The Power of Play!: Helping Kids Build Healthy Habits Early

Fitness facilities that offer options for children are a big hit with families—and Sagewell Health & Fitness’ Play! program goes beyond babysitting. It helps children develop a love of movement that can benefit them for life.

Research shows that physical activity habits formed in childhood often continue into adulthood. Encouraging kids to enjoy moving their bodies can reduce their risk of childhood obesity, improve academic performance and support long-term physical and mental health.

Play! welcomes children as young as 4 months old. From parent-child classes to independent activities, the program is designed to meet kids where they are developmentally. Caregivers and children ages 4 months to 3 years participate together, learning movements to reinforce at home. At age 3, children transition to independent classes that build autonomy and social-emotional skills—like taking turns and working in teams.

As children grow, they explore gymnastics, ninja-style obstacle courses and foundational fitness moves like push-ups, sit-ups and planks. The goal: Make movement fun so it becomes a lifelong habit.

Located at Cone Health MedCenter Greensboro, Play! is open to the public and offers classes, parties and camps for children ages 4 months to 12 years. Families with a Sagewell Health & Fitness Family Membership enjoy added benefits, including:

· Babysitting for up to two hours per day.

· Free Play! classes.

· Access to family time hours and special programming.

· Reduced pricing for swim lessons.

Play! also supports patients with medical appointments at MedCenter Greensboro by offering on-site babysitting.

“Our goal was to increase interest in our Family Memberships,” says Jamie Athas, Executive Director of Wellness. “These new benefits have been well received, and the number of family memberships has increased.”

To learn more or register for Play!, visit the Play! website.