The Grand Traverse Bay YMCA is marking Child Abuse Prevention Month with Five Days of Action April 16-20. Five Days of Action is a national YMCA program that focuses on preventing child sexual abuse by sharing tips on how adults can step up and speak out to prevent child sexual abuse. Grand Traverse Bay YMCA encourages adults and organizations in the community to play a vital role in making Traverse City a safer place for children. Encouraging adults to step up and speak out brings awareness to the issue of child sexual abuse in the community and fosters conversations around how everyone can work together to prevent it from happening. For more information about preventing child sexual abuse, visit www.fivedaysofaction.org.
 
That same week, the Y is also offering Healthy Kids Day on Saturday, April 21. This free community event is designed to inspire kids to keep their minds and bodies active and ignite their imaginations so they can envision what they’ll accomplish this summer. Research shows that without access to out-of-school learning activities, kids fall behind academically. Kids also gain weight twice as fast during summer as during the school year. Healthy Kids Day features activities and vendors promoting ways to motivate and teach families how to develop and maintain healthy routines at home throughout the summer months. It includes information on nutrition, reading together, playing together, proper sleep habits, and ways to encourage youngsters to exercise their physical and mental muscles at the same time. The Grand Traverse Bay YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day takes place at the West Y location on Silver Lake Road from 11am to 1pm and features fun, active play and educational activities. Click here for more information.