Every year I am amazed at how many electronic devices are being created and designed with children in mind. Children can access games and media on PCs, laptops, phones, tablets, e-readers, and even on watches. More than ¾ of all children have access to at least one electronic device. With each new electronic development, we are seeing children spend more and more time with electronic devices. From 2011 to 2013, the amount of time that children spent on electronic devices tripled. 38% of children have already used a mobile device before they are 2.
Every chance they get, my children are begging to play a game on my phone or watch a show on a tablet or computer. I want them to be electronically savvy, and electronic games are really fun. Plus sometimes the only way to get a mommy break is to bribe them with some game time. But when I see them lounging on the couch or hunched over on the floor, I worry about how all this time on electronic devices will affect them as they get older. Research has shown that children who spend at least 60 minutes a day in front of a screen are 39% more likely to become overweight and 86% more likely to be obese. These are frightening statistics.
Technology isn’t going anywhere, and so some amazing innovators developed a product that integrates movement and activity into the electronic devices that your children already love. These innovators created Swingy. Swingy is the world’s first wireless balance board for playing games on tablets and smartphones. The Swingy balance boards stimulate children to move, while they play fun, electronic games. The Swingy balance board was specially designed with doctors, teachers, and exercise psychologists to strengthen core muscles and improve balance and coordination. A strong core is essential for everyday activities like running, jumping, skating, and playing.
Swingy balance boards are crafted from smooth-sanded beech wood. The top of each board has a specially designed non-skid spread. Swingy balance boards are engineered to be wider on the bottom side of the board; this is an extra precaution against tipping.
Each Swingy balance board is equipped with a Bluetooth sensor that allows each board to connect to your tablet or smartphone. Your children will be combining entertainment with exercise as they use their legs to maneuver the paddles in the game. It is a great way to integrate active time into play time.
We were able to use the Swingy balance boards as we played Swing Pong. Swing Pong is very similar to ping-pong, but your legs are controlling the movement of the sliders that keep the ball in play. The goal of the game is to keep the ball in play as long as possible. It seems pretty simple right? The longer you play Swing Pong, the more challenging it becomes. Pictures of fruit and animals appear on the screen and some help you, while others make the game trickier by shrinking your paddles or increasing the speed of the ball.
The game is bright and inviting to children. Kids can customize their Swingy squirrel by choosing the color of its jacket and shoes. The sensors on the balance boards are very sensitive, and they were perfectly synced to the movement of our feet. It seems deceptively easy, but balancing and coordinating feet movements to the game was surprisingly challenging.
My 6 year old daughter was an instant Swingy whiz. She was able to balance fairly easily, and after a few turns was racking up scores into the 60s.
My four year old son took a little longer to grasp the concept. He had a difficult time balancing at first and getting the paddles to move how he wanted them to, but after a few rounds he was quickly catching up to his sister. When my son was playing, the Swingy boards would occasionally slip sideways. He was able to quickly adjust them and continue with his game, but some sort of traction on the bottom of the balance boards would solve this issue.
We had our play group friends try out Swingy too, and they had a blast. It was the most popular toy during the play group. The kids would wait in line for their turn to try and get the high score. Swingy was definitely a hit with our friends and family. It is the perfect way to integrate active movement and electronic play in a way that kids will love. I was very impressed with Swingy balance boards and Swing Pong. If you are looking for a simple way to increase your children’s activity level, Swingy is perfect way to get them moving, while doing something they enjoy.
Visit swingy.net to learn more.
Plus check out their Kickstarter page to help get Swingy into production.
I received a complimentary pair of Swingy balance boards to facilitate this review. The views expressed in this review are honest and my own. I was not required to give a positive review.
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