Kids have fun with fitness

Playing video games is usually not the first activity parents think of when hoping to motivate their kids to exercise, but new equipment in the Stevens Point Area YMCA's Youth Fitness and Family Prime Time Center is turning that notion on its head.

The $12,000 worth of equipment includes three flat-screen TVs, a Nintendo Wii, Playstation 2 dance pad controllers and a commercially made motion detecting exercise system from Cybex. Since the installation last month, the high-tech additions are turning kids who would normally come in for TV and computer games into fitness enthusiasts.

"I came in yesterday to pick him up, and he was just sweating," said town of Hull resident Chris Klingler on the state of his 9-year-old son, Zachary, after an interactive game fitness session. "I like the interactive games more than them just playing with their hands."

Before the new equipment came, children weren't using the weight resistance equipment in the center. Now drawn in by the new games, they are more open to using the weight equipment, especially while waiting in line for the new systems.

"Now the TV hardly gets turned on," said Laura Isham, YMCA health and fitness director. "We're getting them off their butt."

Zachary Klingler was clearly winded after trying the $5,000 Cybex Trazer, which monitors movement from a sensor worn on a belt. The kids can practice agility as they move side to side and guide their interactive selves around obstacles or jump up and down to prevent balls from falling.

"Sometimes it's a little tricky for them at first," said Whitney Oechsner, a the youth center staff member who helps the children with the games. "But then about halfway through, they get into the game and get used to it."

Nine-year-old Cameron Sloniker-Seif, who describes himself as a "math geek," sang as he danced to Sean Paul, Gloria Gaynor and Ricky Martin hits on Dance Dance Revolution. Sensors on a pad match up with arrows on the screen. The kids keep the beat by hitting different spots on the pad, causing them to stomp and jump.

"It's like exercising and playing a video game at the same time," Cameron said, looking up at his virtual self dancing on the screen. "It's like you're in the electric world."

The new fitness games are available from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, and 9 am. to 8 p.m. on days off from school.

By Carlos Gieseken, Gieseken can be reached at 345-2253 or cgieseken@cwnews.net
Source: www.stevenspointjournal.com