Southwest YMCA Encourages Kids to Play and Learn at Healthy Kids Day®, April 28

On April 28, the Southwest YMCA is celebrating Healthy Kids Day® with a free community event for kids and families in the area. More than 1,900 Ys across the country are taking part in the celebration, meant to kick start physical activity and learning throughout the summer – a critical out-of-school time for kids.

Healthy Kids Day, a national initiative of the Y to improve the health and well-being of kids, is filled with fun, active play and educational activities that will help parents improve their kids’ lifestyles for the long term. Research shows that without access to activities that stimulate the mind and body, kids are more prone to gain weight and fall behind academically over the summer months.

“At the Southwest YMCA we know that when the school year ends, many kids lose exposure to activities that keep them moving and learning. Healthy Kids Day will help parents begin thinking early about what their kids need to stay physically and intellectually active in the summer,” said Tina Kreitlow executive director of youth development for the YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee. “Summer is just around the corner and is an ideal time for kids to get out and grow so they are healthier and sharper when the next school year begins.”

The Southwest YMCA, located at 11311 W. Howard Avenue, will hold the Healthy Kids Day event from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and will include: Trinity Irish Dancer demonstrations, UW Gardening Club bringing composite gardens, Boerner Botanical Gardens – Family Origami, bike helmet safety, Tae Kwon Do demonstration, family Zumba classes and the Greenfield Police K9 Unit.

A leading nonprofit committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, the Y holds Healthy Kids Day to teach healthy habits and inspire a lifetime love of physical activity through active play. As part of this initiative, the Y – along with hundreds of thousands of parents and kids nationwide – is taking on summer by addressing critical gaps in health and education that cause kids to be at risk for childhood obesity and suffer summer learning loss.

Nationally, Healthy Kids Day is supported by the Dodge brand.

For more information, contact the Southwest YMCA at (414) 546-9622 or visit www.ymcamke.org/healthykidsday.

About the Y
The YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee is a powerful association of men, women and children of all ages and from all walks of life joined together by a shared passion to strengthen the foundations of community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Since 1858, Milwaukee YMCAs have helped kids and families live healthy lives in spirit, mind and body. Supported in part through contributions to the Annual Campaign, the Y provides membership assistance and scholarships to programs like summer camp, child care and teen activities, to make sure that everyone, regardless of age, income or background, has the opportunity to be healthy, confident, connected and secure. www.ymcamke.org