Wii Exercise
WAV | MP3 | Windows Media
Chuck Denney
Brandon Gentry has a mean backhand. His virtual Wimbledon opponent comes courtesy of the Nintendo Wii game. Wii is not for thumbs only. You swing and use a remote to mimic the actions of a real game.
Brandon often works up a sweat swatting computerized tennis balls, and playing other Wii sports.
Brandon Gentry
“When you’re playing it, you’ve got to really move to play it. With sports or something, you have to do the motions and everything.”
Chuck Denney
Wii has dozens of sports to play where a stationary posture won’t cut it. Here you’re duking it out in the boxing ring, throwing punches and dodging jabs. UT Extension teaches Wii games to kids as part of the Leaps and Bounds program at Apollo Middle School in Nashville. Kids love video games, but not necessarily exercise. With Wii, they get both. Martin Koon is with UT Extension.
Martin Koon
“It’s wireless, so you’re not attached to a cable like most video games. You’re up. The controllers, you actually move them. Like tennis, you’re swinging a racket. Baseball, you’re swinging a bat or pitching a ball.”
Chuck Denney
Wii also works out the brain. There are trivia games, as well as cooking mama - where kids learn to virtually prepare healthful meals. They use the remote to chop up vegetables and mix ingredients. Jennifer Stenman is with UT Extension in Davidson County.
Jennifer Stennman
“I try to incorporate healthy snacks with the Wii as well when I’m doing nutrition programs so they can actually experience the different types of foods not only on screen, but also taste them and feel them and see the differences in foods - junk food versus nutritional food.”
Chuck Denney
Whether eating, learning or playing, here’s a virtual reality. We can’t keep kids from their video, so why not put their passion in motion? After all, exercise can be all fun and games
END
|
