Should video games like Dance, Dance Revolution be encompassed into PE?
This is a tough one, and a question that has engendered significant debate at the Rudd Center. While we advocate the physical activity component of DDR, we also know that screen time is associated with higher body mass index. At this time, we don’t really know whether the net effect of games such as DDR is positive or negative. That is, are kids who would otherwise just be sitting and watching the screen becoming more active, or are kids who would otherwise not be watching the screen now increasing their screen time? We just don’t know. So for now, we encourage physical activity that does not involve video games. That having been said, we always encourage physical activity that is fun.
