Healthy Kids Week about more than just physical health

KAMLOOPS – Mindfulness might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of healthy habits for young children, but the Kamloops Y is using Healthy Kids Week to address every aspect of a child’s development — from healthy eating to swimming safety to being mindful.

“It’s just about bringing families together and community partners and showcasing what kind of services our communities have to offer, there are so many out there for families,” Maureen Doll of the Kamloops Y told CFJC News. “It just kind of gives a variety of mind, body and spirit activities that families can do together, healthy parents make healthy kids and everything is free, free, free, free.”

Alysha Castillo has been bringing her children to the John Tod Centre on the North Shore for years.

“It helps us to get out of the house and to play with some new toys to learn some new skill sometimes and get our energy out in the gym,” Castillo said. “Especially now that the wildfire situation is our new norm, it’s a great opportunity to get out of the smoke and the heat.”

While the weekly drop-in activities often offer new experiences for her kids, Castillo said she sees this week’s schedule as a path to healthy adults.

“As we teach them young then hopefully they’ll keep those habits all the way up until they’re teenagers and adults – that’s the hope at least,” she said. “And it helps get them excited about these things that they kind of need to do.”

Brenda Nordin and her grandchildren are regulars at the North Shore location.

Aside from encouraging healthy eating, exercise and good mental health practices, Nordin sees her grandkids learning important life skills.

“You can’t even set a value on it because this is such a great opportunity for them to meet other kids, interact with them, learn to share and try out all kinds of different toys,” Nordin said.

Every day until Saturday, the Kamloops Y will be hosting multiple events around the city.

On Thursday, the annual Teddy Bear Picnic will be held at the John Tod Centre from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

“The Teddy Bear Picnic is just all about fun. It’s all areas of childhood development. We’re going to get really messy. We are going to move our bodies around,” Doll explained. “The library is going to be here, so if your little one needs a little quiet place to sit and read, there will be that as well.”

A full schedule of this week’s events can be found here.