Obtaining Grants or other funding for GameBikes and GamePads

• PE 4 LIFE
  
• Robert Woods
  
• Johnson Foundation
  
• NIKE Foundation
  
• JC Penny
  After-school grants
  
• Local PTA
  
• Local civic and
  service clubs
  
• Local children’s
  hospital
  
• Local Diabetes
  Association
  
• Local Heart
  Association

Using the GameBike and GamePad for Kids’ Fitness Classes

OK! On the floor! Give me 10 pushups pronto!
Sorry. We couldn’t resist.

As an enlightened physical fitness trainer, (you wouldn’t be on this site if you weren’t), you know what a waste of time most PE or kids physical fitness classes can be. Most overweight kids are not lazy. They’re bored…beyond tears. We’ve heard from hundreds of PE teachers and fitness trainers who work with kids and many say that the GameBike and GamePad can spice up what most kids think is the dullest hour of the day.

It’s exercise but it’s also fun. It’s so much fun…they forget about the calories that they’re burning.

Most fitness trainers have spent their lives working out and eating healthy. Current statistics from the Center for Disease Control estimate that 30% of pre-teen kids DON’T do either. These numbers are staggering. We are in the middle of the worse public health crisis in history and most parents either don’t want to admit that their child has a problem or don’t know what to do about it. Thus…like a lot of problems that start at home…it’s now your problem to solve.

GameBike and GamePad were designed to take advantage of the activity that almost every kid takes part in…video gaming. Whether it involves chase games or Dance, Dance Revolution dance games, kids are plugged into games. With GameBike and GamePad, we keep the excitement of the games, but we add the aerobic exercise element of either a bike or dance pad.

Et Viola...you have a cool way to encourage ALL kids...Fit and Not-So-Fit...to get up and get moving!

CLICK HERE to see which video console games that work best for your group fitness program.

Here are some “Games within the Game” that work well with GameBike:
• With two GameBikes, divide up the class into two groups and have a relay race. The kid on the bike pedals his way around the course for three laps, she/he jumps off, tags the next rider and off they go. The team with the biggest point total or to the finish line wins!

• Stage “GameBike Rumbles”…start with two riders…winner takes on the next challenger…and so forth. The Grand Champion wins a 5 minute rest period because he or she will be exhausted after taking on the class
• Use the GameBike time as an incentive for doing a good job on other physical training exercises
• The game within the game variations are endless

The great thing about using the GameBikes in this type of group setting is that the kids who are probably not much good at other team sports, have been playing these video games and will likely win some of these races. This enhances their “cred” among the others and improves self-esteem.

Here are some “Games within the Game” that work will with GamePad.
• In addition to the GamePad, set up GamePad practice pads behind the GamePad. Divide the class in two groups and rotate kids on the GamePad after each round of the song. The team with the most points win. As the kids are “practicing” before actually getting in the spotlight, they are also getting just as much aerobic exercise as the primary participant.
• Stage a “GamePad Marathon.” With both pads and practice pads start the game and the last person standing wins.
• Stage a GamePad King or Queen of the Pad contest. Two kids start with the winner being challenged by the next kid in line. The winner gets some time off to catch his/her breath
• As with GameBike, the variations of games within the game are endless

Again, kids who are good a GamePad might not be good at any other sport. The psychological benefits to these kids are terrific. Hopefully, it will serve as an impetus for them to continue getting better on the GamePad and getting healthier in general. At least…they will lose some pounds.