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Free app 5-2-1-0 Kids! being prescribed to children to teach them about healthy lifestyles

A game a day keeps the doctor away

Free app 5-2-1-0 Kids! being prescribed to children to teach them about healthy lifestyles
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| 5-2-1-0 Kids!

There have been some strange medicines over the years, but now it would appear that a video game has been added to the list.

According to a report from KING 5, the Henry Ford Health System has been handing out prescriptions for 5-2-1-0 Kids!, a game designed to teach children about healthy lifestyles through a series of mini-games.

The numbers of the title relate to its advice of eating 5 pieces of fruit and veg, restricting themselves to 2 hours screen time, getting at least 1 hour of physical activity and drinking 0 sugary drinks.

Dr. Stacy Leatherwood is quoted as saying that "parents are telling us (their children are) asking for more water and they're asking about vegetables and that sort of thing."

While I'm not sure that prescribing a game to children is necessarily a good thing, it makes sense to try and educate them on ways to stay healthy.

The app is free from both the App Store and Google Play, if you want to see for yourself.

Ric Cowley
Ric Cowley
Ric was somehow the Editor of Pocket Gamer, having started out as an intern in 2015. He hopes to take over the world the same way.