A study from a research collaboration of faculty from Goldsmiths, University of London and Oxford Brookes University, Oxford has shown that the use of the Wii Fit could help children with movement difficulties. Research indicated that regular use of the Wii Fit had a positive impact on motor skills and social behavior. According to their report, “The research team studied two groups of children with movement difficulties or DCD over a one month period.
One group spent ten minutes, three times a week using the Wii Fit during their lunch break, while the other group took part in their regular Jump Ahead programme – a programme aimed at helping children develop motor skills. The results found significant gains in motor proficiency, the child’s perception of their motor ability and reported emotional well-being for more of the children in the group using the Wii Fit three times a week than those in the group not doing so.”
It’s nice to see video games do some good for children. I mean, kids are a lot better at pwning noobs and building sweet things out of redstone than they used to be, but it’s good to see that gaming can improve their lives as well. Professor Hill from the Department of Psychology at Goldsmiths believes this initial study could indicate that the Wii Fit should become a part of therapeutic programs for children, “The results provide interesting points warranting further discussion, particularly in view of the fact that many children have access to the Nintendo Wii Fit and may be using this system at home with minimal supervision. This simple, popular intervention represents a plausible method to support children’s motor and psychosocial development.”
