On Saturday, April 29, the Akron Area YMCA and its branches in Summit and Medina counties are hosting free on-site activities 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 features activities such as a color fun run, open swimming in the indoor pool, cooking demonstrations, arts and crafts, kid-centric fitness classes and volunteers from C.A.T.C.H. (Coordinated Approach to Child Health) to 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.
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 through 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.
For more detailed information, visit www.akronymca.org/HealthyLiving/KidsDay/.
