Sport featured at “Healthy Kids Day” event
Young Noah Cruz, just 3 1/2, peered out through the headgear and giggled as his brother, Isaac, 5, put up his dukes in a playful stance. No worries, folks, the toddlers were just taking part in one of the many “fitness stations” featured at the YMCA’s nationwide Healthy Kids Day event. As the boys’ parents looked on and captured photos of the siblings squaring off, this was all done under the watchful eye of boxing coach Steve Harpst and the Burbank Community YMCA. No real punches were thrown; the tots were able to hit the freestanding heavy bags in a safe environment.
It was an entertaining day of free activities under the warm California sun that showcased various ways children can get fit and stay fit through their “Wonder Bread” years. The idea is to start a fitness plan early, make exercise fun for kids and hopefully make it part of their weekly routine.
“It’s all about ‘putting play into your day’,” April Houle, Senior Program Director, tells me Saturday afternoon as she patrolled the fitness stations set up outside of the Y. Houle has showcased boxing at this event for the past few years. As we all know, the sweet science is one of the most disciplined sports around. “Today’s event teaches kids that there are lots of ways to be active and healthy–including boxing!” she says. The dedicated Houle has worked at the gym for over a decade and is a big fight fan herself–she’s even married to a pro boxer, George Moreno. And as an ex-gymnast, Houle realizes the importance of adding fitness into a child’s life and keeping them on that healthy path while growing up.
But for many kids, fitness is–unfortunately–not in their game plan. So this day, which is open to the community, helps encourage creative ways to get the youngsters to work out. Beside the two boxing stations (heavy bags and jump ropes), attendees could also take part in a rock climbing wall, tumble track, dance contest, Wii tennis tournament, basketball shootout, carnival-style games and more.
The YMCA staff employed an interactive method to get the kids to participate. As they lined up, each child received a “Fit Pass,” a punch card that could then be turned in for a prize once filled with stamps. As the tots tested out their skills at the fitness stations, they would earn a stamp on their card. “It’s an incentive to participate more,” explains Jodi Reneaud, Senior Program Director. “We have great participation in all of our fitness activities here today. This year we added new things like the hula hoops–it’s a big hit, even with the boys.” As a former dancer, the toned Reneaud knows the benefits of staying strong, “Today encourages the kids to take an active part in fitness. And fitness empowers the kids!”
As a DJ played energetic music geared to increase cardio, it created a festival atmosphere during the four-hour event. It was also a nice opportunity to meet the local city organizations. The Burbank D.A.R.E. program and the Burbank Fire Department were represented. With the hearty bunch displaying their bright red fire truck, the ROP crew let the little kids try on their helmets and jackets for fun to the delight of the onlookers.
Sponsored by neighboring businesses, there were also booths set up that offered body fat testing, eye and dental screenings, complimentary smoothies, art workshops, and healthy lunch choices cooked fresh by the Y’s Men charity group. Since the focus was all about fitness, families enjoyed low-cal turkey burgers, veggies, fruit and bottled water. For some kids who may be in the habit of consuming fast food, soda and candy, this was a chance to eat a more healthful and wholesome meal.
Visiting one of the event booths, I chatted with Rickie Castaneda of Member Services and she told me, “This is a national program for the Y. During the month of April each YMCA will have their own Healthy Kids Day.” The perky YMCA employee enjoys the annual outdoor event, “We have healthy activities for the kids, teach them good eating habits, the whole nine yards!”
The indoor gym was kept busy with open house tours of their three-story building that houses the brand new Boxing Club Room, weight room, basketball and racquetball courts, swimming pool, saunas, steam rooms, a snack bar and more. A full-size boxing ring, heavy bags and speed bags allow the men, women and children a challenging workout that helps develop strength, power, speed, balance and coordination.
Integrating fitness into a child’s life early on is one thing that can prolong their health and their lives. There’s an epidemic of childhood obesity in the U.S.; statistics say that a large percentage of our children are overweight. J.C. Holt, YMCA C.E.O. of the Burbank branch, addresses this, “Statistics don’t lie. There’s a lot of obesity which can lead to diabetes and more. We can do something about this–it’s preventable.” This year’s Healthy Kids Day was Holt’s first one as the new C.E.O. He is proud to be proactive in encouraging the healthy and fitness, “This is great. It’s good that we get all the families to come out; we get several hundred people here. We create an awareness of activity and nutrition.”
And back at the boxing area, there’s a lot of activity going on as the young Cruz brothers are having blast at the heavy bags.
“It’s great seeing all the kids trying new things. Boxing teaches them discipline, conditioning and confidence,” said Harpst, Trainer and Founder of the Burbank Boxing Club (located in the YMCA). One of the club’s members, Damien Lopez, 13 years old, thrives in the boxing workout and volunteered his services at the jump rope station during the weekend’s event. The teen has just begun his amateur boxing career and had a good time teaching the youngest kids how to use the ropes.
And as Harpst watched on with a smile, Noah and Isaac continued to pound away at the padded bags with glee. They will have to wait a few years before they can officially join the boxing club, but for now it’s a good start at fitness. “The boys just love it!” says their father, Ever Cruz, with a chuckle. “They love boxing; this is really fun for them.”
Whether they grow up to be the next generation’s Rafael and Juan Manuel Marquez is yet to be seen, but the beginning of a lifelong fitness plan is one goal already achieved!
For more information: www.burbankymca.org
Photos by Michele Chong: YMCA C.E.O. J.C. Holt with a young visitor; Noah and Isaac Cruz (blue and red headgear) with Coach Steve; Damien Lopez works the ropes; Sports Director Tomik Iranosian helps out at the heavy bags; Burbank Fire Dept. and ROPs; Healthy and fun activities for the kids!