The West Hartford and Tri-Town YMCAs want kids to ‘charge into summer’ and will hold its annual ‘Healthy Kids Day’ to encourage kids to stay active and keep learning all summer long.

Submitted

On Saturday, April 29, the West Hartford and Tri-Town YMCA is holding a free community event 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-long event features activities such as games, health and safety vendors, arts and crafts and other fun activities to motivate and 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. When kids are out of school, they can face hurdles that prevent them from reaching their full potential.

Research shows that without access to out-of-school learning activities, kids fall behind academically – this summer learning loss is more pronounced among students from low-income families. Kids also gain weight twice as fast during summer than the school year.

As spring turns to summer, Healthy Kids Day is a powerful reminder not to let children idle away their summer days. Instead, the Y wants families to focus on “charging” kids up with enthusiasm for themselves and their potential.

“The West Hartford & Tri-Town YMCA Healthy Kids Day provides kids and families a chance to build friendship, meet other members of the community, and learn how to get involved in the YMCA,” says Josue Irizarry, executive director of the West Hartford and Tri-Town YMCA. “We believe in the potential of all children, and we strive to help kids find that potential within themselves. A child’s development is never on vacation and Healthy Kids Day is a great opportunity to educate families and motivate kids to stay active in spirit, mind and body throughout the summer.”

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 10-12 hours of sleep a day for children ages 5-12 and 7-8 hours per night for adults. Sleep plays a critical role in maintaining our healthy immune system, metabolism, mood, memory, learning and other vital functions.

The West Hartford YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day takes place at St. Thomas Seminary, 467 Bloomfield Ave. in Bloomfield from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and features fun, active play and educational activities, such as seed planting, the gaga ball pit, archery, free massages for parents, and an obstacle course. Players from the new Hartford City FC will be giving out free tickets to their games, and the Hartford Hawks, along with their mascot Howie, will be on the field as well.

All kids deserve the best summer ever, and Delta is proud to be the national sponsor of Healthy Kids Day, which kicks off a healthy, active and engaged summer for kids throughout the country.

For more information, contact the West Hartford and Tri-Town YMCA at 860.521.5830 or visit ghymca.org/healthykidsday.