SAN ANGELO, Texas — The Junior League of San Angelo partnered with the San Angelo YMCA to hold its Healthy Hearts, Early Starts event Saturday.
According to Catherine Gossett, provisional chair for the Junior League of San Angelo, the Healthy Hearts, Early Starts program is an extension of the Kids in the Kitchen program. The program teaches children to make healthier choices.
“This year we actually have a device and screen time booth where we will talk about what you can do instead of getting on your tablets,” Gossett said. “It is basically about getting healthy geared more toward our children.”
Gossett said the event’s goal was for parents and children to learn that being healthy is not about healthy choices all the time, but rather about small choices made throughout the day.
“Choosing water over a sprite or putting down the tablet and playing hide-and-seek; things like that are so important; I do think it starts at an early age,” Gossett said. “If we can get the kids thinking about staying healthy, making healthy choices earlier they will have those habits going into adulthood.”
Previously, the event was held with private organizations, however, because of COVID-19 the Junior League of San Angelo wanted to have a more public event. COVID-19 restrictions also made it harder to partner with private organizations, such as schools.
According to Gossett, making the event public was a different experience, because the event had to be promoted, a time had to be chosen and booths had to be geared to children of all ages.
“Normally it’s geared to children five to middle school, but we wanted to involve the families this time because I think it takes all the parties in the household to make those choices,” Gossett said.
Families visited different booths where they learned how to make their own trail mix using items such as cereal, popcorn and nuts.
At the device and screen time booth, children learned of different activities they can do instead of using a device. Activities discussed included playing sports, riding a bike and getting creative.
Nine-year-old Hallie Stribling attended the Healthy Hearts, Early Starts event and said she really liked it.
Stribling learned the importance of spending time off devices and exercising.
“Some kids are heavier than other kids; we can take time off the tablet and exercise,” Stribling said.
She also said she wants to spend less time on devices and more time playing.
Gossett said the organization is excited to have partnered with the YMCA for the Healthy Hearts, Early Starts event and hopes to partner with them for several years.
In addition to the Healthy Hearts, Early Starts event, the Junior League of San Angelo is hosting a Storywalk to be held later in March and the Touch a Truck drive-thru event to be held May 1.
For more information about the Junior League of San Angelo or upcoming events visit its website or social media pages.
