Event features a full day of activities to celebrate kids being kids

 

NEW YORK, NY – All 23 YMCA of Greater New York branches will host the Y’s 30^th annual Healthy Kids Day^® on Saturday, April 30^th, encouraging families to take a moment to help kids be kids and set them up for a summer of success. The day-long event will feature family games, activities, fitness, crafts, and giveaways to motivate and teach families how to develop and maintain healthy routines at home.

All of the YMCA branches will also simultaneously host Summer Day Camp Open Houses and give families the opportunity to meet camp directors and learn about all of the in-person traditional and specialty camps being offered in 2022.

“Here at the Y, we believe in the potential of all children, and each day we work to help kids find that potential within themselves,” said Sharon Greenberger, President & CEO of the YMCA of Greater New York. “Healthy Kids Day is a fun, free community-wide event to kick off summer and remind us all how important it is for kids to stay active physically and mentally throughout the summer.”

Celebrating its 30^th anniversary in 2022, Healthy Kids Day is the Y’s national initiative to improve health and well-being for kids and families. The Y hopes to use the day to get more kids moving and learning, creating healthy habits they can continue while they’re away from the classroom. 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. Kids also gain weight twice as fast during summer than during the school year. With all that’s going on in the world right now, Healthy Kids Day is a reminder to families that we can help ensure all children have access to what they need to reach their full potential, even during out-of-school time.

“Healthy Kids Day is a magical event that brings together families, friends, and communities all across New York City,” said Lauren Barr, Vice President, Youth & Community Development, at the YMCA of Greater New York. “Healthy Kids Day takes on added significance in 2022, as we emerge from the pandemic, eager to reconnect with one another and restart healthy habits.”

 

Keeping Kids Healthy All Summer Long

In celebration of YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day, the Y offers the following tips to help families develop healthy habits this summer that can have a lifetime effect:

• High Five the Fruits and Veggies – Make sure kids get at least five servings of fruits and veggies each day, the minimum number nutritionists recommend for 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.
• Read Together – The summer is a great time to enjoy books with summer program participants—and 30 minutes a day goes a long way! Take trips to the local library or create a family reading challenge to see who can log the most minutes of reading. Encourage youth to create their own stories as well.
• Get Moving! – Activities that require movement also help kids flex their mental muscle. Use materials in unique ways: ask youth to build models, manipulate tools or develop their own theatrical scenes.
• Play Together – Play may be the best way to prevent childhood obesity. By putting more play into your family’s day, you will soon find yourself getting the activity that will have your family feeling energized and strong.
• 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, and learning.

For more information about the YMCA of Greater New York’s Healthy Kids Day celebrations across all five boroughs, visit ymcanyc.org/healthykidsday. In addition to being Healthy Kids Day, April 30^th is also the deadline for families to take advantage of the early bird discount for 2022 Summer Day Camp. Additional discounts for Summer Camp and year-round programming for kids and families are available to YMCA members.

 

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About the YMCA of Greater New York

For 170 years, the YMCA of Greater New York has been helping all New Yorkers reach their full potential. As New York City’s leading nonprofit community service and wellness organization, the Y empowers everyone, no matter who they are or where they’re from, by providing access and opportunities for all to learn, grow, and thrive. We provide a place to play, to be healthy, and to give back. We give parents childcare, young adults job training, seniors a way to connect, and children a safe place to go. By bringing people together from different backgrounds, perspectives, and generations, the Y improves overall health and well-being, ignites youth empowerment, and connects and supports diverse communities across New York City.  Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @ymcanyc.