The Salem YMCA will celebrate Kids Fest with a day long activity-filled program that promotes children's health and safety. 

The YMCA will offer free healthy snack samples, and children will have the opportunity to participate in a craft project.  They'll climb aboard a fire truck and watch movement/music demonstrations.  They'll even sit in a dentist's chair and pretend they're having their teeth cleaned!

Beth Francis, YMCA director of product development, said the organization is excited to be part of such a new and great festival for families.  "It's a great fit for our Healthy Kids Day program," she said.

Thousands of children and their families across the North Shore are expected to attend Kids Fest and, as part of Healthy Kids Day, the YMCA is encouraging children to become active in their spare time.  Physical activity is more important than ever since nationally physical education classes have been dramatically reduced.  According to the Institute of Medicine, daily physical education exists nationwide at only 8 percent of elementary schools, 6.4 percent of middle schools and 5.8 percent of high schools.

"This day is designed to celebrate healthy living, encourage kids and families to get excited about physical fun and activity and, most important, to just play," said Mari Matt, youth and family director for the Salem YMCA.

"Increasing physical activity is one way to get healthier, and doing it as a family is a great way to reconnect with one another."

Francis expressed her concern about childhood obesity.  "It's a crisis in America," she said.  "There are more overweight kids now than ever before.  We're excited to be able to display what the YMCA can do to impact kids and contribute to a solution."

Debbie Amaral, executive director for the Salem YMCA, said that as many as 9 million children in the U.S. are overweight, more than double the percentage in 1980.  "The Salem YMCA is committed to helping young people get healthier," she said.

Francis suggests that parents try to keep kids active.  "We have great ways to keep kids moving," she said.  "We have great programs in gymnastics, T-ball, swimming and arts and humanities.  It's all about developing kids' bodies, minds and spirits."