On Saturday, April 29, the YMCA of Metuchen, Edison, Woodbridge & South Amboy is holding a free community events at their YMCAs in local communities to inspire more kids to keep their minds and bodies active at the annual YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day®, the Y’s national initiative to improve health and well-being for kids and families. The day-long event features activities such as games, arts and crafts, obstacle courses and samplers of YMCA children’s to motivate and teach families how to develop healthy routines at home.
YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day, celebrated at over 1,600 Ys across the country by over 1.2 million participants, works to get more kids moving and learning, creating habits that they continue all summer long. When kids are out of school, they can face hurdles that prevent them from reaching their full potential. Research shows that without access to out-of-school learning activities, kids fall behind academically – this summer learning loss is more pronounced among students from low-income families. Kids also gain weight twice as fast during summer than the school year. As spring turns to summer, Healthy Kids Day is a powerful reminder not to let children idle away their summer days. Instead, the Y wants families to focus on “charging” kids up with enthusiasm for themselves and their potential.
“When a child is healthy, happy motivated, and excited something amazing is inevitably going to result,” says Rose Cushing, YMCA of MEWSA’s President and CEO. “We see the potential of all children, and we strive to help kids find that potential within them. A child’s development is never on vacation and Healthy Kids Day is a great opportunity to educate families and motivate kids to stay active in spirit, mind and body throughout the summer.”
In celebration of YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day, the Y offers the following tips to help families develop healthy habits:
- High Five the Fruits and Veggies – Make sure kids get at least five servings a day, the minimum number nutritionists recommend to maintain healthy childhood development. And to keep kids’ taste buds evolving, have everyone in the family try at least one bite of a new fruit or vegetable at least once a month.
- Foster an Early and Ongoing Passion for Books – Read to and with your kids. Help children read at every age and every stage of their development.
- Team Up for Athletic Events – Set a family goal of great health by teaming up for community or charity events like races, walks, fun runs, bike rides, etc.
- Volunteer Together – Find a cause that matters to the kids. Open their eyes to a world beyond themselves and the rich rewards that come from making a difference.
- Make sleep a priority – Doctors recommend 10-12 hours of sleep a day for children ages 5-12 and 7-8 hours per night for adults. Sleep plays a critical role in maintaining our healthy immune system, metabolism, mood, memory, learning and other vital functions.
The YMCA of Metuchen, Edison, Woodbridge & South Amboy’s Healthy Kids Day takes place 11AM-1PM at the following locations: the Metuchen YMCA, 65 High Street Metuchen, NJ, the Edison YMCA, 1775 Oak Tree Road, Edison and the South Amboy YMCA, 200 John T. O’Leary Blvd., South Amboy, NJ. For a complete listing of the day’s scheduled events please visit http://www.ymcaofmewsa.org/about-us/events
As a nonprofit organization the YMCA of Metuchen, Edison, Woodbridge & South Amboy never turns anyone away from membership who needs us. Donations help us to continue to keep that promise. All donations stay local.
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