Easter Fun at East Cobb YMCA's Healthy Kids Day

Exactly one week before Easter, scores of families took advantage of the perfect spring weather Sunday to enjoy Healthy Kids Day held at the McCleskey-East Cobb Family YMCA. The event included a Health & Wellness Expo organized by East Cobber magazine. The goal is to encourage children and their parents to embrace healthy lifestyle choices through exercise, healthful food, and lots of fun.

“At the McCleskey-East Cobb YMCA, we know that parents struggle to find the time to incorporate more active play and healthier habits into their kids’ daily routine,” wrote Executive Director Becky Shipley in a press release issued about the event. “Doing so doesn’t have to require extra money or resources. It’s as simple as making a play date with your kids, with two key requirements—be active and have fun!” 

Part of the fun, which began at 1:30 p.m. sharp, was the Easter Egg Hunt. Hosted by YMCA staff and several volunteers, dozens of children separated roughly by age group vied for Easter eggs placed throughout the upper field. 

East Cobb mom Sharon Mazna said it’s one of the few places where Easter egg hunts can be enjoyed. “They’re disappearing, so we came here. I wanted my son to experience that.”

The Easter Bunny, the Y’s own bear mascot, and even the Chick fil A cow were dancing to disc jockey Patrick Davis' (of Complete Music) mostly 80s pop. YMCA volunteers assisted kids with Easter-themed arts and crafts, face painting, and prize giveaways (of, what else—stuffed bunnies). Sprayberry High School students helped man the inflatable jumpy houses, one of which was of the “man-that’s-huge” variety.

Cynthia Rozzo, publisher of East Cobber magazine, said it was her first partnership with the YMCA for this type of event but it won’t be the last. “It’s a family-fun event, and the East Cobber features a health and wellness segment every month, so this is good synergy.” Rozzo and her team wore their signature "I [heart] East Cobb t-shirts" undoubtedly to make for more comfortable booth set-up and tear-down for the expo.

Nurses from WellStar took blood pressure readings while Amy Cooney from Wildtree all-natural foods encouraged the curious to try some tasty treats without artifical ingredients.

Former Georgia All-Stars cheerleader and owner of the newly formed Legends Elite All-Star Cheerleading and Tumbling Sarah Gosnell introduced the squad to East Cobb with the announcement that it will hold try-outs beginning next Saturday.

Legends Elite coach LaShawna Boyd said it was important for the new squad to attend the expo and to support the day’s health-awareness mission. “The thing about cheerleading is that it’s so active. You’re working hard to get to your goal,” Boyd said. “We just wanted to get the word out. A lot of kids want to cheer, and this is perfect because we’re right here in East Cobb. You don’t have to travel. All the big competitions we do are right in Atlanta.”

And though the line to have your caricature drawn was long, the parents of 7-year-old Sydney Reed didn’t mind at all. “We support everything that the YMCA does,” said East Cobb resident Kim Reed, an airline pilot and member of McCleskey-East Cobb. “The Y is a phenomenal organization. All the people that work here—they are the most kind and caring people I’ve ever come across."

Perhaps one reason Reed and her husband Joby are particularly enthused about the Healthy Kids Day is because it typifies for them the YMCA’s commitment to children’s health and safety. Their daughter suffers from extreme food allergies and Reed credits Kristen Gauvreau, senior program director, for helping to keep her daughter safe during the Y’s summer camps and other activities. “They take the upmost care whatever your special need might be to ensure your child’s safety,” Reed said.

Kym Gillies ventured from West Cobb to join her friends from the Y’s Adventure Guides group. “I love doing anything outside,” Gillies, the mother of 5-year-old David said, “We came today to learn something new.”

In hoping to make learning about the human body fun, Lakeshore Learning arts and crafts supervisor (who goes only by the name JP) sported his Virtual Body Suit, complete with removable organs. “We’re here today to promote health and healthy knowledge,” JP said. Then his small yet overstuffed brain fell on the ground as he posed for a photo. No worries. A minor adjustment to the Velcro® helped secure his gray matter.  The suit, JP said, retails for less than $40.