Health Day for Kids, Families
AUBURN – The Auburn-Lewiston YMCA and 16 other YMCAs throughout Maine have teamed up with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield to present the 17th annual YMCA Healthy Kids Day on Saturday, April 12.
An opportunity for kids and families to “Put Play in Their Day,” the special event uses free, fun, engaging and creative activities to encourage children and families to adopt behaviors that support a healthy lifestyle.
Participating families will also receive a new Healthy Family Home starter kit providing practical tools for children and parents to work together to embrace healthy habits at home.
“Families today see healthy living as an all-or-nothing proposition. Through this lens, achieving a healthier lifestyle can seem overwhelming or out of reach,” said Jim Lawler, executive director, A-L YMCA. “YMCA Healthy Kids Day activities show families and kids that making healthy choices can be easy, fun and accessible to everyone. And through our new Healthy Family Home initiative, we’re giving families take-home tools to help them assess the foundation of how they play, eat and connect together as a family.”
Unhealthy eating and physical inactivity are associated with an increased risk of a number of chronic health conditions, including overweight and obesity.
“Exercise and healthy eating are critical to improving the health and well being of Maine kids and their families and instilling lifelong healthy habits,” said Mark Ishkanian, director of communications for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. “Anthem is proud to partner with YMCAs throughout Maine in sponsoring Healthy Kids Day. Not only does this event encourage families to try new and fun activities, but the free starter kit is a wonderful resource for parents to engage their children in making healthy decisions at home as well.”
The YMCA and Eli Lilly and Co. have partnered to create Healthy Family Home because it leverages two of the most powerful forces affecting health and well-being: the family home and proven impact of small, sustained changes.
Free Healthy Family Home starter kits will be distributed to families who participate in YMCA Healthy Kids Day (while supplies last) and also will be available free to all families online at www.ymca.net after April 12.
Kids Day activities will include swimming, group exercise/play, gym games, crafts, face painting, healthy snacks and giveaways. The event will run from noon to 3 p.m.
Additional resources will be available to help kids and families achieve their greatest potential from strengthening their financial health to building better bonds together to improving their physical health and nutritional well-being. Registration for summer programs also will take place at the event.
For more information about YMCA Healthy Kids Day, call the YMCA at 795-4095, stop by at 62 Turner St. or visit www.alymca.com.
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