What a Day! Recapping Healthy Kids Day 2026 at the Church St Y

A Community Filled Afternoon of Fun 

If you were at the Church St Y in Newton on Saturday, May 2, you already know it was an afternoon full of energy, laughter, and nonstop fun. More than 200 people came together for Healthy Kids Day 2026, and the Y was buzzing with activity from start to finish. 

This free community event was all about getting kids active, engaged, and excited about healthy habits that last well beyond the school year. Rain or shine, nothing slowed this day down. From the moment families walked in, there was something happening in every corner of the Church St Y gymnasium. Kids were moving, creating, learning, and just enjoying being part of a big community celebration. 

Some of the highlights of the day included: 

•  Sports, fitness, and movement activities where kids practiced agility and footwork using the agility ladder and relay races 
• Y snack station with refreshments to keep everyone fueled up 
• Kid friendly DJ music by Mike Pride 
• CPR station for quick lifesaving lessons  
• Arts & crafts stations where kids got creative and made colorful projects 
• Face painting and balloon artist with fun designs like superheroes, animals, and more 
• Gaga ball and inflatable obstacle course that brought plenty of laughs 
• Newton free library giving families a chance to connect with local reading 

A special highlight this year was the first 150 kids received free bike helmets, made possible through our partnership with Farinas. It was a great way to promote safety while making sure kids left with something meaningful from the day. We were also grateful to receive a generous donation from the Elks Club, which helped support the event. 

Community Partners That Made It Special 

Healthy Kids Day is always stronger because of the community partners behind it. This year, we were proud to be joined by: 

• Newton Soccer Club 
• Newton Southeast Little League 
• Newton High School Robotics Team (LigerBots) gave kids a chance to interact with their robot during an exciting ball-toss demonstration 
• Officer Lau and officer Leo shared some tail wags and pets with the community 
• Shared Shelf 
• Newton Library 
• Krauss Dermatology, sharing pediatric dermatology info, skin health education, and samples 
• Keloid Commuter Services, raising awareness about the serious dangers of walking near or crossing train tracks 

We were honored to have Newton Mayor Marc Laredo join us. Mayor Laredo took the time to connect with community partners, touring the event to learn more about them. His visit highlighted the city of Newton's strong support for youth wellness, community engagement, and local collaboration.

Why It Matters 

Healthy Kids Day is more than just a fun afternoon. It’s part of a nationwide YMCA initiative focused on helping kids stay active, healthy, and engaged especially during out-of-school time when routines change. 

Events like this remind us that every child deserves access to movement, creativity, learning, and supportive community spaces that help them grow. 

A Big Thank You 

To every family who showed up, every partner who participated, and every staff member and volunteer who made the day possible, thank you. 

Healthy Kids Day 2026 at the Church St Y was a true community moment. Seeing kids run, laugh, learn, and try new things is exactly what this event is all about. Missed the fun? Don’t sweat it! Check out the photos album on Facebook