IWAKUNI, Japan - Station children and parents participated in the Boys and Girls Club Day for Kids 2011 held at different locations around station Sept. 21.
The Day for Kids allowed children to play, socialize and have fun during a day of no school.
“The main thing today is making it a fun day for children,” said Eugene Clark, Youth and Teen Center activities director. “We want them to go outside and have fun.”
The Youth and Teen Center, School-Age Care and Child Development Center provided activities for the children.
“We want everyone to know that Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni is the best place for kids to have fun and be themselves,” Clark said.
To encourage the children to interact, the Youth and Teen Center turned off every computer and television inside the building and had them play pool, board games and basketball.
The SAC took children outside to the playground in front of the building and held a talent show inside.
The talent show allowed the children to be creative and entertaining.
“The children like to show off their talents and musical skills,” said Nina E. Nuttael, SAC activities program lead. “They love to entertain and be entertained by each other. This is great because the children are rewarded with applause for doing something they love to do.”
“The Day for Kids gets children from staying home and watching television all day to having fun with other children and being active outside,” Nuttael said.
The CDC gave station children and their parents the option to decorate sugar cookies with icing and sprinkles.
“The cookies tasted really good,” said Matthew C. Benson, 3, a CDC Day for Kids participant. “My dad and I had a lot of fun.”
Parents seemed to appreciate how station youth facilities helped their children.
“It is days like this, a Day for Kids, which really shows parents how station residents take care of our own,” said Sgt. Maj. Drew C. Benson, Matthew Benson’s father and Marine Aircraft Group 12 sergeant major.
The CDC opened different classrooms for all age groups present.
In each classroom, the children decorated cookies with the help of their parents.
The SAC offers a variety of planned group and individual activities for children ages 5-12.
The CDC offers full daycare for children six-weeks to five-years-old who are not enrolled in kindergarten.
Fees for youth and teen programs at SAC and CDC are set on total-family income.
Call the Resource and Referral Specialist at 253-4141 for more information about the School-Age Care and Child Development Center.
The Youth and Teen Center closes at 5 p.m., and the center’s staff encourages ages 10 to 18 to stop by and enjoy amenities the center has to offer.
For more information, contact the Youth and Teen Center at 253-6454.