Saturday will give children a chance to have fun and parents an opportunity to plan out summer vacation hen the Atmore Area YMCA hosts its annual Healthy Kids Day.

At the field from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the staff at the YMCA will host Healthy Kids Day for families to come out and enjoy themselves, while staying healthy.

Healthy Kids Day is a national initiative that more than 1,900 YMCAs participate in to help improve the health of children. It is filled with activities and games geared towards stimulating their bodies and minds.

Preparing children and parents for the summer, an inactive time for children, is a large focus of the event, Atmore Area YMCA Manager Ross Terry said.

“At the Atmore Area YMCA, we know that when the school year ends, kids lose exposure to activities that keep them moving and learning,” he said. “Healthy Kids Day will help parents begin thinking early about what their kids need to stay physically and intellectually active in the summer.”

At the intitiative, children will have the chance to take part in events such as an obstacle course, Tae Kwon Do, step team and twirling demonstrations along with other games.

A push for Healthy Kids Day is that if they stay inactive during the summer months, they could gain weight and fall behind academically, according to a press release from YMCA of America.

Showing the children and parents what the Y offers and helping them explore activities will keep them ready for the upcoming school year, Terry said.

“Summer is just around the corner, so this is an ideal time to get kids out and grow,” he said. “By doing this, they will be healthier and sharper mentally when the school year begins again.”

For more information on Healthy Kids Day contact the Atmore Area YMCA at 368-9622.