I'm someone who has to move, which isn't necessarily conducive to my desk job as a writer (I used to do more field work). My Peloton and running have, so far, helped sustain me and get out the restless energy that lives rent-free in my body and mind.In some ways, I think my kids are similar (or maybe they're just 4- and 6-year-old kids). Their teachers describe them as "joys to have in class" who sit still and transition well, something I do not take for granted as a mother, especially of two boys. But sometimes I want to invite these teachers into my home so they can see my kids use my sofa as a trampoline, even though there is an actual indoor trampoline right next to it. To be fair, though, even the indoor trampoline got real old, real fast during the brutal winter we recently had in the Northeast. My kids adore the snow, but the sub-zero temperatures and wind made it challenging for even my rough-and-tumble, resilient kids to stay outside for more than a few minutes at a time. Plus, the "snow bomb" that hit New York in February brought snow that reached my youngest son's chest. That restless energy had to go somewhere (our sofa). And then, everyone got exhausted and used the sofa for movie marathons.While there's nothing wrong with hibernating in the winter and having the occasional veg-out in front of screens, I was starting to get concerned about the not-so-safe movement mixed with a lack of physical activity.I had gotten ads for Nex Playground, but I hadn't sprung for it. I did spring for it when my editor offered me a chance to try it out, and I am so glad I did. Here's what happened when my family tried Nex Playground for three weeks and why I wouldn't be getting rid of it anytime soon (or ever).Related: A Developmental Psychologist Is Begging Parents and Grandparents To Stop Giving Kids This Type of Toy
What Is Nex Playground, Exactly?
The Nex Playground is like a controller-free update to the Wii (which dominated the market in the aughts and 2010s). It's a small, motion-free gaming console that uses AI and a built-in camera to track body movements. Yes, there's a screen involved (in our case, our TV). But it's not passive viewing like with movies or TV shows, nor is it like many video games, which are essentially a workout for your thumbs and not much else.
Nex Playground
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The Nex Playground includes a console with a camera that connects to the TV. There's no controller; just a remote to select games. Here's how the Nex Playground works with so little equipment:
Motion tracking. The console features a wide-angle camera and uses AI (instead of wearables) to track 18 body points. It can track movements like waving and kicking. Those movements can translate into actions within the game, like whacking a mole. Up to four players can play. The Nex Playground can accommodate one to four players.It lists age appropriateness. Nex Playground will share the ages for which each game is best (though, as with other toys, your kids' readiness is entirely individual).It has privacy protections built in. The camera doesn't record or save footage to a cloud or server.Related: Child Psychologists Are Begging Parents and Grandparents To Start Using This One Confidence-Boosting Phrase
Setting up the Nex Playground: First Impressions
Courtesy Beth Ann Mayer
First things first, we unboxed it, and I loved how eco-friendly the packaging was. It came in a cardboard box, and nothing was unnecessarily wrapped in plastic. My existential dread about the melting ice caps could take the afternoon off while I proceeded with the setup, with the help of my husband, who admittedly did most of the work (because, hives and migraines).
The most challenging part was clearing 8 feet of space (our living room is an explosion of toys). Nex Playground also suggests keeping pets out of the view of the camera—the family cat protested.
Courtesy Beth Ann Mayer
You'll need to scan the QR code to activate your console and decide whether to use the free version or spring for Play Pass. Once it's all set up, you can quite literally jump right into playing.
Nex Playground Game Library and Play Pass Info
Courtesy Beth Ann Mayer
Play Pass, though, is an ever-evolving library of new games and updates—some of which lean into seasonal themes—that are a part of a plan you can purchase. They download automatically, streamlining the process for busy-enough parents.
Related: I Stopped Looking at My Phone Before Bed for 30 Days and I Was Honestly Surprised by the Results
My Family's Experience With Nex Playground: 7 Takeaways
Courtesy Beth Ann Mayer
2. Finding games was also easy
The library is easy to navigate, and I appreciated the age suggestions. My children are on the younger side, so we stuck to games for 3+ and 5+ (my 4-year-old likes a good challenge). Fruit Ninja was an instant hit with my kids, who are in a ninja phase. They wanted to play it again and again.
4. It challenged them
Speaking of learning curves, my kids instantly loved the Nex Playground. But they didn't instantly nail all of the games. I loved that they got challenged. It forced them to think and pay attention rather than zone out, which I thought we did a bit too much during the dark and cold days of winter.
Nex Playground can give my kids a way to have a blast and break a sweat without dealing with the weather, which was way too cold for us (and yes, I've heard and generally agree with, "There's no bad weather, only bad clothing," but this winter was its own breed of "no thanks").
6. They had to learn to lose
7. They stopped asking for the TV all the time
It can be really challenging to break screen time habits after even a week of blowing past limits, let alone a couple of months. Once we started testing the Nex Playground, my kids started asking if they could play games on the TV instead of watching it. They were much better-behaved and had far less pent-up energy. I noticed fewer fights and fewer meltdowns.
The games are generally aimed at kids, but adults can absolutely hop in and enjoy the Nex Playground. My husband did, especially to instruct and show the kids how to stay in the frame. It was so much fun watching my family bond (I was playing photographer).
Related: How the Tin Can Landline Helped My Kids Connect Without Screens
Final Thoughts: Is Nex Playground Worth It?
Courtesy Beth Ann Mayer
Since it's an active gaming experience versus a passive one, kids also have to engage their minds. It makes shutting the screen off and re-entering the analog world (where you have to work hard to get some gratification) less of a meltdown-triggering experience. My family had more fun and less frustration while testing Nex Playground, so now it's permanently taking up real estate in our living room.
Related: 'I Tried a Brick To Spend Less Time on My Phone—and I’m Not Sure How I Ever Lived Without It'
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