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Health & Fitness

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

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

Ocean County, NJ, April 20, 2012 – On April 28, the Ocean County YMCA is celebrating Healthy Kids Day® with a free community event for kids and families in Ocean County. 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 Ocean County 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 Rodger D. Koerber, President & CEO, Ocean County YMCA. “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.”

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The Ocean County YMCA’s event will take place at the Y facility on 1088
W Whitty Road, Toms River from 1-4PM and will feature activities such as indoor soccer, swimming, scuba, free children’s eye exams and ID’s, car seat safety checks along with nutrition demonstrations and healthy snacks. There will be character appearances by Dr. Bernard from Meridian Health, Chipper from Herr’s and Coastie from the U.S. Coast Guard.

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.

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Healthy Kids Day is supported locally through collaborations with Toms River Regional Schools, Meridian Health, Herr’s, U.S. Coast Guard, State of NJ Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Toms River Police Department, Ocean County Sheriff’s Department, Perlmutter Family ShopRites and the Ocean County Library. Nationally, Healthy Kids Day is supported by the Dodge brand.   

For more information, please contact the Ocean County YMCA at 732 341 9622 ext 0 or visit www.ocymca.org.

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