apps for healthy kids

I think that we, parents, can play an important role in making our child's school a healthy environment. I just got masters degree in information technology, and from my childhood I used to stay in front of the computer almost all day. I wasn't physically active at all, and I know that my parents could motivate me to spent less time at computers and more time outside with all the children, but they didn't do it. I hope that I will succeed in giving the right education to my kids and to teach them the healthy way of living.

I think that it would be really interesting to create such discussion with other this website visitors. Anyway thanks a lot one more time for the great and informative publication.
Joney

As my boys were growing up in a new development we were the odd ones out as we were always outside. Whether it was playing outdoor games or free classes it was always fun even if just walking. We should have a "siesta" time that can be used for sleep or outdoor activity only.

It is up to the adults as parents/grandparents to see that our children get enough exercise and the right kind of foods. If your children are into technology, get them the games that emphasize movement/exercise. If you'd rather let your child become a couch potato or you don't have enough authority to enforce your rules, get help from someone who knows the drawbacks of obesity. Maybe, you don't want to go that extra step to ensure your child's good health because your own health isn't that good. Just remember, you must set a good example first. Ask yourself these 2 questions: 1. Would you rather have your child ashamed of you and themselves because of physical condition/appearance? 2. Do you care as much as you should about your child and the future, education, physical appearance, physical condition, and overall welfair? The answers should be as positive as possible. Do yourself and them a favor: get off the couch, turn off the TV and cell phone, and do something recreational/physically demanding, before its too late.

AS A GARDENER I THINK THAT THE QUESTION IS AN OXI-MORON! WHAT OTHER ACTIVITY WOULD GIVE THEM CHANCES TO GET EXERCISE FRESH AIR AND ALSO HELP THEM TO LEARN HOW TO GROW THEIR FOOD AND FLOWERS IN A SMALL PLOTS OR IN CONTAINERS. BUTTERFLIES, GOOD BUGS "HOW TO ATTRACT" VS BAD BUGS." HOW THEY CAN GET RID OF THEM NATURALLY".. HOW FOOD TASTES SO MUCH BETTER WHEN THEY GROW IT THEMSELVES WHAT THEY LIKE. HOW TO MAKE IT TASTE GOOD BY FEEDING THE SOIL . HOME GROWN IS BETTER THAN SHIPPED 1K MILES! HOW MUCH WATER AND PULLING WEEDS.. AND WHEN TO PULL THEM.. JUST ALL KINDS OF EDUCATION ..THEY CAN USE THEIR COMPUTERS TO RECORD WHAT EVER STATS THEY WOULD LIKE.. WELL WHACHA WAIT'IN FOR............"".DIG IN"".................

You ever thought that APPS for kids like the Wii is about moving, moving, moving. My 12 year old niece is with the Wii activities for hours not once is she sitting on her but. She is moving, sweating and everything else. So if it an app. that will get her moving some more, then I'm all for it. Some of you need to realize that just because they want an APP to improve fitness does not mean that it is by sitting watching or playing with your thumbs, the Wii games have proven that. Now we need children/students to come up with another plan to get them moving even more than Wii or to come up with an APP that can be somehow hooked up to their (think their necessary)cell phones that can also be challenges such as this.

Sometimes I think people just need to look around to find out that the things they want already exist. Look at the Nintendo Wii, with Wii Fit and Wii Fit plus, Wii sports, and tons of other games that require the people playing them to get up and be active. These games not only have you exercising while playing them, they also educate. There is already software for computers about health and fitness as well.
My eldest son has found new sports that he is interested in outside of the house and away from the game system. Some that we never would have thought to expose him to if it weren't for these games. Years ago there was a game that had a solar sensor on a handheld system that required children to play it outside but they never published it in America because they didn't think it was marketable here.
Kids (and some parents) are more interested in Nickelodeon and Spongebob than PBS and Sesame Street, and that logic applies to video games as well.
If you want this kind of thing to be a part of your kids lives then put forth a little effort into looking around instead of waiting for it to be advertised on YOUR favorite websites or television shows. Or even worse, waiting for the Presidents wife to offer $40,000 for someone to bring one to her so she can share it with the rest of us. Children learn by mimicking their parents, so YOU turn off the computer and spend more time outside, and they will to.

As always, the Obama's are brilliant and looking towards the future, they get it. I have two teenagers and I am a fitness trainer, so I can add my professional opinion, that this is a great idea. It empowers them, they take control, they create something, and they get to be better then us at something, technology. As with everything in life and the world, we need to teach balance, this will help them learn that they can use technology for their health, not just gaming and communications. Let them be creative and have their moment to teach us. My oldest child is getting ready to go to college for Computer Science, after being ill for three years now, I can tell you that he used his laptop to read, study, work on his photography, art, and yes, play some games, to distract him from his physical pain he was in.
I am excited to see the entries! Young minds are so exciting to watch work, I get the same joy when I volunteer with my daughters Volleyball team.

Go kids!

As far as I'm concerned, with the way the world is today....kids need all the help they can get! I believe it's ridiculous for any adult to criticize anyone's efforts who tries to reach out to kids with the goal of improving their lives!!!

The prior comment makes no sense at all!!! On the one hand, SanDiegian is saying that that the sponsors of this sweepstakes are forgetting that today's kids are into technology! (which suggests that the sponsors should approach kids from a technology angle). However, she ends up by saying that parents should limit limit children s technology by turning off the TV and Video games!!! DUH!!!......That sounds like double talk to me!!!!! LOL.

I don't think my high school kids would appreciate if mom came in to have lunch with them in the cafeteria. The high school seems to be the place they still get away with serving less nutritious foods....middle and lower grades tend to have a better focus on this subject because of all this recent attention, but many times we disregard the high schoolers as a lost cause in this matter.

In the grand scheme of things in general, $40,000 is not a lot of money, especially considering how much impact they can get with it.

I don't completely disagree with you but had to add...you asked "can you think of a better way..." here's one....shut off the computer!

One thing that all of you are forgetting is that kids today are into technology. If a kid is given a game or something that works in conjunction with being outside and getting healty then that is a good thing. For example. Educate the child about nature and places in their area that they can go and visit and at the same time getting exercise. Not just going to a park to swing and play on the monkey bars. Give them a game with things that they can go and find at certain locations.

An App could also mean something on a cell phone, it doesn't have to mean that the kid is sitting at a computer.

The parents need to get engaged, turn off the TV, limit the Video game time to 1 hour a day, take the kid to a museum, a nursery to learn about plants, check out a park that has interesting things to do and learn about. Kids love learning new things and if you open them up to this type of stuff it will increase their education and broaden their horizons for their future.

the app would be to motivate children who already sit in front of computers. Children who already have healthy exercise/play habits would not be effected. Or can you think of a better way to influence these children to move away from their screens and become physically active? (And an app is an excellent mode for teaching children about healthy eating... those whose parents let them sit in front of a computer screen rather than engage in physical activity, are likely not learning about nutrition at home.) If this is the stupidest thing you've heard yet, you haven't been listening to much.

I am outraged by this contest. Imp[roving healthy food at schools is a wonderful thing, encouraging them to spend more time at a computer is not the answer. Physical movement and healthy go hand and hand. Our children need to spend less time at computers and more time in their environments, engaging with the earth. What would have been amazing is if this were a contest where children had to build a garden or take on an environmental project for their health.

SO, we're spending $40,000 to have kids sit at their computers some more and read about moving? This is the stupidest thing I've heard yet.