Eastern Missouri Family YMCA is hosting the Y’s annual Healthy Kids Day® on Saturday, April 30 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. They’re encouraging families to take a moment to help kids be kids and set them up for a summer of success.

The two-hour event will feature healthy stations such as Healthy Snacks, Keep Moving, Self-esteem Shines, Puzzles-Poses-Projects, Construction Zone, and Positivity Project, to motivate and teach families how to develop and maintain healthy routines at home.

Kicking off the event is ROCK THE BLOCK! – a family oriented ROCKIN’ walk around the YMCA block. Children are encouraged to dress up as their favorite character and join other families and friends during the opening event and throughout the day’s events.

The Healthy Kids Day® event is free and open to anyone; no membership or registration required.
“At the Y, we believe in the potential of all children and each day we work to help kids find that potential within themselves,” said Debbie Hopke, Branch Director.

“We are excited to participate in our first Healthy Kids Day® event at the YMCA. The event is a fun, free community-wide event to kick off summer and remind us all how important it is for kids to stay active physically and mentally throughout the summer.”

Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2022, Healthy Kids Day is the Y’s national initiative to improve
health and well-being for kids and families. The Y hopes to use the day to get more kids moving and learning, creating healthy habits they can continue while they’re away from the classroom.

When kids are out of school, they can face hurdles that prevent them from reaching their full potential. With all that’s going on in the world right now, Healthy Kids Day is a reminder to families that we can help ensure all children have access to what they need to reach their full potential, even during out-of-school time.

Community and business leaders, students, Y members, local churches and others are encouraged and welcomed to volunteer during Healthy Kids Day to interact with the kids and families within our community.

For more information, or to see how you can become involved or sponsor a healthy event station, contact the Eastern Missouri Family YMCA at 573-594-2208, visit the Eastern Missouri YMCA Facebook page, or stop by at 309 South Main, Vandalia, MO and ask for Debbie.