Review of WatchIt!

The WatchIt! app and techne was an ingenious idea to address the issue of childhood obesity, a complex issue that plagues far too many of the children in this country. Stemming largely from a lack of time spent playing outside, children often struggle with a constant need to be instantly entertained by the pastimes in which they take part. Technology is flashy and attention-grabbing which often why they turn to TV, tablets, and cellphones. Being bored is unknown to them, for they can quickly turn to their electronic devices to fill that void before it fully takes over. And from personal experience as a nanny, TV shows and apps, can be an incredibly tempting solution to the whining child that wishes to be entertained.

It is also interesting how technology, social media, and media in general, has affected how parents view playtime for their children. We often hear of how crimes against children, and in an effort to keep their children safe at all times, parents rarely let their children play outside unsupervised. The media quickly pounces on stories like that and often causes more anxiety for parents. Due to a lack of active playtime and a lack of opportunity for children, there is a serious uptick in the amount of obese children. Obviously the issue of childhood obesity is very complex, an it can't be boiled down to technology, but the idea of WatchIt! gives a playful solution for children who have a hard time finding the motivation to go outside. I also like the way that a parent can get involved in the app and using a child's friends to help motivate them to get active. I think that the idea of blocking apps would be perfect, but for children who use their parent's phone, this can sometimes be problematic for the parent. Perhaps there could be an option for parents to enter a password to open the app, if it is before the child has met the allotted time for active play. I also like the ability for the app to recognize when a child begins to use an app more than the ones that are designated as blocked before playtime.

Overall, I thought this project was well thought out and it was a simple enough app for children and parents to maneuver and it is perfect to get kids to do what they need to do to get more active and healthy.