​Desperate to get the kids off the couch this summer? Download the new Pokémon Go app on your phone (or their phones if they have them) and get them moving. We suggest playing along, because a day of chasing Pokémon is a lot more fun than any amount of time on the treadmill at the gym.
The app launched last week and has become an instant sensation (and has taken over just about every social media feed). It's sort of like geocaching, but instead of finding real treasure boxes, you get virtual ones in the form of Pokémon. The app uses augmented reality, which means it puts your camera to work to make it seem like the Pokémon are in your house, backyard or even on your head. And the hidden bonus is that the game mandates walking to find the little critters. .
Getting Your Exercise On
On top of having to walk to a bunch of different spots find Pokémon, players need to walk anywhere from one to six miles to incubate and hatch your eggs. Yes, really. And the game knows if you’re in a car and doesn't count those miles. Trust us, we tried after a long, exhausting day wandering around the park. That said, in the span of two days we walked about 10 miles and saw a host of young kids and teens walking around and giggling while trying to figure out where to head to get their next characters. It’s so much more social than when the kids yell at a stranger on the xBox with their headphones on.
There have been some initial problems with the game, so be really mindful as you’re playing and walk with your kids if you aren't sure of the neighborhood. In Missouri, a group of robbers used a lure (a way to attract Pokémon) as way to target victims and mugged them. In Wyoming, a young woman discovered a dead body while she was playing. And there have been reports of traffic accidents as well. Then there’s the obvious danger of kids watching their screens as they walk and not paying attention to their surroundings and oncoming traffic when crossing the street.
That said, if you stay alert and are mindful of your real world surroundings, you should be fine. In our travels this weekend, my daughter and I spotted some real life nature as well as a host of new virtual pals.
Recent concerns have arisen about privacy if you use your Gmail password to log in, which grants the game makers full access to your Google account. The company has addressed this coding error and is working to fix it ASAP. If you log in that way in the meantime, there are ways to protect your privacy by fixing your settings.
How It Works
Want to get started? Sign in and set up your virtual character, just like most avatars and video games. Your kid will likely know how to do this part without your help. Also, charge your battery to full before you go, because this can wear down your phone fast (though there are some ways to make that battery last a little longer).
Heed the game’s warning to look around. Remind the kids, too. Think of it as the equivalent of your parents yelling for you not to chase the ball into the street.
See if there are any Pokémon or Poke Stops around you. The Pokémon will show up looking like their characters. The Poke Stops are little blue boxes. Those stops will turn into round circles when you get close (they should be in the white radius of the circle that appears around you). When they do, click on them and then spin the wheel. The stops are great for collecting things like more Poke Balls–and you'll need them. If you don't see Pokémon, look for a little rusting in the grass or leaves. Sometimes if you approach they will appear. Once they do, click on them!
Once you click on them, they'll appear with your "real" background behind them. Click on the Poke Ball at the bottom of your screen and then flick it towards the circle that forms around the character. Some characters can be a little fiesty, and will break out, so you may have to do this a couple of times. And it takes a little practice to get the aiming at the characters just right, but once you do its a breeze.
You can incubate eggs by going clicking on the red and white ball and selecting Pokémon and then eggs, and then putting one in the incubator and walking the required amount. As you get the hang of it, you can also do things like evolve your Pokémon by collecting enough points and training your characters at local "gyms" where they can fight. So you get all the old school typical Pokémon fun, but in a simple, virtual reality game that may have you abandoning your FitBit in favor of searching for Pokémon.
The kids will have a blast, and even if you don't know a Pikachu from a Bulbasaur, you will too.
More Like This:
Geocaching: How to Start and Where to Go in NJ
Best New Books for Summer Reading
Keep the Kids Safe From Playground Dangers
