Third-grade students in the Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools are gearing up to participate in the 24th annual Kansas Kids Fitness and Safety Day.
The Governor’s Council on Fitness and Safe Kids Kansas are sponsoring this statewide event to reinforce the fun and health benefits of noncompetitive physical activities and injury prevention. Nearly 19,000 students will participate this year at more than 30 sites across the state, with the majority of events being held on May 1 and May 2.
On Thursday, May 1, Washington High School will be the host of 1,000 third-graders and high school students at the stadium at 7340 Leavenworth Road in Kansas City, Kan.
On Friday, May 2, Harmon High School will be the host of more than 1,000 third-grade students and high school students at 25th and Lawrence Avenue at Harmon Stadium. Events on both dates will take place from 10 a.m. to noon.
Statewide, all children participating in Kansas Kids Fitness and Safety Day will receive health and safety enrichment packets, including jump ropes, to encourage physical activity. Activities at these sites will provide opportunities to participate in fun and educational activities to promote physical activity and promote safety.
Kansas Kids Fitness and Safety Day is an opportunity to impress upon youth the importance of being safe and physically active. A 2008 report by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention found that more than one-third of children and adolescents were either overweight or obese and physical inactivity was a major contributor to this problem. According to the CDC report, 70 percent of obese youth had at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease in a population based sample of 5 to 17 year olds.
Kansas City, Kansas Kids Fitness Day is sponsored by UMB bank. This is the second year for this partnership and the benefits are amazing. Kansas City, Kan., fire stations will be on hand to help with the fire safety station.