Burbank YMCA Celebrates Healthy Kids Day - April 21st

READING, Mass. – On Saturday, April 21, the Burbank YMCA is hosting a free community event to inspire more kids to keep their minds and bodies active at the YMCA’s annual Healthy Kids Day®, a national Y initiative to improve the health and well-being of kids and families. The event, which will take place from noon to 2 p.m. at the Burbank Y, located 36 Arthur B. Lord Drive in Reading, will feature music for kids by Wayne from Maine!, yoga, an obstacle course, Zumba, a plant your own vegetables table and more.

Healthy Kids Day, which is celebrated at more than 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.

“When children are active and engaged, they are happier and healthier,” says James Morton, President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Boston. “A child’s development is never on vacation. Healthy Kids Day is a great opportunity to educate families and motivate kids to stay moving in mind, body and spirit throughout the summer in order to be the best versions of themselves when they return to school.”

In celebration of 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 to12 hours of sleep a day for children, ages 5 to12, and seven to eight 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 Burbank YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day takes place at 36 Arthur B. Lord Drive in Reading, from noon to 2 p.m., and features fun, active play and educational activities. All kids deserve the best summer ever, and Delta Airlines 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, visit http://ymcaboston.org/healthykidsday.

About the YMCA of Greater Boston

The YMCA of Greater Boston is the state’s leading nonprofit committed to strengthening communities. Every day the Y works with thousands of men, women and children to ensure that everyone, regardless of age, income or background, has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. As the nation’s fifth largest charity, the Y is creating meaningful memberships. Going beyond gym and swim, the Y provides members with access to quality health and fitness experts and equipment while giving back and providing support to thousands every day. For more than 165 years, the Y has been developing skills and emotional well-being through education and training, welcoming and connecting diverse populations, preventing chronic disease and building healthier communities through collaborations and policymakers. The Boston YMCA is the first Y in the United States.