(Jackson, MS) — The public is invited to attend Jackson State University’s Parents and Kids Fitness Day, a free event designed to encourage healthier lifestyles.
The event is scheduled for Saturday, April 20, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the T.B. Ellis Gym on the JSU campus. The program is organized by the Black Child Development Institute-Jackson (BCDI) in collaboration with Head Start and Prep Company Tutorial School. Walmart is the lead sponsor.
“This event will focus on educating the community about health and nutrition. It also will incorporate technology to establish lifelong healthy habits for the entire family,” said Dr. Alice F. Thames-McGowan, director of the Lottie Thornton Early Childhood Center, which is part of JSU’s College of Education and Human Development.
The fun-filled day will include an Apple iPad demonstration and a variety of stations geared toward physical fitness and healthy foods. At the interactive stations, children can play with hula hoops, jump ropes and bounce on miniature trampolines. Ed Said from Mississippi Public Broadcasting also will make an appearance.
Pilates demonstrations will be offered for parents, as well as dance sessions for parents and children. Blood pressure and diabetes screenings will be available, along with “Let’s Go Walking” packets from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi.
The Department of Sociology will present a session on bullying, and the Jackson Fire Department will conduct a fire safety presentation. Jackson Public Schools will provide kindergarten transition information. There also will be numerous door prizes, including free JSU football tickets and lots of healthy snacks for the entire family.
The BCDI and the Lottie Thornton center collaborate to implement the National Black Child Development Institute’s Promoting Healthy Nutrition Practices Program. The program contributes to the long-term goal of reducing obesity among young black children and their family, through funds provided by the Walmart Foundation.