CHENANGO COUNTY – On Saturday, the Norwich Family YMCA will host its annual Healthy Kids Day, an activity promoted through a nation-wide program called Activate America. The purpose of the program is to promote a healthy lifestyle, but while the activity lasts for only one day, Y officials hope families can take the things they learn at Healthy Kids Day and apply them all year long.
From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, hundreds of children are expected to attend the event aimed at providing community based solutions for kids and families. Saturday’s events will include something for kids of all ages, with balloon animals made by a strolling clown, a soccer clinic given by the Colgate Girl’s Soccer Team, a kayaking demonstration in the pool area, pre-school fitness classes, a family circuit course and yoga class, an animal show provided by the Ross Park Zoo’s Zoomobile, a demonstration by Tribute Martial Arts, inflatable twister games, a puppet show, child finger printing, fire and rescue vehicles and a baseball pitch radar gun. In addition, there will be car seat safety demonstrations, McGruff the Crime Dog will be on hand and the first 100 children through the door will receive gift bags full of healthy goodies.
“The activities are for kids of all ages,” said Program Coordinator Bonnie Tiffany. “We also have things for adults. You need to have a healthy parent in order to have healthy children,” Tiffany said.
Tiffany explained that the Y is committed to demonstrating a healthy lifestyle everyday. They promote healthy activities by providing time for children in their after school and pre-school programs to participate in physical activity, like free swim, swimming lessons, access to the fitness room, the gym and the track. However, Tiffany explained organized activities at schools are just one part of the puzzle.
This year’s Healthy Kids Day will also include information on the Healthy Family Home project. Healthy family home guides are available at the Y and on the web at www.healthyfamilyhome.org. The guide is intended to provide simple solutions to create a healthy home. “It stresses the importance of family time and helps provide ways to initiate healthy habits,” Tiffany explained. While the guide has many suggestions, becoming a more healthy family involves many little steps, and not one major change.
The Healthy Kids Day will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 12. Several local organizations are participating in this year’s event, including: Cornell Cooperative Extension, Eat Smart Campaign, 4-H, Opportunities for Chenango, several Chenango Health Network organizations, Operation Safe Child, Girl Scouts, Guernsey Memorial Library, Golden Artist Colors, the YMCA After School Program, Big Brother/Big Sister and the Norwich City Fire Department. The event is free and open to the public, and children and adults of all ages are welcome to attend.
“There will be a lot to do. We have something for everyone,” Tiffany said. For more information about Healthy Kids Day, contact the Y at 336-9622 or visit their web site at www.norwichymca.com