Get Kids Moving's Exercards are designed to promote physical activity and boost cognitive development.  The cards were developed based on brain-compatibility research, integrating kindergarten learning objectives and striving to prevent childhood obesity.

 

The Exercards box contains 26 Exercards, color-coded in green, red and blue on one side and exercises and one variation on the reverse side.  Also included are an Exercards Rules card as well as variation and tips for adult participants.  A Brain Tumblers card is also enclosed containing 30 questions and activities.  To play with the 26 Exercards, the following takes place:

• Cards are separated into three piles according to their colors

• Each stack is shuffled

• Players take turns picking first from the green stack (at least two cards) - this is the warm up stack

• Players perform the move as described on the card as each card is drawn

• Play moves to the red stack - at least five cards should be drawn from this stack - these are the aerobic cards

• Play moves to the blue stack - at least two cards should be drawn - these are the cool down exercises

To score the game, each player receives points for completing a card and extra points can be assigned if the card is played twice using a variation on the second try or to a player who completes all 26 cards at least one time throughout a day.  Everyone who participates wins at the game as they have the opportunity to gain coordination and endurance as well as learn to love exercise.

 

INDIVIDUAL CATEGORY RATINGS

EASE OF USE Extremely easy!  Take the cards out of the box, place them in stacks and get playing!  The first time through you'll have to read the directions just to be sure you pick from the correct piles - but once you have that down (green, red, then blue!) you'll be good to go.  When closing up, it was a little tough getting the cards back in the box, but nothing a quick retry couldn't fix.

DURABILITY The cards are a bit larger than a standard deck of playing cards, making them easy to hold and read.  They are apparently well-made out of a heavy card stock.  Additionally, they're portable and compact - easy to take with you wherever you go (could even play at the park or grandma's house!).

VISUAL APPEAL The primary colors on the reverse side of the cards are bold and pleasing - the images on the game side are cute and get the point across.  Also, our reviewers noted that the cards will appeal to both sexes as there is nothing that screams "girl" or "boy" on any of them.  While there's not too much to look at when it comes to this category - the cards do not have anything that would turn our panel off!

FUNCTIONALITY Our reviewers are still raving about Exercards - no joke!  They LOVE the idea and the message.  Kids have the opportunity to combine motor skills, patterns, consonants and vowels all while getting in some much-needed exercise.  The game can be competitive - but doesn't have to (you'd have to have your own paper or scorecard to keep points if you really wanted to).  Our panel felt this was the perfect gift to donate to any elementary school classroom.

COST EFFICIENCY As we arrived at the Cost Efficiency Category, our reviewers were hoping that this wonderful new product they had the opportunity to review wasn't going to blow the budget - so they were extremely pleased to find out that the cards are priced at exactly their guess of ten dollars!  Reviewers stated, "These are so worth the investment!"

ORIGINALITY Have you ever seen anything like it?  Our reviewers hadn't!  With childhood obesity on the rise, our reviewers were happy to find that a company like Get Kids Moving is out there trying to find a fresh, innovative way to get kids up and exercising.  Our reviewers were determined that if all elementary school teachers had these they'd have no problem finding a way to introduce exercise in their classrooms every day!

OVERALL RATING

Seriously, our reviewers couldn't stop admiring these cards - who knew something so awesome could come in a card box?!  Our kids were up - punching the sky while singing the ABC's (yes, it takes some coordination too!) and drawing shapes on the floor with their feet.  Even the Brain Tumblers had them moving - imitating animals and flying around the room!  Want a way to get your kids exercising - purchase ExerCards and you will be on your way!