HASTINGS, Neb. (KSNB) – Hastings 18th Street YMCA hosted over 300 children Tuesday to expose them to health and fitness.
Hastings YMCA teaches children importance of creating healthy habits
The focus of the event was to get children to think about starting healthy lifestyle habits in both fitness and nutrition.
Stations were split into two sections of the YMCA, one focused on fitness with activities such as ball tag, bear crawling and a parachute. The nutrition stations, nearly equally as active, were focused on creating healthy eating habits with meals and snacks.
“Those are the habits you carryout throughout your whole life,” Alex Stodgill of South Heartland District Health Department said. “Once you start them when you’re younger it’s just going to carry with you throughout your whole life, so the younger you can start building those habits the easier it is to maintain them throughout your life.”
Children were brought in from a hand full of multiple area elementary schools and had the chance to interact with volunteers from Hastings College, YMCA employees and members of various other organizations around town.
Erika Knott, the YMCA Wellness Director, says the event is crucial for a few reasons: to get children out of the classroom with their friends and moving around, get them exposed to positive habits and allow them to interact with their peers while learning beneficial life tips.
The event is meant to be fun for everyone, even the organizers of the event.
“You know, I organize it but i love being hands on with the kids and being able to play catch with them or play a game of tag with them,” Knott said. “The interaction with the kids and seeing them light up and have fun, is my favorite part.”
The event ran in partnership with Hastings College, UNL Extension, Central Community College and the Health Department.