Monday's Internet Edition, October 06, 2008.
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| A father and son team get ready to let loose with a water balloon Sunday at National Kids Day in the city park. Youths from all over Copperas Cove and the area gathered to celebrate their very own day. – Photo by KRISTAN HALL |
The event, sponsored by America's Promise and the Boys and Girls Club of Coryell County, offered an old fashioned picnic with hot dogs, hamburgers, turkey legs, chips and drinks.
Fun for the family was available with an adult karaoke contest, family softball and basketball games, tug of war and watermelon eating contest. Grown-ups and kids were also able to play the water wars game provided by Margarita Momma of Copperas Cove.
The game pitches two individuals against one in a modified balloon toss. Participants play balloons in a sling shot and aim for their opponents. Even if a participant has perfect aim, his or her opponent only gets wet. The roof of the game protects the players from getting hurt by flying balloons.
National Kids' Day is an emerging new national day observed on the first Sunday of each August, with national, local and personal celebrations taking place across the country. The goal of the day is to honor, celebrate and acknowledge kids through the gift of meaningful time.
In 2002, the National Kids' Day Meaningful Time Survey determined U.S. parents and children agree they want to spend meaningful time together, but tend to disagree on what it takes to make family interaction meaningful.
"Research validates our belief that meaningful time shared with kids in activities which they enjoy can help them build a more productive future," said Dr. Alvin Poussaint, noted psychiatrist affiliated with Harvard, national director of the KidsPeace Lee Salk Center for Research, and member of the National KidsDay Honorary Spokesperson Roster.
"By nourishing the physical and emotional well-being of our young people, they will grow into healthy adults," he said.