There will be something for everyone during Healthy Kids Day from noon to 3 p.m. April 18 at Baierl Family YMCA in Franklin Park.
The YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh is hosting free educational and activity-filled health fairs at several YMCA locations in and around Pittsburgh, including at the Baierl center, 2565 Nicholson Road.
Families can enjoy mini golf, a bounce house, gardening take-home stations, STEM activities, art displays, crafts, a youth-sports carnival and an interactive obstacle course, according to Andrew Kowalewski, spokesperson for the Pittsburgh YMCA.
“Healthy Kids Day is one of our favorite days of the year because it brings families together in such a fun, active and meaningful way,” said Yancy Sannan, associate executive director of Baierl Family YMCA. “We’re excited to open our doors to the entire community and showcase all the ways the Y supports youth development and healthy living. We encourage families to come out, get involved and experience everything the YMCA has to offer.”
Healthy Kids Day at the Baierl site will feature live entertainment for the entire afternoon, including Josh and Gab, a musical comedy duo for kids, Irish dancing and group exercise demonstrations.
Families can purchase food from Chik-fil-A and more than two dozen other vendors during the event.
Fitness 4 Focus North Hills, a new adaptive fitness gym in Marshall, which brings athletic opportunities to people of all abilities, is an event sponsor.
Fitness 4 Focus specializes in fitness for children, teens and adults with special needs, such as physical disabilities, learning disabilities or Down syndrome, said business owner and coach Michael Shipper, who recently moved with his wife to Pittsburgh from New York City.
He is bringing a BlazePod game to Healthy Kids Day, described as a “fun piece of technology” that he controls from his iPad. As the player engages in a game, the pods light up with different colors and motions. It’s a great way to work on hand-eye coordination, agility or reaction time, he said.
Players will receive a prize. All abilities are encouraged to play.
The message of inclusivity in sports and physical activity is one he wants to share at Healthy Kids Day.
“Always being able to create awareness with health and fitness and movement is just a great thing for kids. In my opinion, sports and fitness should be a gateway for inclusion,” he said.
It’s a great way to build strength, coordination, confidence and independence, he said.
“More importantly, kids can really generalize from the lessons they learn in physical activities and bring it with them into everyday life,” Shipper said.
Other locations for Healthy Kids Day events on April 18 include from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Allegheny YMCA on Pittsburgh’s North Side; 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Homewood-Brushton YMCA in Pittsburgh’s East End; 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Sampson Family YMCA in Plum; 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Spencer Family YMCA in Bethel Park; and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Thelma-Lovette YMCA in Pittsburgh’s Hill District.
For details, visit pittsburghymca.org.