Motivation from a Cereal Box?
This past week, I opened up a new box of Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes to discover a little add-in to the package. Thinking it would be a treasure for my kids, I tore the packaging open to discover… a step counter. My first thought would be that my six-year-old might have fun with it, but the more I thought on it the more I wondered about this step counter thing. Is this a good idea?
Further investigation of the Kellogg’s website revealed a promotion called the Get Fit Challenge. The idea is to challenge families to get active together and start walking to get fit. For just $2.99, plus one UPC per person, you can send for a Get Fit Kit from Kellogg’s which includes a step counter, 12 week tracking forms, stickers, and a planning guide. Or you can be the lucky recipient of a step counter in specially marked boxes of Kellogg’s Cereals. The website offers tips for walking, and suggests adding 2,000 steps per day to improve your health. Of course, what healthy lifestyle plan would be complete without the recommended daily allowance of Kellogg’s Cereal?
The initial thought of families going for a walk together every evening seems like a good idea. I picture in my mind my happy family as we walk together to health. Then I pause and think about the other things we could be doing during that walking time. We could be playing a family game of soccer or football in the backyard. I could challenge my daughter to a jump-rope contest. Or we could involve the neighbor kids in a rousing game of freeze tag. When I think of those things, walking together as a family doesn’t seem as fun and idealistic to me. I can applaud the idea of getting kids away from the electronic stimulation and out the door, but to supply six-year olds with step counters and tell them they must walk to be healthy… seems a little extreme to me.
While I suppose that it would be good if just one family was inspired by the promotion to get up off the couch and get walking, I still have my reservations about whether or not it’s a good idea. While a cereal box is not my usual source of inspiration, perhaps there are people who will see that picture of a happy family walking together and feel motivated to do something. Motivation from a cereal box? What do you think?
Type your comment think the pedometer served its pupose…to get the family active. Obviously, it doesn’t matter what kind of activity you have, just get some. for some parents, they just can’t handle playing games like that with their kids yet. walking may be all they can do, so it’s a start. After they get active…games may be possible!
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