Abington YMCA to hold ‘Healthy Kids Day’

On Saturday, April 27, the Abington YMCA will hold Healthy Kids Day, a free community event that encourages kids in the Abington community to get moving and learning, as well as their families.

Healthy Kids Day is the YMCA’s national initiative to improve families’ health and well-being and is meant to kick-start healthier behaviors now and throughout the summer. The event takes place at 1,900 YMCAs.

The Abington YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and features active play and educational activities, such as arts and crafts, a sports obstacle course, reading activities from the local library, and safety tips from the Abington Fire Police departments. 

Many U.S. children do not get the daily-recommended hours of physical activity and reading, and daily amounts of healthy foods. According to the latest findings of the YMCA’s Family Health Snapshot — a survey of parents that gauges their children’s activity levels during the school year — only 19 percent of children get an hour of physical activity; only 17 percent of children read books for fun; and only 12 percent eat at least eight fruits and vegetables daily. 

“At the Abington YMCA, we know parents struggle to keep their kids physically and intellectually active every day. We want to help ensure fewer kids are at risk of childhood obesity and more kids excel in school,” Sean Elliott, Group Vice President, Philadelphia Freedom Valley YMCA, said. “YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day will get kids moving and learning while also helping families get a jump on creating a healthier summer, and ultimately a healthier future.”

The Abington YMCA will host representatives from Freedom Credit Union, Abington Memorial Hospital, Whole Foods, Brown Shop Rite, Lee’s Hoagies and others that will be on-site to provide healthy snacks and educational information for all participants. Also, the Auto Dealers CARing for Kids Foundation is partnering with the Y this year to host a special coloring contest for children at the Y.

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Information courtesy of Philadelphia Freedom Valley YMCA