Moms and Dads, listen up. This one’s for parents of teenagers. Are you having trouble getting your teenager to even mumble the words physical fitness much less perform it? Our high-tech society continues to breed generations of couch potatoes and it seems all a parent can do to get the kid to walk out to catch the bus, much less actually spend time working out.
A few gyms may just have solved the answer to this quandary over in England. Some city owned fitness centers in and around London have been trying a small experiment. They’ve connected Playstation II’s to their treadmills, Stairmasters and other stationary workout equipment.
The novelty and ingenious behind setting up these game systems isn’t just about letting the kids come in, hop the treadmill and start going. No, teenagers who sign up are given a 30-minute orientation and fitness test. They are then ‘prescribed’ a workout. Their workouts will include time on these stationary cardio machines where they can play their favorite video games while working out.
Gyms featuring the Playstation II have seen a 15 percent increase in their number of teenage patrons who are actively showing up and working out regularly. The increase is decent enough that they are expanding their operations to add PS II’s to other area gyms and working to get those couch potatoes off the sofa by letting them workout and play at the same time.
While this idea comes across like a breath of fresh air, it’s based in the firm reality that adults enjoy having something else to do with their minds while they’re working out. They listen to music, watch television or even read magazines. So why shouldn’t kids play their games?
If you’re thinking this is a great idea, move your PS II, Xbox or other gaming system to attach to a television near the treadmill. Challenge your teenagers. It’s got to be a lot harder to play some games and walk at the same time than it is to sit, hunched forward and focused on the screen.
The Game System challenge may seem like a stretch, but if it stretches your teen into a better lifestyle of physical fitness, why not?