Here’s why you should play Pokémon GO

From the Game Boy to the DS, the cards and the phone: Please welcome Pokémon GO.

Do you think walking around the block or riding your bike is boring? Well, this game makes it more fun. You can ride your bike around town looking for Pokémon to catch as well as walk. Remember, safety comes first. So when you cross a street, don’t look at your phone.

Are you competitive? Well, here is another reason why you should play Pokémon GO. When you reach level 5 in this game, you can join a gym and a team. There are three teams, Team Mystic (blue team), Team Instinct (yellow team) and Team Valor (red team). I’m on Team Mystic, which I chose because I like the color blue. Some of my friends have joined me on the team. Join the team that you think is the best for you. If you follow that rule, you can compete with your friends to get the better Pokémon or to get the newer Pokémon.

Are you sick of the same Pokémon? A new generation of Pokémon GO has been released in each of the past two years. Each time Niantic Inc. (the creator of Pokémon GO) adds a new generation of Pokémon, they could be better than the previous generation. Soon, more Pokémon may arrive.

Are you alone? Grab your friends and family to play along with you. For example, my father and brother play with me, as well as some of my closest friends.

Do you enjoy the holidays and special events? The creator of Pokémon Go likes to celebrate the holidays by dressing up Pikachu with different hats. Pikachu has worn a witch hat for Halloween, a party hat for Pokémon’s anniversary, Christmas hat for Christmas, and an Ash hat for no specific reason. If you watch the Pokémon animé, you know the main character is Ash Ketchum. He has a Pikachu, and his Pikachu likes to wear Ash’s hat sometimes.

Did I change your mind about Pokémon Go? If I did, what are you waiting for? Let’s GO!

Debbie Cain and Derrick Horodyski’s sixth-grade class, Chatterton Elementary School, Merrick