Like most things, healthy habits, an active lifestyle, and a love of wellness don’t start in adulthood. It starts when we are kids! Sometimes, when planting seeds for a heathier future, it can start as easy as playing a simple game, having a positive interaction, completing an obstacle course, brushing an animal’s teeth or even, yes, planting your own veggie seeds!
On Saturday, May 30th, from 9:30 AM to Noon, kids across our community are invited to join us at The Wellness Center (1734 Crawford Farm Road in Newport) for our 11th Annual Kids FREE Wellness Day. This is a completely free event, with zero solicitation, designed to bring wellness to life in a way that is fun, accessible, and meaningful for all ages.
Why? Because as the original and longest-running hospital-supported wellness facility in the state, we know what wellness matters, and it isn’t built on gimmicks, sales, or solicitations. We don’t do that with our participants either! It’s built on fun, community, and experience! We build Kids Day to be a simple invitation and welcome to sample healthy habits early, show positive play around all things “wellness,” such as fruits and veggies, movement, dental health, hand washing, creativity, and more! Trusting that when you have a fun experience, you remember it! You carry these memories with you, and they start to become the building blocks of a healthier future for a lifetime.
Kids Day is not about lectures or long presentations. In fact, there are none! It is about experience, movement, creativity, and connection. From lawn games to hands-on activities, from learning proper brushing techniques to understanding the importance of sunscreen, every station is an opportunity to build awareness in a way that sticks.
According to the Vermont Department of Health (www.myhealthvt.org), “Healthy habits developed early in life can reduce the risk of chronic disease later on.” But more importantly, they can build confidence, independence, and joy in taking care of oneself. Welcoming kids to learn and try new things at earlier ages makes it easier to think about, try and lean into these lifestyles now, rather than later in life when it is certainly harder to modify. However, wellness and lifestyle changes are 100% accessible to all people at any stage of life, which is why we welcome kids to bring their families with them! This event is about community. When we start bringing together families, educators, healthcare professionals, and local organizations, all working toward a shared goal: supporting the well-being of our children, we can change our kid’s lives, and maybe even your own.
Saturday’s event is FREE. We have FREE in the title because so many events are not, or you must sign up to win something, not here! At The Wellness Center, we are who we say we are, and for 44+ years we have been the meeting place for fun, health, and fitness in the community. This weekend we take a moment to make it all about the kids. Offering a chance for kids to try new things and win new items for a health summer! Kids will leave with some items that may include: a t-shirt, a backpack, a health dental kit, a full belly, sunscreen, and more! Because wellness should never be out of reach and we want you to go home able to practice what you learned and able to reinforce the healthy habits you can teach.
Whether your child is learning how to fuel their body, interested in growing a garden, wanting to do some crafts or just come have fun, we have something for you! This is a rain or shine event, so come prepared. We may be outside or inside if the weather isn’t playing nice. If you can’t attend, maybe you can think of other ways to spark curiosity in your kid’s wellness and bring some energy into healthy play and habits. When we invest in our kids, we invest in the future of our community. Thankfully, the North Country Hospital Foundation feels the same, because thanks to their generous donations we have many new games, t-shirts and more to make this year extra special!
Sometimes, the most powerful lessons in health begin with play. Come have some fun and play, create and move with us! Saturday, May 30th from 9:30 am -Noon At The Wellness Center for the 11th Annual Kids FREE Wellness Day!