Parents' Guide to

The Activators

By Erin Brereton, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 5+

Fitness site weak on content but strong on motivation.

Website http://www.theactivators.net/
The Activators Poster Image

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What’s It About?

THE ACTIVATORS site is organized into four main, self-explanatory areas: Photos, Videos, Printables, and Shop, although the shop no longer exists. Kids can become \"an activator\" by clicking on the link that includes the activities to print out a card and make a commitment to exercise and eat healthfully and \"Get a Personal Video\" from The Activator's team (personal information required). The videos page includes seven videos with exercises and a couple of other promotional videos, at the time of this review.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

Frustrated with the lack of online content promoting physical activity, screenwriter (and dad) Gregg Lichtenstein created THEACTIVATORS.NET with national fitness center chain My Gym Children's Fitness Center, which offers classes for kids who are 6 months to 13 years old, to encourage kids to get physically fit. Featuring four "Activators" -- perky, 20-something My Gym instructors -- the site's videos stress how fun "exer-sillies" can be. Kids can also download exercise how-to pages, coloring pages, and paper crafts like photo frame projects. To get the printable card or a personal video, parents have to give personal information, such as hometown and email address, which may be used by the site according to the its terms.

The site is off to a good start -- the Activators have a lot of energy, and the short videos include enough zany graphics and sounds to keep younger kids' interested. However, it's a little shy on content. Right now, there are only seven episodes to watch; other videos are commercial promotions for the in-person program and its related tour. Likewise, the site's photo section isn't all that interesting -- it's mostly just snapshots of the Activators posing -- and kids can easily download all the activities in the site's Printables section on their first visit. Let's hope the Activators stay active and upload some more site content soon.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about why exercise is important -- why is it a good idea to be physically active on a frequent basis?

  • How much exercise do you currently get a day?

  • How can you get more exercise each day in a fun way?

Website Details

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