Greater Beverly YMCA Celebrates Healthy Kids Day®

On Saturday, April 26 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm, The Greater Beverly YMCA will be open free to the community to celebrate Healthy Kids Day to inspire more kids to keep their minds and bodies active. YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day®, the Y’s national initiative to improve families’ health and well-being, will include the following activities and vendors:

Activities:

open swim

open gymnastics

rock climbing

BMX Mountain Biking demos

family yoga

extended YFIT appointment hours

Raffles for swim, gymnastics and sports birthday party; a free week of Youth FIT camp; a free week of camp; and 3 month family membership.

Vendors:

Beverly Police

Beverly Fire

Garden City Pediatrics

Essex County K9 Unit

Bay State Physical Therapy

Align for Life Chiropractic

Children's Center for Communication

Beverly DPH

NY Colonial Life

Beverly Public Library

American Red Cross

Beverly Bootstraps

Cape Ann Early Intervention

YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day, celebrated at nearly 1,600 Ys across the country, aims to get more   kids moving and learning, so they can keep up the habit all summer long – a critical out-of-school time for kids’ health. 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.

“One in three U.S. children is obese. This statistic, coupled with the fact that once summer hits, children will be more idle, demonstrates why it’s important to help families develop healthy habits now,” said Judith Cronin, Executive Director of the Greater Beverly Y. “As part of the Y’s commitment to healthy living, through YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day our goal is to improve the health and well-being of kids and inspire habits they can continue into adulthood.”

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.
• Foster an Early and Onging 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.
• Lead By Example – Be a good role model – kids can be influenced by seeing how hard their parents work at home or on the job, and how rewarding that experience is.

For more information, contact visit www.northshoreymca.org.  

About the YMCA of the North Shore

The Y is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. For over 150 years, the YMCA of the North Shore has been strengthening the foundations of community for the more than 40,000 members it serves in 25 cities and towns. We nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the nation’s health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support our neighbors; regardless of age, race, ethnicity or socio-economic background. www.northshoreymca.org.