Ales Rarus

Games to get kids off the couch

Some of the new video games on the market make children move more than their thumbs - they get the kids off the couch and get them to exercise. With television and video games often blamed for contributing to the growing problem of obesity in children, video game makers and children's TV companies are creating shows and games that motivate children to move around or offer story lines that encourage exercise.

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Lowenstein and others say the video game Dance Dance Revolution — which created a craze in the nation's arcades and is now popular among video game players at the home — made the industry realize "gamers are willing to experience a game other than in a sitting position."

I played a version of this game at Dave and Buster's recently. At first, it's completely foreign and ridiculously complicated. Once you get over the initial learning curve, though, it's thoroughly addictive. I spent more money on this game than I have ever spent on any other video game. Anyhow, anything that gets kids off their lazy arses is a good start to eliminating childhood obesity.