This April 16, from 1 to 5 p.m, the Danvers Community YMCA, located at 34 Pickering St., Danvers, is hosting Healthy Kids Day. This is a YMCA’s national initiative to improve the health and well-being of not only kids but families.

April vacations are approaching, which means kids are probably going to be less physically active nor willing to study or learning during the break. Healthy Kids Day comes as a reminder to encourage children to keep their bodies and minds healthy and active through different activities. According to the National Summer Learning Association, children gain weight three times faster in the summer than during the school year.

Healthy Kids Day is a YMCA's national initiative to improve the health and well-being of not only kids but families.
Healthy Kids Day is a YMCA’s national initiative to improve the health and well-being of not only kids but families.

The Danvers Y will provide to the general public fun activities to challenge their bodies and minds, healthy snacks and pick up some tips, a demonstration of Police K-9 with local dog Stryka, a Family Zumba, and other activities that will help participants on fitting health into daily life.

Children development never stops, so Healthy Kids Day represents an opportunity to educate and engage families in the Tri-Town. The goal is to teach the Denver community how to stay “active in spirit, mind and body throughout the entire year”, said Len Mercier, CEO at the Danvers Y.

On YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day, the Y recommends families to develop healthier habits by making sure kids ingest a minimum of five servings a day; reading to the children or with them; teaming up for a community or charity event in family that involves running, walking, bike riding, etc; get involved with the family to a cause that matters to the kids; and the last tip is to make sleep a priority.

The importance of commemorating Every Kid Healthy Week

Every year, the last week of April is taken to celebrate Every Kid Healthy Week. The organizers prepare activities within schools to commemorate health and wellness achievements as they give students tools to improve nutrition, learning, and physical activity.

Healthier kids are better students, that’s why this special week also focuses on getting the community involved in healthy programs within schools to promote healthier choices of food and physical activity.

The Stillwater YMCA is hosting Healthy Kids Day on April 30 and it is a free event for the community at Boomer Lake.

Source:YMCA