On Saturday, April 21, 2018, the YMCA of Montclair is holding a free community event from 3:30 – 5:30pm 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 event features activities geared towards elementary age children such as Namaste Family, Tour de France, Bring A Book To Life and Fuel Your Body to motivate and teach families how to develop and maintain healthy routines at home.

Healthy Kids Day, celebrated at over 1,500 Ys across the country by over 1.2 million participants, works to get more kids moving and learning, creating habits that they continue when school is out. 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 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 helping children imagine what they can accomplish over the summer.

“When a child is healthy, happy and supported they can make great things happen,” says Buddy Evans, YMCA of Montclair CEO. “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.”

Keeping Kids Healthy

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

· 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.

· Read Together – 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 a healthy immune system, metabolism, mood, memory, learning and other vital functions.

The YMCA of Montclair’s Healthy Kids Day takes place at their Park Street Branch, 25 Park Street in Montclair from 3:30 – 5:30pm and features fun, active play and educational activities geared toward elementary age children, such as Namaste Family, Tour de France, Bring A Book To Life and Fuel Your Body. A parent must accompany their child to the event.

For more information, contact the YMCA of Montclair at 973-744-3400.

Special Healthy Kids Day Offers

· Participate in Healthy Kids Day and enter a raffle to win a free week of camp.

· Register your child for a YMCA of Montclair Spring 2 class on Healthy Kids Day at our Geyer Family Branch or Park Street Branch and receive 50% off subsequent available Spring II classes for that child if you register them on April 21.