Category: Kids


The Disney Magic

Filed under: Health, Kids, Tech — 5 Comments
May 11, 2010

Recently, I had an opportunity to play with the (free) Toy Story Disney iPad app.   This tool is a great example of interactive learning for children.  It is part book, part movie, it has games….It’s the type of tool that has kids going back  to it again and again.  Well what does this have to do with Health and Wellness you ask?

As per the Disney Institute:

“ Walt Disney was, and will always remain, that rare breed: an artistic genius who, with the unflagging and essential support of his brother, Roy, created an effective organizational model and efficient work environment where employees were recognized for their achievements, encouraged to work as a team and, by striving for excellence, continually broke the confines of the status quo to surpass the expectations of the world.“

We must attempt to go beyond the status quo in healthcare and make some Disney magic.  Imagine what healthcare would be like if it was up to Disney?  In the words of MD Bill Crounse’s If Disney did Healthcare :

“If Disney did healthcare our hospitals and clinics would be impeccably clean, safe and extremely efficient despite the press of humanity seeking services there every day.“

I think that the innovative story app that Disney created for the iPad encourages kids to read.  Imagine, from a health prevention perspective, if that Disney magic were leveraged to create an app that encouraged healthy behaviour and habits in kids.  That would truly be magical!

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The “Goody Drawer”

Filed under: Fitness, Health, Kids, The Toolbox — 3 Comments
March 31, 2010

Years ago my husband bought me this hot pink fuzzy DVD set with every season of Sex in the City. He thought I would enjoy the series  seeing as I had never seen an episode, given that we don’t subscribe to cable.  I have to admit I really enjoyed the show.  It’s funny and very well written.  Most recently I re-watched the episode where the girls are describing their “goody drawer” which got me thinking about my goody drawer.  Well for starters, I don’t own a night stand, rather what I have is a goody shelf.  I know the suspense is killing you to find out what is on my goody shelf.  Well if you’ve read my past posts, you should have guessed by now that my goody shelf is filled with health related items.

Most recently I added Pumped Magazines from the Heart and Stroke for my children.  If you have children you may want to check out this magazine. They are downloadable  from their website or you can order them directly from the Heart and Stroke. The magazines are full of good health info geared toward children. My children really enjoyed the comics, games and activities.

The other downloadable magazine that I recently added to this health goody shelf was the Gotta Move magazine from the Government of Canada Physical Activity site.  Like the magazine from the Heart and Stroke, the Gotta Move is full of information and it is fun for kids.

I think there is real value in having a “shelf”  or “space” filled with goodies of a health nature for the kids.  Over time, it becomes an indispensable resource that you can draw on to provide some focus on these types of important issues.  Let’s face it, with the bombardment of entertainment that our children are exposed to, building a resource of entertaining, but useful, health related “goodies” is critical to teach our kids about life-long health.

If you have your own “goody” shelf ideas, I’d love to hear about them!

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The Games People Play

Filed under: Fitness, Kids — 14 Comments
February 24, 2010

In a previous addition of the children’s magazine Chickdee, David Suzuki described his dream home. One feature was to have a TV that worked according to how  physically active you were. Is it possible??  Most recently, my eldest daughter has taken an interest in walking, why?  Because on March 14 Ninetendo will release its Pokewaker.  In a nutshell its a pedometer.

As per a tech review site, Engadget, “By ‘walking’,  one can catch wild Pokemon, search for hidden items, and even find new routes within the new HeartGold and SoulSilver versions of the game”.   No, this isn’t quite David Suzuki’s dream but getting pretty close.  Thumbs up to Ninetendo for trying to get kids moving.  As for my daughter she has been training hard to play this game.

So my point is technology can be an enabler for health, and other related issues.  This now brings me to my latest endeavour.  I have most recently signed up to play Evoke.  I love the concept. It’s a game created by Jane McGonigal… (note its not a simulation) to address real life problems like poverty, food security.  Imagine,  the possibilities, bringing together people from all over the world, to work collaboratively in making the world a better place.  Perhaps someday soon David Suzukis dream home will actually be a reality.

Below, I’ve linked a video that provides info on Evoke!

EVOKE trailer (a new online game) from Alchemy on Vimeo.

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