Friday, July 27, 2001
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Friday, July 27, 2001 |
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National Kids Day is approaching Organizations all over the country, including the Newnan/Coweta Boys & Girls Club, will celebrate the inaugural National KidsDay Sunday, Aug. 5. Parents, children, mentors, community leaders and politicians will gather at the Boys & Girls Club, where they will honor young people and the importance of adult-child relationships. National KidsDay is designed to encourage adults and children to spend meaningful time together. Research shows that when adults spend meaningful time with kids, it helps them develop a positive self-image and a sense of belonging, usefulness and purpose, said a club spokesman. According to a study by Ellen Galinsky, president/co-founder of the Families and Work Institute, 44.5 percent of kids say that time with Mom is rushed, and 37 percent say the same is true with Dad. Children in the study gave higher marks to their parents when the time spent together was not rushed but focused and rich in shared activities. The Newnan/Coweta Boys & Girls Club, 71 Wesley St., will host an open house to celebrate National KidsDay. Club members, their families, friends and community members are invited from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to see a Boys & Girls Club in action and to interact with young members. With activities and games for all ages, it's hoped the event will bring children and adults together for an exciting afternoon of quality time. In addition, a free city-wide National KidsDay event will take place at SciTrek from 3 - 5 p.m. Boys & Girls Club members, their families and the public are invited to participate in interactive activities, enjoy entertainment provided by Radio Disney and to make the National KidsDay Pledge. A National KidsDay activity guide is available in area Blockbuster stores. The guide includes dozens of fun, relationship-building activities that adults and children can enjoy together as well as the National KidsDay pledge and an entry form for the Make A Kid's Day sweepstakes to win college scholarships. For information visit www.kidsday.net or call 404-527-7100. Leading the effort to establish National KidsDay is the National KidsDay Alliance an unprecedented coalition of youth service organizations, including Boys & Girls Clubs of America, 4-H, KidsPeace and YMCA. Together, the alliance serves more than 20 million kids across the country in some 8,000 locations. Other local youth service organizations will also participate, including Salvation Army Metro Atlanta Boys & Girls Clubs, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta, Campfire Boys and Girls, Boy Scouts of America, Atlanta Area Council, YWCA of Greater Atlanta, Girls Inc., Metro Atlanta YMCA, Junior Achievement of Georgia and Girl Scout Council of Northwest Georgia. National KidsDay is sponsored by Blockbuster Video, Hasbro, Johnson & Johnson, M&M/Mars, Mattel and Toys "R" Us. PBS KIDS, Radio Disney, USA Today and Yahoo! are providing additional support.
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