THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, April 15, 2022 Page 13 Mystic Valley YMCA kicks off summer early with annual Healthy Kids Day Event features free, family-friendly activities to celebrate kids being kids T he Mystic Valley YMCA is hosting the Y’s annual Pictured from left to right: Councillor-at-Large Carey McDonald, Ward 7 Councillor Christopher Simonelli, First Church of the Nazarene Rev. Gerry Whetstone and Ward 7 School Committee Member Keith Bernard. Healthy Kids Day® on Saturday, April 23 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at its Malden YMCA facility – enter through 99 Dartmouth St. or 125 Mountain Ave. in Malden. This event is sponsored nationally by Howard Johnson® by Wyndham, and locally by Cataldo Ambulance Service, The Greater Boston Food Bank, East Cambridge Savings Bank, Magnolia Dental, Three Circles Studio, Wegmans and SmileLand Pediatric Dentistry. Healthy Kids Day is free and open to the public and will feature activities like bounce houses, games, open swim, Family Zumba, YMCA program sign-up, community resources and giveaways, arts & crafts, music-making and more! This year, the event will have a COVID vaccine clinic on site providing free first, second and booster doses for eligible individuals who would like to get vaccinated. Celebrating its 30th anniPictured from left to right: Margherita Powers, Ward 7 Councillor Chris Simonelli, his son, Joseph, and former Ward 7 Councillor Neal Anderson. versary in 2022, Healthy Kids Day is the Y’s national initiative to improve health and well-being for kids and families. “At the Y, we believe in the potential of all children and each day we work to help kids find that potential within themselves,” said Mystic Valley YMCA President & CEO Debbie Amaral. “Healthy Kids Day is a fun, free community-wide event to kick off summer and remind us all how important it is for kids to stay active physically and mentally throughout the summer.” In celebration of YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day, the Y offers the following: * High Five the Fruits and Veggies – make sure kids get at least five servings of fruits and veggies each day, the minimum number nutritionists recommend for healthy childhood development. And to keep kids’ taste buds evolving, have everyone in the family try at least one bite of a new fruit or vegetable at least once a month. If your family needs food resources, learn more about the Mystic Valley YMCA’s free food markets in Everett, Malden and Medford here: Food Security (mv-ymPictured from left to right: Ward 2 School Committee Member Robert McCarthy, Ward 7 Councillor Chris Simonelli and Ward 3 School Committee Member/Vice Chair Jennifer Spadafora. (Advocate photos by Tara Vocino) ca.org). * Read Together – the summer is a great time to enjoy books with summer program participants – and 30 minutes a day goes a long way! Take trips to the local library or create a family reading challenge to see who can log the most minutes of reading. Encourage youngsters to create their own stories as well. * Get Moving! Activities that require movement also help kids flex their mental muscle. Use materials in unique ways: Ask youngsters to build models, manipulate tools or develop their own theatrical scenes. * Play Together – play may be the best way to prevent childhood obesity. By putting more play into your family’s day, you will soon find yourself getting the activity that will have your family feeling energized and strong. * Make sleep a priority – doctors recommend 10-12 hours of sleep a day for children ages five to 12 and seven to eight hours per night for adults. Sleep plays a critical role in maintaining our healthy immune system, metabolism, mood, memory and learning. Mystic Valley YMCA Healthy Kids Day Vendors as of April 13: * YMCA’s School Age Childcare, Summer Camp, Food Markets, Hiring and Volunteer Opportunities, Membership, Early Learning Center and Medford Youth Center. * ABCD Mystic Valley Opportunity Center * Cambridge Health Alliance * Cataldo Ambulance * East Cambridge Savings Bank * Foster Care/Department of Children and Families * Geico * The Greater Boston Food Bank * Joint Committee for Children’s Health Care in Everett * Magnolia Dental * Malden Fire Department * Malden Lions Mobile Eye Screenings * Malden ParentChild+ * Malden Reads * Mayor’s Youth Employment Program/Malden Career Connections * National Grid * Project Bread * RESPOND, Inc. * SmileLand Pediatric Dentistry and Braces * Wegmans For more information, visit https://bit.ly/YMCAHKD22 and follow the Mystic Valley YMCA on social Media. Facebook: @ MysticValleyYMCA. Instagram: @Mystic.Valley.YMCA.
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