Kids Use Nintendo Wii To Learn Skills

Tools

Story Published: Oct 22, 2009 at 5:20 PM PST

By Kyle Trompeter

MILTON-FREEWATER - They danced for coordination. They moved side to side for balance. They play with a purpose. Using Nintendo Wii to develop essential skills.

We asked one student what her favorite learning skill was.

"Jumping," said four year old student Adrianna Fifield.

"It actually really intrigues me to know how much her coordination is good too. I didn't suspect she'd be able to play this type of game really," said La-Ena Fifield.

The Eastside Learning Center bought the system this summer, thanks to a grant from Wildhorse Casino. Now the kids can play Wack-A-Mole, or Pipe Slider, or Timber Trail. Each game helping an area of need.

"Students can sit on the floor and run and jump on it and do things with their feet. We can work their balance and coordination," said Umatilla Morrow ESD's Lon Thornburg.

The center realizes keeping the mood light is very important with these young kids.

"If you're not able to motivate kids, then it's not going to happen. Bottom line, there is no therapy if kids aren't motivated to do what you ask them to do," said Umatilla Morrow ESD's Cynthia Smith.

And playing the games makes them feel great.

"This tool is a good example of how you use sensory integration to facilitate language and balance," said Smith.

Most of the time, Nintendo Wii is a fixure at parties or when you're just hanging out with friends. for some kids, it's a key that helps open their door to the next level of learning.

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