Committing to being active every day is all part of the YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day – the nation’s largest health day for families. The free event will take place locally from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 16 at the Northshore YMCA (11811 N.E. 195th St., Bothell) and will feature activities such as interactive Zumba, fencing, cooking demonstrations, crafts and more.

Bothell Mayor Mark Lamb and Evening Magazine’s Kim Holcomb are scheduled to attend, as well as 12-year-old basketball prodigy Jordan McCabe and the Pacific Northwest Drumline. The first 300 kids will receive free T-shirts from sponsor Precor.

Healthy Kids Day will be celebrated at nearly 1,600 YMCAs across the country, with more than 700,000 families expected to attend this year.

As a leading nonprofit strengthening community through healthy living, the Y holds Healthy Kids Day to teach healthy habits to kids and inspire a lifetime love of physical activity, Y officials said in a press release. At a time when one in three children in the United States are overweight or obese (according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), developing healthier habits that include increased physical activity is more important than ever.

“At the Northshore YMCA, we know that parents struggle to find the time to incorporate more active play and healthier habits into their kids’ daily routine,” says Mychal-Lynne Pfiester, Family & Community Programs Director, Northshore YMCA. “Doing so doesn’t have to require extra money or resources. It’s as simple as making a play date with your kids, with two key requirements – be active and have fun!”

The Northshore YMCA recommends that families schedule a game night with physical activity like Charades; dance; go bike riding or Rollerblading; play hopscotch, freeze tag and other favorite childhood outdoor games; and visit a local park, camp out in their back yard or play soccer, basketball or baseball.

For more information, contact the Northshore YMCA at (425) 485-9797 or visit ymcanorthshore.org.