Healthy Kids Day is an annual initiative created and sponsored by the YMCA. Here is a description of the Health Holiday from their website:
Summer is the time for kids to get up, get out and grow. But for some kids, exposure to activities that stimulate the body and mind ends with the school year. In fact, research shows that kids are prone to gain more weight and fall behind in studies. On April 25, the Y will celebrate Healthy Kids Day®, our national initiative to improve the health and well-being of kids.
The goal of the holiday is to raise awareness for negative impact that unhealthy childhood eating and exercising habits have throughout a child’s life and make it a priority to develop healthy habits at an early age. This site has a lot of useful information that parents can read to make sure they are enabling their children to be able to lead a healthy lifestyle as adults. Here are a couple excerpts:
As parents, you all want to raise healthy kids, that are emotionally secure, confident, smart, good looking, with great self image, and that make good choices. It’s up to you to help your kids develop these skills. If you are not involved, they will learn from their peers, which is scary!
You can raise your kids by over-scheduling their time with outside activities, so you live a whirlwind existence, driving from place to place. I see that happening everywhere I turn, soccer mom, have mini-van, and will travel. The other choice is, to slow life down, limit these activities, teach balance, and take on the development of your kids yourselves. No choice in my opinion as to which option is best!
There are many healthy diet habits for kids that will help them to develop a healthy relationship with food. We live in a world full of overweight and obese children, many of whom will go on to become obese adults. None of us wants this for our kids! We are all highly concerned for our children’s health, and should be just as concerned about our children’s nutrition.
To participate in the Holiday, do something to educate your children on leading a healthy lifestyle on April 25…and then do it every other day, too!
In the Triangle Area, there are two YMCAs – one in Raleigh and one in Chapel Hill – that offer fitness, weight management, and health education classes that are available to children. The YMCA also offer programs for adults, so it is never to late to be a “Healthy Kid.” From what I hear, you can get yourself clean, have a good meal, and do whatever you feel, too.