Smart Cycle

Smart Cycle Physical Learning Arcade System is a stationary bicycle for children ages three to six that may promote interactive learning. [http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?st=5450&e=mainproduct Smart Cycle, Fisher-Price.com] ]

Background

The Smart Cycle, by Fisher-Price, was designed to encourage active play in children, drawing from research in neuroscience which indicated the human brain grows and learns better during exercise. [http://www.prdomain.com/companies/M/Mattel/newsreleases/20072938941.htm Mattel News Release, Prdomain.com] ] A child-sized exercise bike, the Smart Cycle connects to a television's A/V jacks. The accompanying software provides word and number games that children play by pedaling the bike and using the onboard joystick. The gaming action increases as the child pedals faster. Children can play learning games and have races with friends or against the computer. Learning games include matching, spelling, numbers, shapes and motor skills activities. [http://toys.about.com/od/hotnewtoyreleases/a/smartcycle.htm Fisher Price Smart Cycle, Toys.about.com] ]

Games and learning activities

Games

*"Math Mountain"
*"Shape Lake"
*"Number Fields"
*"Letter Creek"
*"Alphabet Barn"
*"Big Race"

kills promoted

*Upper and lowercase letters recognition
*Numbers and counting
*Spelling
*Problem-solving
*Shape recognition
*Matching
*Creativity
*Spatial reasoning
*Motor skills

Partnership

Fitness expert Richard Simmons joined with Fisher-Price in advocating active play for children at the February 2007 American International Toy Fair. [http://babble.com/CS/blogs/strollerderby/archive/2007/02/09/richard-simmons-wants-your-children-to-be-healthy.aspx Richard Simmons - Healthy Children, Babble.com] ] Simmons is fighting to get the No Child Left Behind Act to include a focus on physical education in all of the nation's schools. As a former obese child himself, Mr. Simmons wanted to help Fisher-Price introduce the Smart Cycle as one way children can begin learning about the benefits of physical activity by playing interactive learning games. [http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2007/02/pedal_power.html "Is This How the Cycle of TV Addiction Begins?", Popwatch.ew.com] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.fisher-price.com/us/default.asp Fisher-Price]
* [http://www.mattel.com/index.asp?f=true Mattel, Inc.]