Teen and Tween Gift Ideas: Activity Based Video Gaming with XBOX Kinect, Wii, and Playstation Move

The video game culture of our day has been several decades in the making, and in conjunction, a childhood tendency toward obesity has surged, as well. Not only do we now have television, but also, a multitude of electronic devices, personal gaming systems, handheld games, and pc gaming, to distract our children. Many of the games are extremely involved, leading to hours of time in front of a television or computer screen, finding hidden entrances to new levels, and little time is spent in activities which will promote health and fitness. Motion Gaming provides the opportunity to get your teens and tweens moving in a fun way, conducive to individual or family play.

In recent years, Wii has brought some of that action back into the lives of children, tweens, and teens, allowing them to play video games that involve motion and activity.

 Exercise games and equipment have been developed, in conjunction, and even parents get in on the action.

While motion gaming is already incorporated into Wii, Playstation and XBOX will both require additional equipment.

If your tween or teen already has one of these systems, your best option may be selecting the corresponding equipment for the system already in place.

However, if this is a first system, Nintendo Wii already incorporates the motion gaming, and makes it possibly more cost effective in terms of equipment.

 One of the favorite arcade games of my teens and tweens is anything dance related.  My kinesthetic learning style children, particularly, function well with anything activity based, and really love to do the Dance Revolution games.  Many home versions have been developed, with dance mats to mirror the dance floor of the arcade games.  XBOX Kinect has the ability to track the movement of dancers through the Kinect Sensor, while Wii includes a Dance Mat.  Meanwhile, the Play Station versions are able to record and show the actual player on the television screen.  Each system has its unique points...all promise great fun.

Wii Sports is a tremendous amount of fun for kids of all ages.  Family unity can really benefit from interaction through motion gaming, and my teens and tweens have a lot of fun, playing various games with their younger siblings.  As well, my tweens enjoy challenging (and usually beating) Mom and Dad at Wii games.  While there are many companies producing games for sports and other motion action, we have had the most fun with the Nintendo titles.  And there are, of course, the bowling date nights, where Mom and Dad back the tweens, teens, and younger kids off of the system, and challenge each other to a bowling tourney!

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