GeoPalz Tracks and Rewards Kids’ Fitness Activities

What do you get when you combine kids, fitness and a reward system?  Kids + fitness + rewards= win, win, win.

Meet GeoPalz, an innovative pedometer for kids that tracks their fitness activities and rewards them with points, which can be used to redeem for prizes like footballs, frisbees and even bikes!

When the weather is as cold as it is on the east coast this week, the thought of playing outside is out of the question.  Nevertheless, like most kids, my guy needs to expend all that energy.  Fortunately for us, we have Nickelodeon’s Wii Fit, which has been a saving grace for when it’s way too cold to go out. (our review is forthcoming)  But when the weather is actually bearable, we’re big on going to the park, going for walks or just playing pirates in our backyard.  When we cover so much ground, especially when we were city dwellers, I’ve always wondered how much we walked.

And then, the clever minds behind Jibbitz did the legwork for us and created GeoPalz.  GeoPalz was created for getting kids active, with Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move initiative in mind.

Kids can collect a variety of GeoPalz characters to match their personalities, which can be clipped onto their belts.  Each GeoPalz tracks their physical activity, which can then be recorded online www.geopalz.com where they can manually enter their steps, which are then converted into miles or “pedpointz.”  All steps are converted into miles/pedpointz based on the formula of 2,500 steps equals one mile and one mile equals one pedpoint.

I love the Rock and Roll and Butterfly GeoPalz, but there are also sports, fairy and Skelanimals available.  We were sent one of the Skelanimals and have had an interesting time checking it out thus far.  Since snow and ice has covered our roads and streets for the past few weeks, we haven’t had a chance to fully test it out yet.  We may head to the mall or indoor playground to do some playing, so we’ll give a full report when we do.

Until then, check out GeoPalz and get out and play!

GeoPalz retail for $20 and can be found at REI and select toy stores.

Michelle Obama visits Sesame Street

Michelle Obama Sesame StreetIn between meeting with diplomats and helping to promote the President’s new foreign policies, the First Lady took some time out last week to visit Elmo and the gang at Sesame Street. Michelle Obama visited Sesame Street to tape a Public Service Announcement with Elmo as part of Sesame Workshop’s Healthy Habits For Life initiative. Mrs. Obama and Elmo discussed eating right, exercising regularly and being a healthy and positive role model for children.

“If you want your child to have healthy habits, practice healthy habits, because you’re your child’s role model,” The First Lady suggests in the PSA.

I thought the news about planting an organic garden at the White House was pretty cool, but Mrs. Obama’s visit to Sesame Street is just as much a highlight for her, as it is for her fans!

(photo credit: Richard Termine)