April 11th, 2007 Healthy kids day with the YMCA Posted by Melitsa in Education, Sites to visit, play activities

YMCA Healthy Kids Day a free, fun-filled day of activities designed to promote healthy kids and families in spirit, mind and body. YMCA Healthy Kids Day community-based events celebrate making fitness fun, and introduce kids to an array of YMCA programs that teach healthy behaviors and healthy ways to play — an essential lesson in learning how to take care of themselves throughout their lifetimes.

YMCA Healthy Kids Day is part of YMCA Activate America, an innovative public health initiative of the YMCA movement that is making healthy living a reality for millions of Americans. By celebrating health and wellness of young people through a variety of fun, physical activities, YMCA Healthy Kids Day encourages kids and their families nationwide to stay active, connected and healthy. The YMCA Healthy Kids Day event is celebrated annually. Activities at participating YMCAs will vary and may include games, sports, health screenings and more. For a list of participating YMCAs, click here

When? Saturday April 14 2007
What a brilliant idea! Another way to spend more time playing with your child in play activities. Often the ideas at Play-activities are for small chucks of time but here is a great opportunity to dedicate a larger chunck of time messing around and having fun with the kids.

There are lots of different activities Canton YMCA ideas

“Healthy Kids Day is a fun family event that helps get kids off of the couch!” said Paula Grigsby, Associate Executive. “Many families are under high levels of stress, struggling to balance work and family obligations plus trying to find time to fit healthy activities into their busy schedules. The theme for this year’s Healthy Kids Day is “Put Play in Your Day.”

Activities taking place during YMCA Healthy Kids Day will include an obstacle course and pit races in the tumbling and trampoline area, relay races in the Main Gym plus a penny dive and other games in the swimming pool. Parents can participate in all the activities with their children. A free YMCA giveaway for parents with tips on raising healthy, active kids will be available plus several door prizes will be given away.

JOLIET YMCA Each branch has an individualized plan to serve their members that can be found online at www.jolietymca.org. Star 96.7 will be doing on-air broadcasts at the Galowich Family YMCA in Joliet that day. A free YMCA giveaway for parents with tips on raising healthy, active kids will available.

For more information go to the YMCA website or

http://www.ymca.net/about_the_ymca/ymca_healthy_kids_day.html

Find out what’s happening in your area.

Tell us about your “Play in the day” ideas below

April 10th, 2007 Nature blog you must see Posted by Melitsa in Education, Sites to visit, play activities

I recently stumbled across this great site.

http://crammed-with-heaven.blogspot.com/

It has clear close up photographs of insects, berries, flowers, the heavens- and many more things.

Lots of interesting poetry and quotes liberally sprinkled around and sometimes audio.

There are activities to do and trivia to read.

My 4 year old likes the photographs and he tries to guess what he can see?

Perfect together time during day when we can’t get out the house because of rain or snow. A play-activity with a difference!

What nature sites do you like?