically focused. The act of motion, or physically playing, is the foundation of what our bodies need. Studies show Exergaming provides improvement in three key areas: Health, Academics, and Social Behavior.
Academics
Exergaming has been proven to enhance academic performance by building new brain cells and neurological connections that increase learning, memory, and critical thinking. “Memory retention and learning functions are all about brain cells actually changing, growing, and working better together. . . Exercise creates the best environment for that process to occur.” - Dr. John J. Ratey, Harvard Medical School, author of the book Spark
Social Development
Exergaming encourages family participation, bonding, and social integration among peers. Physical activity is the natural way to prevent the negative consequences of stress, attentiondeficit, hyperactivity disorder and other behavioral issues “90% of teachers and 86% of parents surveyed connect physical activity with improved academic performance and behavior.” - PE4Life Blueprint for Change
Health & Fitness
Being physically fit and active leads to overall fitness for the heart, cardiovascular system, muscle and cell development, and longevity. Exergaming is an exciting and motivating experience for everyone that helps build the basis for developing a sustainable healthy and active life. “One in every three U.S. children born after 2000 will become diabetic unless many more people start eating less and exercising more.” -- Dr. K.M. Venkat Narayan, diabetes epidemiologist Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Scientific research supports physical activity as an effective approach to minimize mounting health concerns and Physical Education teachers are using this research and exciting new methods to re-define “what is PE”. PE teachers are the doing their part by rasing awareness that fitness can be fun, in a way that kids today understand – technology.
The technology skilled PE teachers of today are learning to use “exergames” in classes – exergames are video-games combined with fitness. Nothing engages today’s school children more than technology, so it is no surprise exergames dramatically raise interest in PE class by making the class fun, challenging and rewarding.