Active Video Games

The article in USA Today on July 31, 2008 says that active video games such as Wii Sports and Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) uplift kids’ active level. According to the research, active video games need twofold energy compared to sedentary video games and help kids’oxygen consumption and heart rate level. Sports games have positive effect on children’s body. However, Craig Buschner, a professor of kinesiology casts doubt on this new research. He believes that these games just a tool to keep kids active. They shouldn’t play games instead of biking or playing tag.

I think this new research is best news for both parents and children. Because kids can consume their calories having fun. Parents who want kids to keep active don’t worry about kidnapping or hitting by car. They are able to have their kids play in sight of them.

Take a look at this movie.



Playing DDR is surely hard exercise. But, be careful. Playing too much is a strain on your knees like this boy!

It is even more surprises that some schools in The U.S. install DDR to add it to their programs. I wished I would have had "a playing-games class" when I was in a school. Playing games are far more fun than a half hour of running or working out at a gym. Besides, kids can be active anytime in and out of season, under good and bad weather.

However, I also understand what a professor Craig Buschner says. I believe that kids have to go outside to build up a strong body against a cold, and they sometimes need to get fresh air and some sun (Maybe how to works on a body is another research topic.) I used to play video games a lot when I was a kid. But at the same time, I played a tag, hide-and-seek a lot as well. I could build up myself physically and mentally by playing outside. Because I learned that I bled and it hurt when I fell down earlier in my life, and I never cried out when I got some pain. I want kids who spend most of a day to know them.

Video Games

There has been controversy about letting children play video games since video games got popular.

I was a big fan of Nintendo Family Computer when I was in elementary and junior high school. Each time new games were released, I rushed to a store to buy them. At my class, my friends and I talked about games a lot, such as how to win a game and which sword to choose to defeat enemies. My favorite games were the very first Mario Brothers(action game), ExciteBike(race game), Tennis(sports game) and Dragon Guest(role-playing game). They were two dimensions, kind of slow and not so cruel.

However, things seem to have been changing. The graphics of games are more realistic, and some games contain violence and crimes. In real world, I sometimes hear horrible crimes whose ideas are taken from games. They say that video games influence on especially children who has been still developing themselves.

Now that I have a two-year-old daughter, I might get into this controversy near future. Should I allow her to play video games? I will research positive sides and downsides of video games to make a decision.