Special to The Post-Searchlight
On Saturday, May 4, the Bainbridge Decatur County YMCA is celebrating YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day with a free community event that encourages kids in Bainbridge, get moving and learning, and families living healthier, according to a YMCA press release.
Healthy Kids Day, the Y’s national initiative to improve families’ health and well-being, takes place at 1,900 Y’s and kick-starts healthier behaviors now and throughout the summer, a critical out-of-school time for children’s health.
Many U.S. children do not get the daily recommended hours of physical activity and reading, and daily amounts of healthy foods. According to the latest findings of the YMCA’s Family Health Snapshot — a survey of parents that gauges their children’s activity levels during the school year — only 19 percent of children get 60 minutes of physical activity, only 17 percent read books for fun, and only 12 percent eat at least eight fruits and vegetables daily.
“At the Bainbridge Decatur County YMCA, we know parents struggle to keep their kids physically and intellectually active every day,” said Adam Schrott, CEO of the Bainbridge-Decatur County YMCA. “We want to help ensure fewer kids are at risk of childhood obesity and more kids excel in school.
“YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day will get kids moving and learning while also helping families get a jump on creating a healthier summer, and ultimately a healthier future.”
Research shows that without access to out-of-school physical and learning activities, kids fall behind academically and gain weight twice as fast during summer than the school year. On May 4, YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day will help parents begin thinking early about what their kids need to grow and achieve all summer long.
The Bainbridge-Decatur County YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day will take place at Bainbridge YMCA from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will feature fun, active play and educational activities, such as an obstacle course, step it up story time, zumba, and a bike rodeo.
Informational booths will include Memorial Hospital, Amelia Medical Plaza, Dr. Chip Walden, City of Bainbridge Public Safety and Decatur County Sheriff’s and Fire Departments. State Sen. Dean Burke will be on hand to kick off the day’s events.
YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day is sponsored by Memorial Hospital and Manor and Amelia Medical Plaza. YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day is supported by national media partners Sprout and Lazy Town, who are committed to encouraging kids to lead a healthy lifestyle.
For more information, contact Crystal Hines at (229) 243-0508 or visit www.bainbridgeymca.org.