Are there any programs for overweight kids?

SECOND OPINION
by Ryan Moultray, D.O.
and Heidi Robel, N.D.

I am the parent of an overweight child (age 10). We have been actively looking for some type of class for children with this problem. I have called doctors’ offices, the YMCA and various gyms. I have been turned away at all places. With obesity beginning to be out of control for our youth, Yakima needs to start offering things. I know I am not alone. Children do much better when interacting with children their own age and who have the same problem. I am beginning to see her self-esteem go down. Is there any help you can offer? Or maybe you know of somewhere I haven’t looked. Read more

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Indoor Play Places

When cooler weather blows into town, we start to spend less time outdoors. At my house, this means the kids are bouncing — quite literally — off the walls. Don’t install padding. Instead, try one of these indoor places to play.

NOTE: Be sure to call ahead to verify hours and prices. We try to stay current, but gosh it’s hard…

BURGER KING, four locations in Yakima: 5905 Summitview Ave.; 2611 W. Nob Hill Blvd.; 2113 S. First St.; and 1605 E. Yakima Ave. (across from Wal-Mart).
Yup, they all have indoor playgrounds. Hail to the King!
Cost: Varies with appetite.

CHILDREN’S ACTIVITY MUSEUM, 118 E. Fourth Ave., Ellensburg; 509-925-6789. Hands-on fun includes themed play areas, the vortex machine and a reading nook. Preschool program, party rentals and field trips available. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays; noon to 7 p.m. Thursdays. Cost: $4.25 per person; family pass is $14.50.

CHILDREN’S UNDERGROUND inside the Yakima Valley Museum, 2105 Tieton Drive, Yakima. 248-0747.
Dress-up clothes, puppets, a climb-on pony cart and a hands-on general store. Also, tour the museum’s collections, covering Valley history from mammoths to modern times.
Underground hours: 1-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.
Cost: $5 adults, $3 students and seniors, or $12 family.

THE ICE RINK, 1700 E. Beech St., Yakima. 469-0597 during public sessions, or 949-6669.
Chill out inside the Valley’s only ice skating rink, managed by volunteer members of the Yakima Amateur Hockey Association. Remember to dress warmly — it’s freezing in there! (Skating and hockey lessons available, youth hockey league)
Public sessions: 7-9 p.m. Friday, 5-8 p.m. Saturday during winter season.
Cost: $5 admission; $1 skate rental, sizes toddler and up. Concessions available.

INDOOR PRESCHOOL PLAYTIME, Selah Civic Center, 216 S. First St. 698-7300.
Bring trikes, ride-on toys, balls to open gym.
Hours: 10 a.m. to noon Wednesdays in winter. Call ahead to verify.
Cost: Free.

KIDS CASTLE, inside Gymnastics Plus, 2121 W. Lincoln Ave., Yakima. 453-8126.
For kids, there’s a colorful jungle gym of tubes, ball pits and slides. For adults, there’s lots of tables, a snack bar and a stack of magazines (though, sadly, not ours).
On weekends, there’s also an open gym with trampolines, a foam pit and inflatable bounce houses. Clean, dry socks are required and parents must remain on the premises.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 12-6 p.m. Sunday.
Cost: Weekdays — $2.50/unlimited for toddlers 2 and younger, $5.25/hour or $8/unlimited for children 3 and older. Two children play for the price of one on Wednesdays. Weekends — $3/hour or $4.25/unlimited for toddlers 2 and younger, $6.50/hour or $9/unlimited for children 3 and older. Save a few dollars with the purchase of a 10-visit coupon book.

KIDS’ GYM AT THE YMCA, 5 N. Naches Ave., Yakima. 248-1202.
Bouncing off the walls (or, at least, tumbling on the floor) is more fun in this room with mats and Tiny Tykes toys for young children.
Cost: $1 per child, or free with YMCA membership ($18/year for youth up to 13).

LIONS POOL, 509 West Pine St., Yakima. 575-6046.
Public indoor swimming pool, offers year-round swim lessons and special swims for toddlers.
Cost: $1.75 youth, $3.25 adults, or $8.75 for a family of up to two adults and four children.

McDONALD’S PLAYPLACE, 40th and River Road, Yakima. 576-8000.
Climbing tubes and slide, air hockey.
Cost: Probably a Happy Meal.

MEADOWBROOK FAMILY FUN CENTER, 7200 W. Nob Hill Blvd., Yakima. 966-3836.
Arcade and Pizza Cafe. (In the summer, there’s also outdoor batting cages, miniature golf, bumper boats and go-carts.)
Winter arcade hours: 1-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 1-11 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday. The Pizza Cafe closes one hour earlier.
Cost: Arcade tokens are 25 cents.

SELAH GYM KIDS, 709 North Park Center, Selah. 698-5437.
Fun Friday. 6-9 p.m. most Fridays. Drop off kids ages 3-10 for supervised recreation and pizza. Parents can go out alone!
Cost: $17 first child, $15 siblings. Reservations not necessary.

SKATELAND FUN CENTER, 2506 Old Town Road, Union Gap. 575-6442.
Public sessions: 7-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Cost: $6.75. Also, 1:30-4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Cost: $5.75.
Bargain Night ($5.50) is 6:30-9 p.m. Wednesday. Valley Church Night is held from 6:30-9 p.m. the third Monday of each month. Cost: $5.50.
Admission fees include regular skate rental; In-line skates are $1.50 extra. Tiny Tots, or children’s skate sizes 6-13, are always $4.75. Cash only.

THREE RIVERS CHILDREN’S MUSEUM in the Broadmoor Square Mall, 5274 Outlet Drive, Pasco. 509-543-7866.
In the mood for a day trip? Hit the highway and head 85 miles southeast of Yakima to explore this 3,000-square-foot kid zone in the Tri-Cities. Kids can climb aboard the U.S.S. Friend-Ship, step inside a kaleidoscope, or serve up some fun in the kid-size kitchen.
Winter hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Friday, and 12-5 p.m. Saturday.
Cost: $3 per person, ages 12 months and older.

VALLEY MALL, 2529 Main St., Union Gap. 453-8233.
A small play area upstairs near the food court. (Hey, it’s free.) Recommended for children under age 3.
Hours: 10 a.m.-9p.m. Monday-Friday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday.

YAKIMA FAMILY YMCA, 5 N. Naches Ave., Yakima. 248-1202.
Family swim: 7:30-8:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Open swim: 8-9:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, 3-5:30 p.m. Saturday, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Sunday.
Cost: Free for YMCA members. For nonmembers, admission is $5 for youth, $10 for adults or $15 per family.