YMCA plans Healthy Kids Day
On Saturday, April 27, the Family YMCA of Fayette County is celebrating YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day with a free community event that encourages kids throughout Fayette County to get moving and learning, and families to live healthier.
Healthy Kids Day, the Y’s national initiative to improve families’ health and well being, takes place at 1,900 Y’s and kick starts healthier behaviors now and throughout the summer, a critical out-of-school time for children’s health.
Many U.S. children do not get the daily recommended hours of physical activity and reading, and daily amounts of healthy foods.
According to the latest findings of the YMCA’s Family Health Snapshot – a survey of parents that gauges their children’s activity levels during the school year – only 19 percent of children get 60 minutes of physical activity, only 17 percent read books for fun and only 12 percent eat at least eight fruits and vegetables daily.
“At the Family YMCA of Fayette County, we know parents struggle to keep their kids physically and intellectually active every day,” said Amber Daulbaugh, program director at the Family YMCA of Fayette County.
“We want to help ensure that fewer kids are at risk of childhood obesity and more kids excel in school,” she said.
“YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day will get kids moving and learning while also helping families get a jump on creating a healthier summer, and ultimately a healthier future,” Daulbaugh said.
Research shows that without access to out-of-school physical and learning activities, kids fall behind academically and gain weight twice as fast during summer than the school year.
On April 27, YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day will help parents begin thinking early about what their kids need to grow and achieve all summer long.
The Family YMCA of Fayette County’s Healthy Kids Day takes place at the Y from 9 a.m.-noon and features fun, active play and educational activities, such as Kaskaskia College’s KICK Program, Evans Public Library’s Summer Reading Program, craft station, healthy snack station and many active games, including tug-of-war and a water balloon station (weather permitting).
The first 75 (kids and parents/guardians) to show will receive a free “Get a Jump on Summer” T-shirt, based on sizes available.
YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day is supported by national media partners Sprout and Lazy Town, who are committed to encouraging kids to lead a healthy lifestyle.
For more information, contact the Family YMCA of Fayette County at 283-1258 or visit www.fayetteymca.com
Family YMCA of Fayette County Program Director Amber Daulbaugh and members of the YMCA Board of Directors are shown with Mayor Rick Gottman, who has signed a proclamation declaring Saturday, April 27, as YMCA Healthy Kids Day in Vandalia. From left to right are Mary Schulze, Vice President Jim Pryor, Gottman, Daulbaugh, President Rick Myers and Sally Shields.