SIDNEY — The Sidney-Shelby County YMCA will bring out the “Wow” factor during the 25th annual Healthy Kids Day on Saturday, April 30. The free community event will be held from 9 a.m. to noon to inspire kids to keep their minds and bodies active, especially during the summer months. This year marks the 25th annual YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day, the Y’s national initiative to improve health and well-being for kids and families.
The annual event held at the Sidney-Shelby County YMCA will feature activities such as a Kids Fun Run at 9:15 a.m., Touch-A-Truck, Bike Rodeo, Scholastic Book Fair, games, healthy snacks and more to motivate and teach families how to develop healthy routines at home. There will also be raffle drawings, and plenty of opportunities to learn about businesses and organizations in Shelby County that offer fun for kids and families.
YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day, celebrated at more than 1,300 Ys across the country by more than 1.2 million participants, works to get more kids moving and learning, creating habits that they continue all summer long, which is a critical time for kids’ health. 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 physical and learning activities, kids fall behind academically. 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 hopes to focus on wowing them with their potential and make this their best summer ever by staying active and learning.
“The Y believes in the potential of all children, and we strive to help kids find the Wow! factor inside themselves. 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,” said Elizabeth Grace, director of the Y Child Development Center.
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 to 12 hours of sleep a day for children ages 5-12 and 7 to 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 Sidney-Shelby County YMCA is located at 300 E. Parkwood St. The following groups and organizations are currently confirmed to attend: Shelby County Health Department and Help Me Grow; TAM105.5FM; Sidney Police Department; Sidney Fire and Rescue; Shelby County Mobile Learning Lab; Ohio Department of Transportation; and the Ohio National Guard.
YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day is sponsored and supported by Shelby County Help Me Grow, Wilson Health, The Medicine Shoppe, Dannon, Freshway Foods and the city of Sidney.
For more information, contact the Sidney-Shelby County YMCA at 937-492-9134 or visit www.sidney-ymca.org.
If you are a kid or family-friendly business or organization that would like to exhibit at Healthy Kids Day, please sign up by calling 937-492-9134 by April 8, 2016. There is no charge to participate in this event.
