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.
In celebration of YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day, the Y offers the following tips to help families develop healthy habits:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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, learning and other vital functions.
The YMCA of Saginaw’s Healthy Kids Day takes place at Camp Timbers, located at 3269 Horseshoe Lake Road, West Branch, from 1:00-5:00pm and features fun, active play and educational activities. Families are welcome to enjoy a hike around camp, explore law enforcement, fire, and construction vehicles on display in the parking lot, and visit a variety of vendor displays focused on healthy summer options.
YMCA staff will also be available to provide tours of camp and share more about youth and family summer camps hosted at YMCA Camp Timbers in 2017. Camp Timbers offers a variety of camp opportunities for youth ages 7-17, including traditional overnight camp, day camp, teen leadership camp, teen adventure canoe trips, and specialty camps (Herter band camps, horses, soccer, Minecraft, LEGO robotics, electronic game design, and creative arts).
Partnering organizations and exhibitors include MMR, Ding’s Excavating, Clear Lake Fire Department, Ogemaw County Sheriff, Michigan State Police, Surline Elementary PTO, Health Department, Michigan Dairy Farmers’ Association, Engineering for Kids – Great Lakes Bay Region, Quilted Cottage, and 205 Fitness Studio of West Branch.
For more information, contact the YMCA of Saginaw at 989-753-7721 or visit www.SaginawYMCA.org.