Get Moving! Day of Play returns April 25 to teach West Virginia children the importance of healthy living.
13 years ago, as WVU Professor of Public Relations Elizabeth Oppe watched a football player training for his upcoming season with the New York Jets, she did not know it would inspire the annual Get Moving! Day of Play that Monongalia County children and their parents look forward to every year. Now, professional athletes from West Virginia return annually to teach kids about the importance of making healthy lifestyle choices—an effort Oppe believes will motivate kids to strive for athletic goals that are just as big.
West Virginia consistently ranks among the states that are highest in childhood obesity, with recent reports suggesting that 23% of the state’s children are considered obese. Oppe and her team of communications students at WVU want to flip that narrative by teaching children how to exercise, eat well, and take care of themselves.
The event brings in professional athletes who run stations for kids to rotate between. Stations are crafted by the athletes who run them, and at each station, kids can talk to the athletes while participating in different forms of physical activity and sports. Past years have included big names like Zach Frazier and Doug Nester from the Pittsburgh Steelers. Although Oppe doesn’t know yet which athletes will attend this year, there will be a dance team to teach participants cheers, and the organizers are in communication about athletes from soccer, gymnastics, basketball, and baseball as well as football players with the Browns and the Steelers.
At the event, kids also get healthy snacks like oranges and bananas, a T-shirt that the athletes can sign, and a takeaway item. Over the years, Oppe has heard from parents that their kids refused to wash their signed T-shirts when they got home, not wanting to risk the ink washing off.
The event takes place April 25 from 2 to 4 p.m. Children ages 4 to 12 and their parents are invited to come enjoy a day of fun, exercise, and learning, and admission is free for everyone.
If kids leave the event with one lesson learned, Oppe hopes it is that “they can make changes in their life and they can do what they want.” She believes children have the power to change their routines and habits, and it all starts with a push—whether it is taking the dog for a walk, playing outside, or doing yard work, children can learn to make choices that are healthy for them.
Be sure to check out this year’s day of play with your children and help them prepare for a healthy future—and let them meet some professional athletes, too. Secure a spot for your kid now through the event’s registration link.
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