YMCA to give kids health tips

You don't have to be a honcho at the YMCA to know everybody wants their kids to grow up healthy.

And you surely don't have to operate a Y to know most people are always looking for ways to squeeze in a little more family time.

But the cool part about being a leader at, say, the Heritage YMCA Group is that you really can do something about it.

On Saturday, the Heritage group will do just that when it sponsors its annual YMCA Healthy Kids Day at its facilities in Naperville, Aurora and Oswego.

It's a program stacked with all sorts of free activities and lessons designed to bring kids and parents closer together and to teach them both about making decisions that lead to healthier lifestyles.

The event is part of a national initiative that will involve 1,800 YMCAs across the country on the same day.

"We're trying to get kids and families involved in healthy living," said Dee Dee McDevitt, Heritage YMCA's marketing director.

Here's a quick look at some of Saturday's activities:

• 10 a.m. to noon at the Aurora Family YMCA, 460 Garfield Ave.: Crafts for kids, face painting, healthy refreshments. Info: (630) 896-9782.

• 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Kroehler Family YMCA, 34 S. Washington St., Naperville: Family Walk begins at 8:30 a.m., other activities include crafts, aquatic safety demonstrations and information, back and foot assessments and healthy snacks. Info: (630) 420-6270.

• 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Fry Family YMCA, 2120 W. 95th St., Naperville: Visitors can check out a Naperville fire truck from 11 a.m. to noon and visit with McGruff the Crime Dog. Other events include pottery demonstrations, backpack checks, bike helmet fittings, water safety tips, seed planting tips, indoor inflatables, an obstacle course and nutrition ideas. Info: (630) 904-9595.

• 9 a.m. to noon at the Oswego Family YMCA, 1224 Douglas Road: Relay races, family fitness demonstrations, face painting, a visit by the Oswego Fire Department and healthy eating alternatives. Info: (630) 551-0797.

McDevitt says the event traditionally attracts large crowds, with a focus on families with children ages 3 to 10.

"We're trying to engage the community," McDevitt said. "This is a platform for folks to be given factual, credible information about health and nutrition."

And maybe get their faces painted at the same time.