Wii Fit for Schools

Schools are tasked with helping to improve the fitness of kids and fight obesity. There are ways other than traditional fitness activities that will keep them engaged. By using the Wii console with a Wii fitness game, students will participate in their favorite activities and games while still experiencing the benefits of good fitness habits.

Benefits

• Easy and Accessible: Anyone, no matter your age or level of activity, will find a fun, easy-to-use experience on the Wii console with Wii Fit Plus.
• Tons of customization for teachers: With more than 60 games and activities packed into Wii Fit Plus, in addition to the variety of different workouts that can be put together, teachers can customize the perfect experience for their class.
• Fitness that's appropriate for anybody: The idea of fitness can be daunting, especially when the danger of injury is very real. The Wii has the games and accessories to keep you active in a safe, controlled environment, and you'll actually have fun doing it. Take a small step up onto your Wii Balance Board and take part in a simple balance exercise or a relaxing yoga pose.
• Play Together: The 8 player multiplayer games on Wii Fit will promote interaction for a small group, or an entire class can mimic the actions of a leader.
• Anyone and Everyone: There are more than 50 different fitness games, so there is a choice that will please the whole class.

Extremely easy and accessible

It takes just a few easy minutes to set up the Wii console, and it's just as simple to navigate and start Wii Fit Plus. The motion controls are intuitive and mimic natural motions you would make during a given activity. There isn't a complicated button combination to safely ski down a virtual mountain - just a small shift of your weight will move your character to the right and left.

Exergaming keeps student engaged

The fitness activities that are found in exercises games such as Wii Fit Plus and Nickelodeon Fit are fun, and will keep students engaged with interactive mini games and events. And the choices for fitness aren't just limited to fitness games. Students will enjoy dance and sports experiences on the Wii, with games that will make them forget that they're working out.

Used in schools around the country

The Wii console is being used in many different ways in schools, ranging from Physical Education (P.E.) classes to after school programs, reward and incentive programs, and special needs classrooms. And since the Wii console is used indoors, it is not reliant on good weather and can be used year round.

Customization for teachers

With more than 60 different activities covering aerobics, cardio, strength training, yoga and balance, instructors will have control of a complete fitness experience, with the ability to customize a workout suited to the tastes and skills levels of a particular age group.

Low impact and safe for students

Because the Wii console requires only simple and controlled body motions, students will have a much safer experience and far less of a chance of injury. And since exercises are primarily balance-based, the activities and low impact and easy to perform.

Many different activities for different tastes

Wii Fit Plus offers games and activities based on a plethora of familiar sports and innovative takes on exercises. With the 15 new Training Plus activities, the focus is on fun to keep the students entertained, while still providing the health benefits of exercise. Kids can play soccer, ski, golf, and explore an obstacle course with their classmates in a safe and friendly environment.

How can our school get started?

A Wii console with Wii Remote and a fitness game are the basic requirements. The Wii Balance Board is required to experience all of the available activities on most fitness games, and is required for Wii Fit Plus. With up to 8 players being able to play in alternating multiplayer, these basics are sufficient for a one-on-one or very small group setting.

For larger class and group settings, a teacher or a student will lead the rest of the class on the Balance Board while the others follow along. Each Wii console will work with only one Balance Board at a time, so more Wii fitness systems means more leaders and smaller groups. For the students following along, accessories such as a Step Aerobics Platform and a Hula Hoop are useful to keep them focus and into the action.

Some Examples

In Concordia, Kansas, administrators were able to use a grant from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Foundation to purchase two Wii consoles equipped with Wii Fit, implementing a fun and exciting program that promotes physical activity and encouragement to participate in fitness activities.¹

And at Haverford School in Haverford, Pennsylvania, Nintendo Wii consoles with Wii Fit are being used for concussion treatment, requiring students to use balance, coordination and mental stimulation in order to rehab (or "Wii-hab", as Mainline Media News reports it is being called by some) from their concussion and improve symptoms.²