The Mt. Diablo Region YMCA Invites Families to 'Put Play in Your Day' and Bring Healthy Habits Home During the Nation's Largest

PLEASANT HILL, Calif., April 11 /PRNewswire/ -- The Mt. Diablo Region YMCA will join more than 1,700 YMCAs nationwide in the 17th annual YMCA Healthy Kids Day on Saturday, April 12 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Concord Clayton YMCA, Delta Family YMCA, and Irvin Deutscher Family YMCA. An opportunity for kids and families to "Put Play in Their Day," this special event uses free, fun, engaging and creative activities to encourage children and families to adopt behaviors that support a healthy lifestyle. YMCA Healthy Kids Day is part of YMCA Activate America, a national initiative designed to help children and adults discover and sustain healthier ways to live. Locally, Healthy Kids Day is sponsored by Kaiser Permanente and Overaa Construction.

Unhealthy eating and physical inactivity are associated with an increased risk of a number of chronic health conditions, including overweight and obesity. In fact, the percentage of young people who are overweight has tripled over the last 25 years. In 2005, a panel of experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that school-age children participate in moderate to vigorous activity for a minimum of 60 minutes a day. Studies have shown that children who develop healthy exercise and eating habits while they are young are more likely to maintain healthy lifestyles through adulthood.

"The challenge is that many families see healthy living as an all-or-nothing proposition. Through this lens, achieving a healthier lifestyle can seem overwhelming or out of reach," said Adrienne Carew, vice president of strategic marketing for the Mt. Diablo Region YMCA. "YMCA Healthy Kids Day shows families and kids that making healthy choices can be easy, fun and accessible to everyone. And through our new Healthy Family Home resources, we're giving families take-home tools to help them assess the foundation of how they play, eat and connect together as a family."

Activities taking place during YMCA Healthy Kids Day vary from branch to branch but includes health screenings, arts and crafts, interactive games, cooking demonstrations, health and safety seminars, health and fitness classes designed for kids, and more. Parents are encouraged to participate in these healthy and engaging activities with their kids. Registration for summer programs and camps will also take place at the event.

A free YMCA giveaway with tips on raising healthy, active kids will available, as will prizes for all children who participate in the day's activities. Additional resources will be available to help kids and families achieve their greatest potential from strengthening their financial health to building better bonds together to improving their physical health and nutritional well-being.

"So many families and individuals desire a healthier and happier life but struggle to sustain it," said Carew. "Whether they are in our YMCA facilities, out in the community, or in their own homes, we want families to know that we are here to help them find a way to start establishing new, healthy habits, and that we also offer a supportive community to help them along the way."

YMCA Healthy Kids Day reminds Americans that as individuals and families they can be a part of improving their community as well as themselves -- strengthening bonds, building positive values, spending time together, improving the health and well-being of their family, and making friends for life.

YMCA Healthy Kids Day is generously sponsored nationally by companies dedicated to improving the health and wellness of American kids and families, including the Disney Channel, Eli Lilly and Company, Northwestern Mutual Foundation, and Tropicana. In addition, Kaiser Permanente and Overaa Construction are local co-sponsors of this free family event.

For more information about YMCA Healthy Kids Day, please call Adrienne Carew at 925.887.4648 or visit http://mdrymca.org.

About the Mt. Diablo Region YMCA

The Mt. Diablo Region YMCA has served the greater Contra Costa County area for 50 years. With four branches, 23 school-age child-care sites at local elementary schools, and four preschools, the organization is continuing to grow and expand its network to meet the ever-changing needs of the local community. The Mt. Diablo Region YMCA provides program services for all age groups, from toddlers to seniors, to more than 38,000 households. The organization is dedicated to enriching the lives of all people through programs that strengthen spirit, mind and body. Financial assistance is available to all individuals who demonstrate proven need. For more information, visit http://mdrymca.org.

SOURCE Mt. Diablo Region YMCA