HENDERSON, Ky. — It was a rainy but perfect day for young people at the indoor Henderson County YMCA Healthy Kids Day.
More than 300 children and their parents attended the event, which YMCA Health and Wellness Coordinator and planner of the annual event Annette Garrison said she started more than 15 years ago to promote an active lifestyle and wellness for children and their families.
“This event is near and dear to my heart,” Garrison said. “I am trying to get kids active. Kids are on the video games. They are not getting outside.”
Children had many fun activities to choose from including yoga, Zumba, getting balloon animals made by River City clowns, getting their faces painted, hula hooping and a large bounce house.
In addition to fun activities, YMCA Exec. Dir. Sheldon Booze said the event is to encourage a greater conversation about health and wellness for the entire family.
“We really do it to obviously promote health for kids,” Booze said. “But we try to involve the entire families as well because if mom and dad are trying to be healthy then the kids (will be healthy), or maybe the kids can kind of get mom and dad moving. It is always a great time and the parents really enjoy it.”
To promote health, Garrison said the event provides families an opportunity to interact with local non-profit organizations and municipality agencies that they might not have known about otherwise.
Organizations in attendance included the Henderson County Public Library, the Henderson County Cooperative Extension Agency, Methodist Hospital, the Henderson Area Arts Alliance, the Henderson Police Dept., the Henderson Fire Dept., River City Clowns and HealthSource Chiropractic.
“Getting those resources out to those families is so important to our community,” Garrison said. “The Public Library has so many programs, the Extension Center is giving out snacks and teaching parents about healthy snacks by giving them recipes, Methodist Hospital is showing kids what good portions are and the Henderson Arts Alliance is here to promote arts, and dance, and theatre. Just being able to share that with our community for free is really wonderful.”
Chris Thompson brought his daughter Madeline, 5, to learn more about being healthy.
“I like to exercise and work out,” Thompson said. “She likes to be right there with me so I thought we would come out and learn about some healthy snacks and (learn about) staying healthy.”
Madeline, who was covered in stickers with a “monkey in a tree trying to get the bananas” balloon in her hands, said she was looking forward to jumping in the bouncy house.
This page is an archive. To learn more about archive pages click here
The responses below are not provided, commissioned, reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any financial entity or advertiser. It is not the advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
