If you haven’t heard the hype – Pokemon Go is now available in Canada through the App store and Android – it’s a game that allows you to get out there, and collect pokemon, all around the city. It’s a throwback to your childhood (well, our childhood) and a game that is just as enticing for us, as parents, as it is for our seven-year-old collectors.
If you are having issues to get the application then try Spoofing your location on Pokémon Go with a VPN. Then start with the download of the Pokemon Go App, and make an account.Sign in, walk around your neighbourhood and use the app to search for Pokemon. See leaves rustling close by? Head over to that area to find one. See a blue tower? That’s a ‘Pokestop’ and you can check in there to collect things like extra balls for catching pokemon, healing potions, eggs to hatch into pokemon – and more.
Once you catch a few Pokemon, you’ll reach level five – and that’s when the fun begins. You choose a team, and you can head to one of the ‘Pokemon Gyms’ to battle with other Pokemon. It’s likely that you’ve got one of these in your neighbourhood. You’ll be able to tell by the crowd of people, hanging out, seemingly doing nothing but looking at their phones.
You might make the argument that kids should be getting outside – without the use of an app or a game; but just like Geocaching, it is just more fun when you’re playing. A healthy balance of unstructured play, and Pokemon catching is just fine.
Exploring New Places with PokemonGO
After dinner tonight, we decided to head out and explore some of the local ‘Pokestops’ that were a bit too far to walk for a three year old. We drove to a local park, parked the car and got out where we saw a crowd of kids + adults alike, assembled, catching Pokemon.
There were three places to check in to the ‘Pokestop’ to get things like eggs and potions, and as they reset every few minutes, we were able to run around, check out the park, sit down in a lovely Gazebo and enjoy the space, while chasing rabbits and Pokemon, at Smeltzer House, in Sherwood Park.
Built in 1920, the Smeltzer House Centre for Arts and Culture offers a variety of courses for all ages including pottery, drawing, stained glass and various arts & crafts. Also located on-site is the clay hut, a pottery studio that has been in operation for over 25 years. The gorgeous grounds were a lovely walk for an after-dinner outing.
We found a new Pokemon, walked around enough to hatch an egg and hear a six year old excitedly scream across the field that it hatched (and it was a unicorn-looking creature) and tired out the kids before bedtime.
Still confused about what exactly the game entails? Think about it like Geocaching, but instead of walking around to find a hidden treasure, you’re walking to find Pokemon, hiding in your neighbourhood (and beyond). Plus, it’s a heck of a way to tire out the kids before bedtime –
If anything, it’s just another fantastic reason to get the kids (and you) walking more. Our goal for tomorrow? Do enough walking (or running) to hatch the egg that we found – ten kilometers and we’ve got a new Pokemon to add to our collection.