Wednesday, April 6, 2011

It’s a Play Date: YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day™ at the Hockomock Area YMCA

On Saturday, April 9 the Hockomock Area YMCA is encouraging all kids and parents in it’s 15 serving communities, to come to the Y for a play date and commit to being active every day. It’s all part of the YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day™ – the nation’s largest health day for families. As a leading nonprofit strengthening community through healthy living and the Hockomock Healthy Futures Initiative,
the Y holds Healthy Kids Day to teach healthy habits to kids and entire families. The day focuses on inspiring a lifetime love of physical activity and healthy nutrition choices. At a time when one in three children in the United States are overweight or obese (according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), developing healthier habits that include increased physical activity and improved nutrition
is more important than ever. Healthy Kids Day will be celebrated at nearly 1,600 Ys across the country, with more than 700,000 families expected to attend this year. The free event will take place at all three branches in Franklin, North Attleboro and Foxboro from 10-1pm.
 
A focus for 2011 is on the Y’s community partners helping families live better. This year we are joined by Whole Foods Market, Bellingham, Franklin Food Pantry, Medway Community Farm, New York Life Insurance, Walgreens, Chestnut Dental Association, Franklin Fire Department, Tim Snow – local caricaturist, Sean Henry - Johnson and Wales Culinary Intern, Leslie Reichert – Green Cleaning Coach,
Self Aesthetics and Therapeutic Specialists, DCU, Garelick Farms and YMCA staff will also be on hand leading movement based activities such as giant Twister and Jenga, open gymnastics, camp games, face painting, eye spy 100 items, bouncy house and more, and promoting Y programs and having fun. A raffle will also be available for a Y gift certificate for one lucky family at registration.
 
“In our communities, we know that parents struggle to find the time to incorporate more active play and healthier habits into their family’s daily routine,” says Lauren Marciszyn, Youth and Community Wellness Director, Bernon Family Branch. “Doing so doesn’t have to require extra money or resources. It’s as simple as making plans or a play date with your kids, with two key requirements – be active and have fun. We also want families to recognize how many wonderful organizations we have right in our community that are striving to help them become healthier, more active and connected. Our goal is to make the healthy choice the easy choice.”


For more information, contact Lauren Marciszyn, RD, LDN at 774.235.2737 or visit www.hockymca.org.



Franklin, MA

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