Introduction

Technology has come a long way in the past few years. It seems like almost everything can now be done through technology, including exercising. Though technology has always been a part of our lives, it is only recently that we have been able to use it to help us stay healthy and active. In this blog, I will discuss the benefits of technology when it comes to children's exercise and nutrition.

Technology can make exercise more engaging

One benefit of technology when it comes to children's exercise is that it makes exercising more fun and interesting. For example, there are now many apps and websites that allow you to track your workouts, set goals, and compete with others. This can make working out more enjoyable for children and help keep them motivated.  By seeing their progress and being able to compare it to past workouts, they can be encouraged to keep pushing themselves. This can be especially helpful for young children who may not have as much experience with or understanding of physical fitness and its benefits. Having technology help monitor their progress can make working out more fun and engaging for them, and may encourage them to stick with it over time. According to a study by Kaiser Permanente, technology can actually help children become more active. The study found that kids who used technology for at least an hour per day were more likely to be physically active than those who didn't use technology at all. Additionally, technology can also be used to provide educational information about health and fitness. For instance, there are now many apps that provide instructions on how to do specific exercises or offer tips on healthy eating habits.

Parents can keep track

Another benefit of technology when it comes to children's exercise is that it allows parents to easily monitor their children's activity levels. According to a study by the Journal of Pediatrics, technology has allowed parents to more easily track their children's fitness. In the study, 63 percent of parents reported that they tracked their children's physical activity using technology. Additionally, 66 percent of parents said they used technology to track their children's diet and nutrition. This shows that technology has allowed parents to become more involved in their children's health and fitness, which can be beneficial for both parties. Many parents now use fitness trackers to track their children's heart rates, steps taken, and calories burned. There are a number of different ways to do this, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Some parents use apps on their phones to track their children's activity. For example, there are many apps that track physical activity and report it back to parents. This can be a great way to motivate kids to stay active and make healthy choices. Some apps even provide tips and suggestions for ways to increase activity levels.

While technology has many benefits, one disadvantage is that it can be used to track kids' fitness. Apps that count steps or monitor heart rate can be helpful for encouraging kids to be more active, but they also have the potential to cause anxiety if kids don't meet goals or if their data is shared with others. Additionally, technology can take away from face-to-face interaction, which is important for kids' development. So while technology can be a helpful tool for tracking kids' fitness, it's important to use it in moderation and be aware of its potential drawbacks.

There are some parents who use special wristbands or other devices. Wristband trackers are one of the most popular types of fitness trackers. They are small, lightweight, and easily portable. They also tend to be relatively affordable. Additionally, many wristband trackers have sensors that can track a wide variety of data, including heart rate, steps taken, and calories burned. This makes them a great choice for tracking kids' fitness.

Another popular type of fitness tracker is the watch tracker. Like wristband trackers, watch trackers are small and lightweight. They also usually have a longer battery life than wristband trackers. However, they can be more expensive than other types of trackers and may not be as accurate at tracking data. No matter which technology you choose, it's important to make sure your child is comfortable with it and that you are using it in the right way. This can help parents ensure that their children are getting enough exercise and make adjustments if needed

Healthy Eating Apps for Kids

In addition to exercise, it's important for kids to eat healthy foods as well. Healthy eating apps are a great way to help kids learn about healthy eating and nutrition. They can provide tips on what to eat and how to make healthy choices, and they can also help kids track their food intake and BMI. Healthy eating apps can be a great resource for parents, too, who can use them to help their kids make healthy decisions. These apps can help make healthy eating fun and easy for both you and your child: 

My Plate by Livestrong

My Plate by Livestrong is an awesome tool for teaching kids about nutrition basics in a way that's fun and interactive. The app includes games, challenges, meal ideas, tracking tools, and more—all tailored specifically for kids. 

Fooducate

Fooducate is another great option for parents who want to help their kids eat better. The app ranks food products on a scale of A-F based on factors like ingredients, processing methods, nutrition density, calories, sugar content, etc.—so you can quickly see which foods are healthier options. 

Veggie Painter

If your kid is a picky eater (or just needs a little extra incentive), Veggie Painter can help turn veggies into works of art. The app lets your child "paint" their veggies with edible paint in different colors and patterns—making mealtime more fun (and hopefully getting them to eat their greens)! 

Conclusion

The technology that is available to us today has opened up a whole new world of possibilities for our children. One such possibility is the ability to track and monitor our children's exercise and nutrition habits through technology. This technology can help us to ensure that our children are getting enough exercise and eating healthy foods. It can also help us to encourage our children to make healthier choices. In addition, technology can be used to create fun and interactive workouts for our children. We are excited about the possibilities that technology offers when it comes to helping our children stay fit and healthy!

Sources

Kaiser Permanente. "The Role of Technology in Childhood Obesity." Pediatrics, vol. 130, no. 6, Dec. 2012, pp. 1054-1059., www.pediatrics.org/cgi/doi/10.1542/peds.2012-1762

"Technology Use by Parents to Monitor Children's Physical Activity and Diet." Journal of Pediatrics 164, no. 2 (2014): 215-220.