Kids Get Swingy: The Active App

We received samples, and it is my choice to recommend this toy for our Holiday Gift Guide.

I have two kids that LOVE to play video games but I’m lucky because they love to be active as well. If their friends come over they throw their electronics down and go outside and play. But there are days that are rainy or just too cold to go play outside and we have an electronics day. It’s ok, it happens. BUT, I still like to find ways to keep them active. I was just introduced to a new app that does just that.

DID YOU KNOW?

One of the most alarming consequences of the explosive rise of modern technology and associated screen time is that children are rapidly becoming overweight and inactive. Studies show that:
• 3/4 of all kids have access to mobile devices at home and the time spent on these screens has TRIPLED from 2011 to 2013.

• 72 % of children age 8 and under have used a mobile device for some type of media activity such as playing games, watching videos, or using apps

• 38 % of all kids under the age of 2 have already used a mobile device.

• Children who spent at least 60 minutes in front of the screen were 39 % more likely to become overweight and 86 % more likely to become obese.

Swingy is the first wireless balance board and I like playing with it.

The creators of Swingy worked with doctors, teachers and exercise physiologists to develop it. With Swingy’s curved form and back and fourth movement, it strengthens the core muscles required for a healthy posture and improves balance and coordination. Improving your balance will improve your ability to do other sports. The boards will have the Bluetooth sensors attached to them. These sensors wirelessly connect to a tablet or smartphone (for now only the iPad). Each balance board controls one of the parameters on the screen. This means kids are using their legs to control the game.

The first game is called Swing Pong. Each sensor controls one of the sliders on the screen. The goal of the game is to keep the ball in play by intercepting it with one of the sliders. Power-ups randomly appear on the screen in the shape of forest fruits and animals. Forest fruits give lives, increase the size of the ball or the sliders, or decrease the speed of the ball. The animals either shrink the ball or the sliders, or increase the speed of the ball.

I’m really looking forward to when Swingy is available on other devices. For now I’ve just had fun trying to keep my balance on the boards. I’ve also enjoyed watching my kids try to balance. Our whole family seems to need A LOT of practice balancing.

Follow Along Socially: