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1.Facilities Our"floating"professionaldancefloorsreduce fatigueandpreventinjuries. 2:CustomerService Deskstaffareavailableduringclass timetoprovideassistance. 3.FreeDanceRecitalDVDforeveryfamily. 4.Optionallow-pressuremusicrecitals. 5:Hassle-freeCostumes Allcostumesizing,orderingand alterationsaredoneforyou. 6.SmallClassSizes Providemoreone ononeattentionandtrainingforthestudents. 7.AllCostsofTheatreshow includedinthetuition. Availableonly at RisingStar educe class y. 1.Fa fa 2:Cu ti 3.Fr 4.Op 5:Ha Al al 6.Sm on 7.Al in Calltoday!204.669.2369 orvisitwww.risingstaracademy.ca RisingStarAcademyofArts Proudly presented 2 Wpg Fringe Festival 2015 productions with all children casts! Violin&FiddleClasses SpecialtyMusic&Dance classesfor2-6yr.olds NEW SummerCamps stillAvailable! 369 isit REGISTER NOW! By Nancy Boomer for the Free Press Raising children in an ever-expanding universe of computers, smartphones and video games often means parents are challenged to get their young charges to step away from their screens and get moving. A wide variety of programs, offered through local organizations, make it easier for parents to get their children moving along the road to better health, while having fun along the way. Tamar Barr, assistant executive director of the Rady Jewish Community Centre (Rady JCC), says the organization offers a selection of programs to help school-age kids get active. "After-school activities include Zumba, floor hockey/flag football, soccer/basketball, kickboxing, yoga, Israeli dance and hip hop," says Barr. "We also have a comprehensive aquatics program with swimming lessons for all skill levels. These are great opportunities for kids to be active in a non-competitive environment and develop a variety of skills like social skills, confidence-building, being part of a team and how to deal with stress." Barr says Rady JCC currently offers Zumba off-site after school at Brock Corydon School, with plans for a similar program at another local site in the coming year. Parents can get in on the fun, too, by participating in Family Fun Zone drop-in sessions on Sunday mornings, where activities include games, sports, relays and inflatable bouncers. Activities are geared toward kids from two to eight years-old. "We will be having some special events for families throughout the year," says Barr. "On Sept. 27, we will participate in Manitoba Cultural Days with family activities and on Nov. 15, the Rady JCC will introduce Discover Catch, a new program to engage families in physical activity and learn about healthy lifestyle habits in a fun and interactive way." The Winnipeg YMCA-YWCA also offers an impressive variety of opportunities for kids to get active in a safe, supervised environment. "Our programs cater to children from pre-school to ages six to 12 in a safe environment where they can get active and make friends," says Cam Young, centre manager at the Y's Elmwood-Kildonan branch. "We have a variety of physical activities available for kids, from swimming to taekwondo, with something for everyone, from the athletically-inclined to those who just want to get some exercise and have fun." Young says there are numerous activities available for every member of the family, Y members and non-members alike, regardless of skill level or experience. Drop-in sessions for such popular options as dance or gymnastics are conducted by trained staff who adapt the classes to suit the needs of participants, ensuring everyone has fun while getting fit. Drop-in classes also give parents and kids some flexibility to try new activities or participate in a variety of classes, without the traditional obligation of paying for multi-week programs. "Our programs are popular, so we encourage early registration," says Young. "There is such a variety of programming that kids are bound to find something they enjoy where they can also develop their own Y friendships in a different environment than the average school gym class. It's just fun." For more information, visit www.radyjcc.com or www.ywinnipeg.ca. ❚ Above: Kids take part in activities at Rady-JCC. Rady-JCC photo Below: Kids take part in basketball and swimming sessions at the YMCA-YWCA. YMCA-YWCA/Trevor Meier photos • Health Canada reports only about four per cent of Canadian children are getting enough physical activity for optimum health as modern lifestyles have become increasingly sedentary • Without the recommended 60 minutes of daily vigorous physical activity, kids can be at greater risk of developing chronic diseases such as Type 2 diabetes and heart disease • The benefits of physical activity include improved strength and flexibility, weight control and stress relief • Encouraging kids to be physically active from a young age promotes their health and well-being now and for years to come B a c k t o S c h o o l , M u S i c & D a n c e … a n D M o r e ! - S u p p l e M e n t t o t h e W i n n i p e g F r e e p r e S S - S at u r D ay, a u g u S t 15 , 2 0 15 5

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