I bought inexpensive pedometers for the kids with the intention of recording the number of steps they take in a day for the following reasons:

1. To teach the kids about tracking data over a period of time. (Science)
2. To teach the kids about averages. (Math)
3. To inspire a little healthy competition between the two of them and with themselves… (Determination/ambition/persistence)
4. In order to to keep them from sitting still too long. An “active” person takes 10,000 steps per day. (Exercise)
5. Because I track my data (sleep, exercise, heart rate, calories burned) with my Basis watch, I want my kids to share in this experience in a simpler way.

We’ve had the pedometers for five days. They have not worn them consistently (all day, every day, at the same time). And, somehow this afternoon, Meilee lost hers in the house. Or maybe outside. I don’t know.

The reason I even attempted this “project” was that before my husband accidentally put his pedometer in the washing machine, the kids would fight over who got to wear daddy’s pedometer. I thought I could shape that interest into a learning experience.

If this missing pedometer turns up, maybe we’ll try again.