Get Up And Join in The Worldwide Day of Play 2012 on Oct. 6!

Turn off the TV. Get off the computer. Put away your books, even! This Saturday, Oct. 6 is the 9th annual Worldwide Day of Play (WWDOP) – a day dedicated to a healthy, active lifestyle. Time to grab everyone in the family and head out the door to do something active and fun!

WWDOP is sponsored by Nickelodeon – which will go off air for 3 hours Saturday afternoon – with a host of partners, including Boys & Girls Club of America; Kiwanis; the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition; the National Football League; the National Park Foundation; National PTA; Paralympics; US Youth Soccer; and YMCA. Thousands of schools, towns, and other organizations are joining the event to promote wellness.

From aerobics to Zumba (get it? From A to Z?), there are lots of things you can do to celebrate the WWDOP, including:

aerobics, archery, badminton, canoeing, cheerleading, croquet, dancing, diving, exercising, fencing, Frisbee, gardening, gymnastics, hiking, inline skating, juggling, kayaking, lacrosse, martial arts, Nintendo Wii sports, orienteering, polo, quidditch (can you think of an activity beginning with Q?), rugby, running, skateboarding, soccer, swimming, tai chi, unicycling, volleyball, walking, weight training, wrestling, x-country training, yoga, Zumba…

Once you’ve gotten active as a family, keep it going! Strive for a healthy, active lifestyle – not just one day! Here are some ideas to help:

• Check out the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award, which is a “motivational program for individuals and families who want to make physical activity and healthy eating part of their everyday lives. This challenge is for anyone, from kids to grandparents, who want to live a more active and healthier lifestyle.”
• Download Nickelodeon’s Playbook, which includes an activity guide and steps to help you plan activities.
• Sign up for a class or league at the Warrenville Park District; we have something for every age!
• Come out for Family Open Gym at the Rec Center (ages 12+) Sundays from 10:00 a.m. – noon and Tuesdays from 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. You don’t have to register – just pay the fee at the door.
• Several of our classes offer opportunities for kids and parents to be active together, such as fencing and archery (for ages 8+), Tai Chi for Health (ages 12+), and Tang Soo Do Karate (ages 8+). And if your kids are interested in Zumbatomics, drop them off Saturday mornings while you take a Zumba class next door! For more information, please visit our Web site or call 630.393.7279.

So come on – let’s get everybody moving!