Event is April 2 at the Morgantown Mall
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Calling all kids! The 13th Annual West Virginia University Children’s Hospital Kids Fair, which will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 2 at the Morgantown Mall, will give children of all ages and their parents the opportunity to “Explore Your Health.”
More than 45 exhibits will provide children with the opportunity to discover new and exciting ways to improve their health. The fair will also offer face painting, crafts, a bounce house and games. Other exhibits will feature educational information on various health topics, including proper dental care, bike safety and diabetes.
“We look forward to the Kids Fair every year. We really enjoy the opportunity to meet people in the community and, in turn, teach them about the services we can provide to them should they ever need us,” Cheryl Jones, R.N., director of WVU Children’s Hospital, said.
The WVU Children’s Hospital Wellness Clinic will provide glucose testing and give demonstrations on proper hand washing. Specialists from the WVU Sleep Evaluation Center will be available to answer questions parents may have on sleep-related issues. If children want to flex their muscles, they can do so with strength and flexibility tests offered by The Wellness Program. The WVU School of Nursing will offer blood pressure screenings and show how a nutritious diet can be fun and rewarding.
Children can bring along their own bike helmets and backpacks for free instruction on proper fitting from HealthSouth. Parents can exchange old mercury thermometers for a free digital thermometer from the WVU Community Medicine Student Association. Hearts of Gold Service Dogs will be bringing along some fuzzy friends, and the Chestnut Ridge Center will have all kinds of critters from the Department of Natural Resources.
Children ages 3 and up can receive developmental screenings from WV Birth to Three. At the Monongalia County Starting Points booth, kids between the ages of 3 and 5 can have their vision checked by a professional.
The fair will also feature exhibits for all those young, budding outdoor enthusiasts. Kids will have a chance to meet Smokey the Bear, play table top games and learn about wildfire prevention with the West Virginia Division of Forestry. Volunteers from the USDA Forest Service, as well as Woodsy Owl, will be on hand to educate kids on many of the different trees and insects inhabiting the earth.
There will also be a number of giveaways during this year’s Kids Fair. For the cost of a $1 raffle ticket, you can enter to win a Family Camping Package. Another dollar will get you a spin on the Lucky Wheel. All proceeds go to WVU Children’s Hospital.
The Kids Fair is one of the most popular events held at the Morgantown Mall each year.
